Live Discus Food Tubifex Worms

Rewards and disadvantages of making use of tubifex worm as discus meals is a widespread subject of discussion amongst the specialist discus breeders and hobbyist. At a single time, tubifex worm was considered the discus meals. Even at present day it is even now utilized extensively in specific countries but more discus breeders are shying away simply because of the numerous problem linked with feeding tubifex worms.

Tubifex worms are not often identified in sewerage systems. It is also found in streams and shallow rivers. A very good source is near a pig or poultry farms in which effluents enter streams or rivers with a muddy bed. Some are thought to be safe and sound, while other unsafe sources pose no adverse effect when fed to common tropical fishes.

Advantages of tubifex worms

Easy digestion, thus, making it possible for a lot more feedings, faster development

Promotes quick growth in fry can be fed from as youthful as 9 days old and youthful discus

Available in abundance throughout the year, except in the course of the draught season

It stimulates spawning

Does not pollute water unless of course dead, induced by chemical compounds of higher temperature of the aquarium water

Can be utilised as a medium for medicine this kind of as vitamins, antibiotics and hormone

An excellent normal source of minerals

Low cost and handy source of protein and fibre

Disadvantages of tubifex worms

Host to both internal, external parasites and bacteria

Manifestation of internal parasites when the discus reaches to about eight cm in dimension or 5 to six months old

Carrier of gill and physique flukes

Small water leeches are identified together with tubifex worms and is often achievable to be eaten by the discus. Leeches eaten will result in fatality

May possibly trigger substantial mortality price in juveniles and adult discus, triggered by harmful toxins and hefty metals, whilst it has no effect on the tubifex worms itself. Discus poisoned by harmful toxins and hefty metals will have bloated stomach, extremely stressed and ending in death

Preparing tubifex worms prior to feeding to fishes

It is greatest to clean the tubifex worms to just before feed keep away from the disadvantages related with employing them as food.

Use a shallow tray and fill it with two thirds of clean water trying to keep temperature to 22C. Continuously run tap water at a slow rate into the tray for four or five days to clean the guts. You can apply antibiotic this kind of as Tetracycline to clean the worms. Feeding tubifex worms vitamin B complicated is one more way to get the vitamin to your discus fish.

Tubifex Worm – Reference

Tubifex tubifex, also known as the sludge worm, or sewage worm, is a species of tubificid segmented worm that inhabits the sediments of lakes and rivers on a number of continents. Tubifex almost certainly includes numerous species, but distinguishing in between them is difficult due to the fact the reproductive organs, typically utilised in species identification, are resorbed following mating, and simply because the external traits of the worm vary with adjustments in salinity. These worms ingest sediments, selectively digest bacteria, and absorb molecules via their entire body walls.

The worms can survive with little oxygen by waving hemoglobin-wealthy tail ends to exploit all accessible oxygen, and can exchange carbon dioxide and oxygen by way of their thin skins, as with frogs. They can also survive in places heavily polluted with natural matter that nearly no other species can endure. By forming a protective cyst and lowering its metabolic rate, T. tubifex can survive drought and meals shortage. Encystment may possibly also function in the dispersal of the worm. They normally inhabit the bottom sediments of lakes, rivers, and sometimes sewer lines and outlets