Okay to feed Bloodworms everyday?

Half Vaped · 09/12/2017, 06:25 PM

I've been feeding Bloodworms to my freshwater tanks everyday for forever. And to my reef tanks about once every week or two, mixed with Mysis, Brine, LRS Frenzy and other frozen goodies.

Recently, I noticed that my Magma Fairy Wrasse really loves Bloodworms, so I've been adding it about every other day. Whenever I have Bloodworms in the mix, my Magma goes after only the Bloodworms and ignores all the other food. My other Wrasses either ignore the Bloodworms or eat some of it along with the frozen mix.

Now, on days I don't feed Bloodworms, my Magma waits a bit to see if any Bloodworms are coming before reluctantly going after the other foods.

I've read mixed thoughts on whether or not feeding Bloodworms daily is an issue. Most seem to agree that it's best to only feed them part of the time. Does anyone have any actual experience of including Bloodworms as part of a daily diet for long term (several years)?

I want to keep my Magma fat and happy, but I don't want to make it sick if it decides to eat only Bloodworms from now on. I also have Anthias and Tangs that I think might be affected by too much Bloodworms.

mike61289 · 09/12/2017, 07:56 PM

My understanding is that bloodworms are kind of like popcorn to fish. They eat it because it's tasty, making it useful when you have a new fish that's refusing to eat. I wouldn't feed it regularly though to the reef, nor to a freshwater tank.

Half Vaped · 09/13/2017, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike61289

My understanding is that bloodworms are kind of like popcorn to fish. They eat it because it's tasty, making it useful when you have a new fish that's refusing to eat. I wouldn't feed it regularly though to the reef, nor to a freshwater tank.

Hmmm... I been feeding Bloodworms every day to my freshwater tanks since I started in 2010. I have a freshwater Red-eye Puffer for over five years who's diet is maybe 95% Bloodworm. Most of my other freshwater fish eat about 50/50 flakes and Bloodworm. I have some Dwarf Chain Loaches going over seven years now.

I'm comfortable feeding Bloodworms to freshwater fish every day. Just curious if anybody has experience (other than conjecture) whether or not the same practice is safe for reef fish.

Rilelen · 09/13/2017, 12:07 PM

I agree, bloodworms are fine for freshwater fish. I too had a dwarf puffer for a while who subsisted almost entirely on bloodworms.

I'm not sure about reef fish, but would love to hear from folks who are more knowledgeable on this issue.

carrots · 09/13/2017, 01:18 PM

I fed blood worms & mysis shrimp to my marine tanks almost every other day for the past 40 years. The chromis and anthias love chasing them in the current. The label says it is 6.0% protein where mysis shrimp is 10%. Pellet foods 2X a day are their main diet with protein contents around 30% I have had success getting new stubborn fish, like Regal Angels, in QT to eat pellet foods by first getting them to eat blood worms and then later soaking pellet foods in the blood juice before feeding.

09/12/2017, 06:25 PM	#1
Half Vaped Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 401	Okay to feed Bloodworms everyday? I've been feeding Bloodworms to my freshwater tanks everyday for forever. And to my reef tanks about once every week or two, mixed with Mysis, Brine, LRS Frenzy and other frozen goodies. Recently, I noticed that my Magma Fairy Wrasse really loves Bloodworms, so I've been adding it about every other day. Whenever I have Bloodworms in the mix, my Magma goes after only the Bloodworms and ignores all the other food. My other Wrasses either ignore the Bloodworms or eat some of it along with the frozen mix. Now, on days I don't feed Bloodworms, my Magma waits a bit to see if any Bloodworms are coming before reluctantly going after the other foods. I've read mixed thoughts on whether or not feeding Bloodworms daily is an issue. Most seem to agree that it's best to only feed them part of the time. Does anyone have any actual experience of including Bloodworms as part of a daily diet for long term (several years)? I want to keep my Magma fat and happy, but I don't want to make it sick if it decides to eat only Bloodworms from now on. I also have Anthias and Tangs that I think might be affected by too much Bloodworms.

09/12/2017, 07:56 PM	#2
mike61289 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Montreal, Quebec Posts: 424	My understanding is that bloodworms are kind of like popcorn to fish. They eat it because it's tasty, making it useful when you have a new fish that's refusing to eat. I wouldn't feed it regularly though to the reef, nor to a freshwater tank. __________________ Just keep swimming... Just keep swimming... Just keep swimming swimming swimming. What do we do? We swim swim!

09/13/2017, 12:07 PM	#4
Rilelen Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Virginia Posts: 245	I agree, bloodworms are fine for freshwater fish. I too had a dwarf puffer for a while who subsisted almost entirely on bloodworms. I'm not sure about reef fish, but would love to hear from folks who are more knowledgeable on this issue. __________________ 72g: Percula pair, Foxface, Kole tang, Midas Blenny, Blue/green chromis, Yellow & green clown goby pairs Office Nano Tank System (29 Gallon + 20 Gallon): Saltwater mollies + fry

09/13/2017, 01:18 PM	#5
carrots Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Mendham, NJ USA Posts: 395	I fed blood worms & mysis shrimp to my marine tanks almost every other day for the past 40 years. The chromis and anthias love chasing them in the current. The label says it is 6.0% protein where mysis shrimp is 10%. Pellet foods 2X a day are their main diet with protein contents around 30% I have had success getting new stubborn fish, like Regal Angels, in QT to eat pellet foods by first getting them to eat blood worms and then later soaking pellet foods in the blood juice before feeding.