Keeping Bloodworms Fresh

[Ficious]

i got a few hundred bloodworms for my new dwarf puffer. its been 3 days since ive had them and i store them in the fridge. most dont seem to be as lively as they were when i got them. a few more days and surely most will be dead. the guy said if i do it right i can get away with a few weeks (which would be great).

1. will fish eat them when theyre dead?
2. does adding water from the tap help? or is that a no no?
3. how long do they last? any tips on keeping them preserved alive longer?
4. how do you make a bloodworm culture? or can you even?



thanks

 

[Colin_T]

When you say bloodworms do you mean little red wriggly things about the size of a mozzie larvae or brineshrimp? Or do you mean red worms a few inches long that occur along river banks?

If you mean the little red Chirominid midge larvae (red mozzie larvae) then they live on the bottom of creeks in rotting plant matter and you can keep them alive in a bucket or tank of water that has some rotting plant/ lettuce leaves in.

Most insect larvae will slow down when kept in the fridge so the ones you have might not be dieing but just resting or going dormant. See how they do when they are brought up to room temperature.

The fish will eat them if they are dead but you should keep them clean. If they start to change colour and go black or white them don't use them because they are rotting.

If you buy a lot and want to keep them for later use then freeze them in icecube trays. Once frozen store them in an airtight container and use them when needed.

Tap water has chlorine in and that usually kills most aquatic things.

 

[joshrm115]

I agree just keep them in the fridge.

 

[Ficious]

Cool...thanks guys! I'm still not sure what they ard. Like miniature earthworms. Maybe california black worms? Either way your advice suits both