[Killietalk] Black Worms vs Tubifex

[rscalf at jps_net]

> (BTW Lee, see California Blackworms at
> http://aquaticfoods.com/freesamples.html, I think a pound is about $16

The proprietor of a local aquarium shop tells me that what we commonly call Tubifex are really all Blackworms, not true Tubifex.  An aquarist I know insists that the two names are synonyms.  Does anyone know the truth about this?  I am curious; If these are two different species, I'd be interested to know about any nutritional differences.

Per Bloodworms:  I've learned (what most of you doubtless already know) that these are Midge larvae. The critters are highly specialized for sustained underwater feeding. Seems they are packed with hemoglobin (hence the red color). They saturate with O2 at the surface, then go down for longer periods and to much greater depths than other aerobic larvae. They are able to exploit food resources which are out of reach to other larval competitors and sometimes even to fish; This because they can feed in anoxic bottom layers where fish cannot respire.

   Rusty Scalf




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