What Are Bloodworms

Fish and aquarium enthusiasts have long known that bloodworms are one of the best forms of food to provide to their fish. However, many questions still surround this popular food source, so let’s look at what bloodworms are, how they’re used in fish tanks, and more.

 

What are bloodworms？

Bloodworms are a type of worm, with red-colored bodies that can be found in freshwater environments. They're commonly used in aquaculture and tropical fish keeping, where they serve as natural food sources for several species of fish and invertebrates like crayfish, shrimp, crabs, and snails.

While they're generally harmless to humans, you should always wash your hands thoroughly after handling them because some bloodworm species carry parasites that can cause illness in humans and other animals if ingested.

 

How do you feed bloodworms to fish?

It’s a good idea to feed bloodworms to your fish only once or twice a week. These live foods are packed with nutrients and can easily make your fish sick if fed too often.

Too many bloodworms can cause fatty liver disease and gill problems in fish. However, most experts recommend feeding them at least once a week if you want your fish tank ecosystem healthy and balanced.

If you have an algae problem in your aquarium, it’s a good idea to use bloodworms as an alternative food source for your fish. They will consume excess algae while also helping maintain proper water quality levels. This is especially important when using live plants in your fish tank. Just be sure not to overfeed.

 

Types of bloodworms

The following are three types of bloodworms:

 

Live bloodworms

Bloodworms, also known as blood or live types of blood, come from a class of crustaceans called Cladocera, which includes other familiar creatures such as water fleas.

The red color comes from hemoglobin that they get from their diet of decaying plants. They also contain hagfish slime (which is why fish love them so much) to protect themselves against predators, like bluegill sunfish.

When feeding your fish live food, be sure to remove any uneaten food within 5 minutes. If left in water for too long, they will die and begin to decay. This can cause ammonia spikes in your tank. A good rule of thumb is to feed no more than ¼-1/2 cup per 10 gallons per day.

 

Frozen bloodworms

Frozen bloodworms are an excellent treatment for many different species of fish because they're a good source of protein and provide your fish with the nutrition it needs to stay healthy and thrive.

Unfortunately, frozen bloodworms can be difficult to thaw, which makes it difficult to know exactly how much you should feed your fish at each feeding time. Frozen bloodworms are one of the most commonly used live baits in both saltwater and freshwater fishing.

They are small, easy to transport, have a long shelf life, and taste great to fish of all kinds, especially the most popular freshwater species such as largemouth bass and bluegill.

The process of freezing them kills most bacteria in them making them a safe option for any freshwater lake or aquarium. It also keeps their scent potent which draws fish to them as an ideal meal!

If you plan on using these as fish bait be sure to check that your local laws permit anglers to use these types of worm food before purchasing any since it is not common practice yet in many freshwater lakes.

 

Freeze-dried bloodworms

The freeze-dried bloodworms are the perfect addition to your aquarium for various reasons.

First, they have a long shelf life. Since they aren't packed with preservatives and other additives, they can last for years without losing their nutritional value or flavor.

Second, since freeze-drying preserves all of its nutrients, most people agree that it is also more nutritious than other forms of storage.

Finally, freeze-dried foods are easy to use. They don't require refrigeration or special preparation; simply add them directly into your aquarium water.

 

How to use freeze-dried bloodworms in your aquarium?

The best way to use freeze-dried bloodworms in your aquarium is by adding them directly from a bag into your fish tank. There is no water involved, so you don't have to worry about these worms going bad or hurting anything else in your tank.

Since there's no water involved, it also means that these products will not clog up your filtration system and can be easily used as an additive for most fish tanks.

It's important to note that freeze-dried bloodworms should only be used as an additive to your existing food supply. They should never make up more than 10% of your total diet, which means they shouldn't replace any other food sources currently being consumed by your fish.

 

Where can I get bloodworms?

If you’re purchasing them at a pet store, shop around. Different pet stores carry different brands of frozen bloodworms, so if you’re buying them in bulk—say, a dozen or more worms—you can likely negotiate a better price.

Online retailers also offer great deals on packages of frozen bloodworms, which makes sense considering it will cost you less in shipping than if you bought them from a local store.

 

Conclusion

Bloodworms, also known as hemoglobin worms, are a great food for goldfish because they are rich in protein. Feeding bloodworms to your fish will help bring out their bright colors. Although you can buy them at pet stores, it's much cheaper to raise them yourself.