Blood worms vs. Black worms

Pugfishluv3 · Nov 11, 2016

As the tittle states what is the difference between black worms and blood worms? Are both good to feed to fish? I can get blood worms locally but would need to order black worms.

Pugfishluv3 · Nov 11, 2016

No one knows? Lol

McMullen · Nov 11, 2016

@Paul B may have some good info or advice.

Rybren · Nov 11, 2016

Blood worms are a stage in the lifecycle of Chironomidae, a type of fly.

Black worms, Lumbriculus variegatus, on the other hand are a type of worm that live in shallow water marshes and swamps.

I have fed both to my tank, but I believe that the Black Worms provide more nutrition.

Pugfishluv3 · Nov 11, 2016

Ok thank you

stunreefer · Nov 11, 2016

They are both generally used to get picky fishes eating.

Blood worms are generally more readily available as they're frozen.

Black worms are generally used live, available at some LFS, or online.

If getting a picky fish to eat is your goal I recommend live black worms. Their motion is irresistible to most fishes.

Pugfishluv3 · Nov 11, 2016

Never tried either in a saltwater tank (did feed them to freshwater) and do want some picky eaters so I suppose I will order some black worms :)

Rybren · Nov 12, 2016

If you can't get live blackworms, you could pick up a culture of white worms. They are usually available in LFS that carry FW fish. In my experience, marine fish go crazy for them as well.

It is very easy to breed them.

Pugfishluv3 · Nov 12, 2016

I can check the best lfs for fish food live and frozen is an hour away lol

Paul B · Nov 19, 2016

If you can't get blackworms, get a different hobby, maybe collecting stamps or perhaps bungee jumping but don't use bloodworms. My fish won't even eat bloodworms and will just use colorful language on me or scratch human slurs into the glass.
"bloodworms" are bugs, not worms. If you are feeding bugs or lizzards use bloodworms, if you are feeding fish, get real worms.

Pugfishluv3 · Nov 19, 2016

Paul B said:
If you can't get blackworms, get a different hobby, maybe collecting stamps or perhaps bungee jumping but don't use bloodworms. My fish won't even eat bloodworms and will just use colorful language on me or scratch human slurs into the glass.
"bloodworms" are bugs, not worms. If you are feeding bugs or lizzards use bloodworms, if you are feeding fish, get real worms.

I think this is rather harsh as I was simply asking a question. I'm not feeding either right now and Google only gave me blood worm options other than one website. From what I understand these are raised in California I live in Virginia. I would like a healthy varied diet for my fish than i am planing. If I need to order this I would be happy to.

Wiz · Nov 19, 2016

I am sure paul ment it as sarcasm like the slurs thing. Dont think he meant anything bad. Great guy with a wealth of knowledge and experience. (One in the same).
Live blackworms are easily shipped from cali. I have frozen them solid and they lived. Lol not bad to store and fish love them! Never tried bloodworms. :-):-)

Rybren · Nov 19, 2016

You're new here and don't know Paul. He's just messing with you.

He has one of the oldest, if not the oldest reef tank out there. When it comes to feeding fish and keeping them healthy, he knows what he's doing. Check out some of his threads. You'll learn a lot and have quite a few chuckles along the way.

JaimeAdams · Nov 19, 2016

I feed blood worms from time to time. My freshwater Bichir relish them. Everybody loves live black worms. I do feed blood worms in my reef tank some times. They all eat them. My cardinal goes crazy for them actually.

cromag27 · Nov 20, 2016

Black worms or no worms. I feed exclusively black worms and it was the best food to feed my clown breeders, hands down. it's the only decent ingredient in that overpriced packaged food that seems to be so popular right now.

cromag27 · Nov 20, 2016

BTW, you can buy frozen packs of blackworms from blackworms-direct.com.

Paul B · Nov 20, 2016

Pugfishluv3 said:
I think this is rather harsh as I was simply asking a question. I'm not feeding either right now and Google only gave me blood worm options other than one website. From what I understand these are raised in California I live in Virginia. I would like a healthy varied diet for my fish than i am planing. If I need to order this I would be happy to.

OK I don't want to sound harsh. Bloodworms are not a proper food for salt water fish because they are bugs. Bugs have a totally different physiology.
They don't contain the oils fish need and are mostly chiten. or what your fingernails are made out of. In other words, they are a Lousy food. Real worms are a great food.
Hows That!
(If you feed bloodworms your fish will still scratch slurs in the glass) :rolleyes:

Chrisfish · Nov 20, 2016

Pugfishluv3 said:
I think this is rather harsh as I was simply asking a question. I'm not feeding either right now and Google only gave me blood worm options other than one website. From what I understand these are raised in California I live in Virginia. I would like a healthy varied diet for my fish than i am planing. If I need to order this I would be happy to.

Where in Virginia are you? I live in Virginia also and buy them from a few of the lfs here my fish live them. But will be looking into the frozen ones @cromag08 mentioned