clover said:
PM a mailing addy to me if you can't find any, and I'll stick some in an envelope.
I can just imagine. Although I've tried culturing daphnia a few tmes, I have never given them to the fry. Next time I should skip past the culturing stage and just give them right to the fish- rather than feeding the dragonfly larva that eat them from my culture!.I'm assuming this is where tubifex worms come from maybe.There is a growing concern that fish disease (viral, bacterial and parasitic) can be transported from other areas of the continent or world to the remote waters of western Alaska. Fish populations may not be adapted to or resistant to nonindigenous diseases.
The parasite has a complex, two-host life cycle that involves the trout and a tubifex worm which lives in the bottom sediments of rivers and lakes. Whirling disease spores are released into the water when infected fish die and decompose, or are consumed and excreted by predators or scavengers. Spores cannot directly infect fish but will infect the tubifex worm if present in the bottom sediments. The spores are ingested and develop into a triactinomyxon stage within the worm and then are released into the water or the worm is ingested directly by the fish.
http/www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/region2/are...ml/whirling.stm
Smooth, yellow/white cyst - Nodular disease caused by spores.Can be introduced by live tubifex worms
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Frozen/live or freeze-dried tubifex worms: Type of black worm, also comes in a red variety.
Packages: Live, frozen or freeze-dried.
Benefits: Very nutritious, easily digestible, found in most fish stores, can be used daily, similar to betta's natural diet, most bettas love the taste. Frozen and freeze-dried tubifex have been treated to kill any bacteria or parasites that may have been present in the worm.
Drawbacks: Live tubifex are notorious for harboring bacteria and parasites and should always be avoided. Freeze-dried foods may cause bloating or digestive problems in some bettas.
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The Tubifex Controversy
No discussion of live food can be complete without addressing the issue of blackworms. Tubifex (also known as "blackworms") have long been heralded as either the worst or the best live food to feed your fish, depending on whom you talk to. From my own research and experience I can testify that there is a risk of disease from fresh tubifex. Like earthworms (who eat dirt) tubifex worms eat whatever material they are raised in. Brace yourself .... most tubifex worms are raised in trout pond run-offs, which means they live on fish manure. Needless to say that makes them potential hotbeds for transmitting bacterial or parasitic infections. Disgusting?? Yes! But freshwater fish love tubifex worms and thrive on them if they are cleaned properly. Start by purchasing your tubifex worms from a reputable store, then carefully examine the water they are housed in. It should be clear - if it isn't, don't purchase them. Place your worms in a large container, and 3-4 times a day rinse them thoroughly until the water runs clear. Store them in the refrigerator and examine the water each morning ... if the water is clear they are clean. Don't feed them to your fish until the water is clear! I've discovered that the quality of tubifex will vary from store to store, so if you locate good ones (worms that clean quickly as opposed to ones who are still fouling the water after many days) make note of the supplier.
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they can't be bothered with the effort of it all
