Bloodworms

[Neal]

How many bloodworms do you recommend I give to my betta? I usually just put the packet in and he eats them within a few days, but i'd rather not polute the tank or anything, so here are a few questions of mine.
- How often should I feed him blood worms?
- How often should I feed him flakes?
- How many bloodworms/flakes should I feed him at a time?
- Where should I put the packet of bloodworms because I can't close the packet up after feeding, I have a little cube, could I sort of culture them in that?
- What do you recommend is the best time to feed them? Before I go to bed or when I get home from school? Or is it just when it suits me? (Preferably when I get home).

Thanks in advance,
Neal

 

[GuppyDude]

Are these live worms we are talking about? (im going to assume so)

Shouldn't feed him blood worms all of the time, maybe every 3 days, but in between he should be on a diet of (betta) pellets. While bettas will eat flakes they arnt that healthy for them because they are freeze dried, and that messes with their digestion. As for how much, a betta's stomach is roughly the size of it's eye ball, so as you can imagine 2 good sized blood worms will fit comfortably. Its also some what important that you keep your fish fed at the same time every day. Thogh bettas like variety in their food, mine seem to get stressed out when i am late feeding them.

*Note* You should probably do a light water change after every feeding of blood worms as a betta in a small volume of water can muck up its tank pretty quick on a diet up those.

 

[fawnmodel]

Okay here is what I do. And I think you were talking about cubes of frozen bloodworm. If so, please defrost them first. If you don't need a whole cube, you can cut it into pieces when frozen and just defrost one.

I feed mine 4 bloodworms once a day, and a few pellets or flakes once a day.

I also alternate, sometines BS, sometimes all pellets, sometimes extra goodies like community menu etc.

Don't ever leave food to pollute your tank. If it is there 5 mins later, remove it.

Generally they should eat once or twice a day, all they can consume in a few mins.

 

[severina]

I was gonna say something but fawn already said it.

 

[Neal]

I was talking about live bloodworms, and when I buy bloodworm from my LFS, they come in packs of about 30 so what should I do? Should I put them in a cube I got my betta in (used for transportation) and just get them out when I need to?

 

[Synirr]

Should I put them in a cube I got my betta in (used for transportation) and just get them out when I need to?

 

[Neal]

Ok, what shall I use to feed him them with?
Also, will the bloodworms breed in there? (I know they don't make money or a pet, but it would save me going to the shop for them).

 

[BWBettas]

umm bloodworms are a larvae... meaning they have a stage to grow and if im not mistaken they turn into midges so i would leave them there for too long if i was you so no they wont breed

 

[bettawen]

have you thought of freezing the ones you dont use straight away
and no they wont breed in there, they ususally just die off and pollute the tank.

 

[Neal]

No way am I having midges in my bedroom, and my mam won't be too impressed with bloodworm in the fridge. Looks like I have no option but to just feed him the packet and wait until it goes.

 

[Synirr]

Like there aren't simple solutions to the problem, lol.

Just use a container with a lid to hold the bloodworms. You can tell when they're about to turn into midges as they change shape considerably and begin to look more midge-shaped rather than worm-shaped, so you should know when to expect it. Should they turn, the container has a lid, so you can just transport them outside to open the container, or shake it if you like to trap them in the water -- your betta wouldn't mind eating the adult midges

You can use tweezers, or the method I use, a pipette or eyedropper, to feed your betta the worms. Heck, you can even scoop them out with your finger if you like.

 

[Neal]

Thanks everyone, i'll have to use a tubbawear tub then or something similar, your advice is appreciated, thanks!
Neal