Re: [Killietalk] Tubifex Tubifex

[Ken Simolo <Simolo at chem_chem.rochester.edu>]

My tubifex will form clumps that I grab onto by sucking up with a 
turkey baster.  I then put a small plastic bowl into the tank and 
release the clump into that.  The tubifex hold onto to a bunch of 
mulm.  I drain the bowl and then stir it up a few times by pouring 
fresh water into the bowl and dumping any loose mulm back into the 
tubifex tank.  I can only get rid of about 80% of the mulm this way. 
I leave them in the bowl of clean water until the next day the I 
change the water and feed them to the fish.  Some of the mulm ends up 
in the tank but it does not seem to harm the fish.  A few tubifex 
will isolate them selves from the clump so you can get a few clean 
ones that way but it is not worth the effort to keep checking.

I have tried putting the tubifex into a worm feeder in a bowl hoping 
only the tubifex will drop through but they take the mulm with them 
(they like it for hiding).  I am always looking for a better way  but 
I have not come up with one yet.  Maybe using sand as a substrate and 
constantly stirring it up and cleaning the tank so the mulm doesn't 
form would work but I would think that would have a negative impact 
on the food for the tubifex.

Ken

>Harvesting them is an ordeal ....perhaps some harvesting tips will come my
>way.
>
>Lorraine
>
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