Strictly carnivorous fish larvae have been known to refuse artificial feed, and high mortality rates have been reported when artificial diets were used. Worms such as tubificids (e.g., Tubifex tubifex) are essential for the mass propagation of some larval fish species, especially when their dietary nutrient requirements are mostly unknown or where the use of formulated dry diets has been unsuccessful. Needless to say, much research still remains to be done in evaluating various worms as a source of dietary lipids, vitamins and minerals for use in aquaculture. It has been suggested that certain polyunsaturated fatty acids in bloodworms may help trigger maturation in shrimp raised under captivity. Bloodworms have been successfully used as a feed source to induce maturation in the cultured shrimp Penaeus vannamei. Other than protein, the lipid content of some worms may also have high nutritive value. Proximate Composition of Various Worms (% dry weight basis)* Ng, Proximate Composition of Various Worms, Table 1 Species Similar high incorporation rates of worm meals in formulated diets have been reported for other fish species using meals obtained from earthworms and silkworm pupae. The worm meal was found to be highly palatable to the African catfish, and good growth performance and feed utilization efficiency were observed, even in catfish fed diets with up to 80 percent replacement of the fishmeal. 1) were evaluated as a replacement for fishmeal in African catfish feeds, at graded concentrations of 20 to 100 percent dietary protein. In a recent study conducted in our laboratory, dried mealworm ( Tenebrio molitor) larvae (Fig. The excellent amino acid composition and palatability of wormbased proteins makes them superior over most plant-based proteins, which are usually deficient in sulfur amino acids, sometimes unpalatable to the farmed animal, and usually composed of anti-nutritional factors. Worms, whether as live feed or as a meal, are also reported to be highly palatable to aquatic animals. Table 1 shows the high protein content generally found in worms and insect larvae. Several researchers have pointed out the well-balanced amino acid profile of various worm meals, which makes them excellent alternative sources of animal protein to fishmeal in commercial feeds. Research into the use of various types of worms, both as a complete feed or protein supplement, has favorably pointed to their potential for use in aquaculture. These worms can be used as live food, or dried and ground into powder for use in pelleted diets. The use of worms, such as insect larvae, terrestrial earthworms and aquatic oligochaetes, in fish and shrimp rearing has generated considerable interest. However, fishmeal is a finite fishery resource, and the search for novel and renewable sources of protein is crucial for the continued expansion of the aquaculture industry. Much of the protein in commercial aquafeeds is currently being supplied by fishmeal. Protein is the most expensive component in aquafeeds, and it is used in relatively large quantities because of the high protein requirement of most cultured aquatic species. There is an ongoing search for alternative protein sources for use in aquaculture feeds. 1: Mealworm ( Tenebrio molitor) larvae are highly nutritious and palatable to fish. Gross gross gross!ĭoes anyone know how I can kill them for good? I know lots of people use them for food but I do not trust them and don't want them infesting my other tanks.Insect larvae, earthworms and polychaetes gaining interest Fig. I guess they had been hiding from the light in the wood and now that it's darker they all came out and are hanging out in clumps on my plants. There's a whole colony in there now and it's disgusting. A few days ago the light burned out on the QT so I just scooted it next to a lamp until I could get to it.Īgain last night I went to pull everything out of the QT when I noticed the tubifex worms again. I treated with Quick Cure and waited a couple more weeks and didn't see any worms. They were twice as big and in bigger numbers than before. I waited a few days and didn't see anymore worms but I went ahead and kept everything in the QT for the full two weeks.Īfter two weeks of waiting I was getting ready to move the QT stuff into my tanks when I noticed more tubifex worms. I put everything in my QT and treated with a double dose of Aquari-sol. I recently got some plants and mopani wood from a fellow fishkeeper and accidentally received some tubifex worms as hitchhikers.
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