Live foods - good or bad?

[Wishful]

I'd be really interested to know what everyone thinks about buying live foods. I've read that they can introduce disease into the tank - is this commonly the case or is it fairly rare?

We've just introduced a couple of Boesemani Rainbows to our tank and I've also read that they like to feed on bloodworm. At the moment we use frozen bloodworm, but find that once the cube gets into the stream from the filter, it gets thrown to the bottom of the tank and breaks up too quickly in among the plants. I think they pick up a fair amount from the tank floor, but I'm concerned that this leaves stuff to go bad rather than feeding hungry little mouths. I'm hoping that using live bloodworm may be better, but I don't want to do it if we are going to endanger our little friends!

All feedback welcome!

Wishful

 

[FishDan]

If you get your live food from a reputable source, your fish will be fine. If you collect it on your own or buy from shady fish stores, you run the risk of getting food that won't be healthy for your fish. Of course, another thing to consider is that your live bloodworms will "breakup" and scatter among your pants too. Moreso infact, becausae they are live and don't really want to be fish food - they will actively try to hide. Live food is great for your fish, again, so long as it is from a reputable source. Hoever, even reputable sources will not be impervious to having diseased live foods. It is a risk, but then, fish in the wild risk all the time, as they have very little other choice. However, I don't think the risk is that great.

\Dan

 

[SirMinion]

Always used live foods, never had a problem.

I always strain the bloodworm through a fishnet the rinse them with some water from the tank into a bucket before dumping them into the tank.

All our fish go insane for live bloodworm, from the smallest peacock goby to the largest fahaka pufferfish.

Learn more about live foods here

 

[SirMinion]

your live bloodworms will "breakup" and scatter among your pants too.

Too funny!

Typos rule.

 

[JapaneseShiba]

I usually do not feed my fish live food as a meal, it is too expensive on my part
But I do give it to them as a treat a two or three times a week. Fishes such as loaches and clown loaches REALLY love it!

But for breeding, to the point where the the day before the male and the female are first introduced up to the 5th day when she gave birth is when I would give both male and female live foods as a meal (with some lettuce thrown in )

Does not help you too much, does it lol!

 

[FishDan]

your live bloodworms will "breakup" and scatter among your pants too.

Too funny!

Typos rule.

Uhm.. Yeah... Typo...

I'm good at typos.

\Dan

 

[Narayan]

Ive never had any problem with giving my fish live food.

 

[ferrikins]

I have no problem feeding life food.

The only place I know that does blood worms though, is a place in Southamton, well it's in Totton.

Just make shore you empty the worms into a net over a jug, so you don't put the water they in in the tank, you never know how long they been in the water, and I always think it the water that cause's the problems and not the food.

 

[cometcattle]

I buy one bag of live blackworms a week and have yet to have any problems, but I only buy them from one lfs.

I noticed my fish seem to color up more since I've been doing live once a week for the last 3 months. I also feed them frozen Hikari bloodworms once a week.

It's fascinating watching your fish hunt live food, IMO. I look forward to "live" night each week, but I'm a fish nerd.

 

[Wishful]

your live bloodworms will "breakup" and scatter among your pants too

Oh Dan, the words bloodworm and pants are two that I wish to mix in the same sentence!

On the other hand, thanks for your, and everyone elses excellent information, it's comforting to know that it won't necessarily give them any horrid bugs, it'll improve their already wonderful colours and they'll have fun!

The tips on rinsing it out and not adding the water are useful and I did read your excellent post on Live Food types SirMinion - would my little bunch of Danios etc eat earthworms or would they be too big. Not totally sure I could cope with cutting them up! LOL

 

[Tropjunky]

I think live foods are very good in a tanks but live foods are not other fish.

I love watching my fish hunt and chase brine shrimp. It's new and fun for the fish as well as the facet that it's apart of their natual enviroment

 

[clutterydrawer]

my fish love live bloodworms but cant fit a whole one in their mouths, so they alsways leave the tail hanging out while they chew it

anyway
I've never had any problems with it, and it's really cheap (here at least)

 

[Tropjunky]

cheap is not wot i'd call it. it cost like £2.50 for a small bag here. and the person that supplies them don't always have them.

 

[clutterydrawer]

you have got to be taking the P***. I get them for 25p a bag. and a bag is about 4" x 3".

please no one tell me Im buying dodgy black market bloodworms and thats why theyre so cheap

 

[Wishful]

Where do you get them from so cheap Clutterydrawer?