Blood Worms...............?

Question

You know the stuff that you feedyour fish as a treat.

Where does it come from and what is the nutritional value of them.

Also, why do we feed them to the fish when they are alive?

Answer 1

See the following for a good detailed explanation - http://members.optushome.com.au/chelmon/Bloodworm.htm

I'll post the most appropriate part, but there is more to the article.

"Bloodworms are larvae of the midge family Chironomidae (Order Diptera, Class Insecta). Midges are mosquito-like insects. There may be more than 2000 species but only a small number have been formerly identified. Not all chironomid larvae are red in colour. While the most common ones are red, they can also be green, brown, or black. Also some are transparent and are commonly known as Glassworms. However, only those that contain haemoglobin are red and hence the name Bloodworm.

Chironomidae larvae and pupae are highly nutritious and nourishing and constitute one of the staple food items of many fishes in their natural environment. They are a commonly used live or frozen food source for aquarium fish culture. Almost all fishes will greedily devour them when they are offered. Research has found that most fishes when provided with bloodworms as a supplementary food item have better growth and spawning rates. Their nutritional value is considered very good. Chemical analysis shows that bloodworms contain 9.3% dry matter and of this there is 62.5% crude protein, 10.4% crude fat and 11.6% ash with 15.4% nitrogen free extract. They are also a good source of iron for the fish since they contain haemoglobin. "

Answer 2

As everyone else has related their source, and nutrition well I'll address the other questions. While live food is more nutritious it can carry disease. For this reason most experienced fish owners only use freeze dried blood worms. Also while blood worms are highly nutritious they shouldn't be a fish only food source. Alternating with freeze-dried brine shrimp, or a standard fish flake.

Note that many fish are omnivores, and need their greens. You should research your fish's dietary requirements. For example bettas are carnivores and thrive on a diet of brine shrimp and blood worms. Mollies on the other hand are omnivores who should be getting more vegs in their diet, and should be fed an algae flake with the blood worms being a 2-3 times a week treat.

Answer 3

Blood worms are the larva stage of the Midge fly. They can be purchased frozen or freeze dried, but are more difficult to find fresh.

Blood worms are a great food for carnivorous fish such as bettas and other meat eating fish.

Their nutritional value is considered very good. Chemical analysis shows that bloodworms contain 9.3% dry matter and of this there is 62.5% crude protein, 10.4% crude fat and 11.6% ash with 15.4% nitrogen free extract. They are also a good source of iron for the fish since they contain hemoglobin.

Answer 4

Bloodworms are the larvae of red mosquitoes. They can be found in stagnant water pretty much whenever mosquitoes are abundant.

As for their nutritional value, I've never seen research on it. However, since they're insect larvae, they can be assumed to have relatively high protein content, no fat, and few calories per volume.

We feed them to fish as live food because the movement induces the predatory reflexes of fish, and because we like to torture mosquitoes in the worst ways possible.

Answer 5

I don't feed them to my fish alive, I get the freeze dried kind. I don't know about the nutritional value, sorry.

Answer 6

The fish find them more interesting alive and I think they are kind of like snack food so don't give them too much too often, as to where they come from I'd really not know - ugh

Answer 7

The blood worms i feed my fish are not alive they are dried.

Answer 8

blood worm is the larva of midge flys,they scrape them from the bottom of ditches. there full of good natural vitamins for fish as they feed off decaying plants.many anglers use them as bait to as all fish will eat them. i all ways empty mine in to a fish net over the sink and rinse them for a few seconds to wash any crap out.

Answer 9

blood worm is just one of the live foods you can feed to your fish, any fish tropical or goldfish they love live food as it's natural for them to chase and eat.
they don't get flake food in there natural environment do they?

ask your local pet supply shop where you can buy a variety of live food its important for your fish to eat a varied diet the same as us.

if you have a reptile supplier locally they have a range of foods usually

my fish even eat crickets, baby ones of course. its all in their natural diet.

Answer 10

the reason we feed these to our fish is that it is their natural food in the wild

if you are worried about feeding live food then feed frozen you can buy this at the fish shops