[Killietalk] Roughage again!

["Kenneth Combs" <KCombs at mergerx_net>]

Tyrone's post about roughage has REALLY got me to thinking:

One thing I've learned is generalizations about anything are not worth
much...I'm re-thinking a few post about white worms I've read...many
folks suggest they are too fat, can't be fed continually, et et..I
wonder if this is because of the worms themselves or is it some "nuance"
with indoor culture?

Many years ago here in Ohio I used to find a type of white worm always
sandwiched between layers of fallen leaves, fed those to my fish those
by the thousands, I had no issues then. Now I'm wondering if the
"issues" with white worm feeding is due to the domestication, bedding or
the foods the worm gets. I'm also wondering if the soil in the gut of
the worm "helps"...

I can see some "Blue water" fish like a tuna not needing "roughage"
per-se, but what about a fish adapted to a freshwater stream ?.I'm not
so sure some freshwater fish are quite adapted to the "soft foods" it
gets for our convenience (that wide upturned mouth of a gularis sure
looks like it could swallow a dragonfly!). 

While in Phoenix, I never had ANY disease (or dropsy) issues. Our house
had a entire "food chain' of pest, and anything from a cricket to an
unlucky gecko went "swat-->plop" un-mercilessly into the tanks,
(BTW,providing hours of amusement for my "small mind")..I'm wondering if
perhaps the assorted bug legs, sand, twigs, snail shells and other
"jetsam" may be a important (but missing) component in certain fresh
water fishes digestion (like "grit" for chickens)...

(BTW Lee, see California Blackworms at
http://aquaticfoods.com/freesamples.html, I think a pound is about $16
delivered...Also, Walgreen's, CVS and a few other drug stores sell
"camping refridge" for about $29, that is if the thought of a open worm
container amongst your fresh produce is unappealing)


To join the AKA see http://www.aka.org/pages/join.html
Archives are at http://fins.actwin.com/killietalk/