Re: [Killietalk] Tubifex Tubifex

[Wright Huntley <whuntley at inkmkr_com>]

LeeH920226 at aol_com wrote:
> My experience with tubifex (over 35 years of feeding them whenever I can get 
> a consistent good supply) indicates there is very little risk of feeding them 
> when they have been rinsed thoroughly and are lively and not dying. I also 
> doubt that the quantity that you would be able to produce in a controlled 
> environment would be sufficient to make it worth your time and effort. If you learn 
> something to the contrary, I certainly would rather raise my own than drive 100 
> miles and pay $20/lb for them.

You are lucky. Tubifex are basically illegal in the People's Republic of 
CA, and it costs me about $40/lb to fly in CA blackworms from Fresno 
(300+ miles). Hell, I could have Kobi steaks at that price! My fish are 
spoiled.

Robert Nhan once found some Tubifex in some potted plants for his pond, 
so he set up production. As I recall his method, fine sand substrate in 
7 10G tanks, outdoors. Heavy aeration in all tanks. Fed cheap flake food 
or whatever daily. Once going well, he said he could harvest the worms 
from one half of a tank each day (an ounce or two?). After 2 weeks, he 
was back to the start.

Conclusion: Not worth all the effort. Had better use for tanks.

If Robert still monitors this list, I trust he will correct my story as 
needed.

Wright

PS I agree with Lee that there is no danger in feeding well rinsed 
Tubifex (or blackworms) as long as you do the proper *fish-tank* water 
changes such rich foods require. After 51 years in the hobby, I cannot 
recall ever seeing a disease clearly introduced by either species of worm.

-- 
Wright Huntley - Rt. 001 Box K36, Bishop CA 93514 - whuntley at verizon_net 
- 760 872-3995

  "One in four Katrina victims were white people; so if this was a 
racist conspiracy, it wasn't a very good one."  -- Ann Coulter

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