Darned bloodworms

just fed my guppies some bloodworms and they are looking very bloated and are less active than usual... they are used to flakes but I'm trying to vary there diet... all of them includiing the male now have potbellys and are moving there gills very quickly... neone know what might be wrong? I think I fed them a bit too much

 

I think I fed them a bit too much

I think that's what happened all right, sounds like they're constipated :-\ Are the guppies the only fish in the tank? If so add 1 tablespoon of Epsom Salt (magnesium sulfate) per 10 gallons, and if not feed some mushy pea on a toothpick.

 

thanks for the advice yes they are the only ones in the tank but I'm not sure if I have any mag sulfate... is it in any household products if so which ones? ty... I don't have any peas right now

 

magnesium sulfate yes it is in a household product--Epsom Salt ;D

 

If you had just fed them and they looked that way then you probably overfed them. Just feed them a few less next time as they are pigs where bloodworms are concerned. If its the next day then they may be constipated and Emma gave you good advice.
Carol

 

it was right away and ya I think I fed them too much... I didnt have any mag sulfate or any peas so ill just not do it again my fish are fine now they dropped some loads if you know what I mean the next day and were back to normal

 

If you can find them, try also to feed them some spirulina or veggie flakes once a week just to keep them regular.

 

Most livebearers need some veggies in their diet because in their natural habitat they eat some algae. I feed mine veggie flakes as a first meal in the morning and feed other stuff in the evenings. Your guppies really only need bloodworms about once a week and not a lot then as they tend to over eat them.
Carol

 

do danios over eat blood worms too b/c 2 of mine look like jons description?

 

Most fish will eat bloodworms and will over eat if given enough, so the fishkeeper has to be careful and not overfeed them.
Carol

 

yeah I give them to my guppies now once a week and try not to feed too much... I notice my guppies pecking at my plants / algae... I also give them flakes. is this enough or should I give them veggies?

 

I think bloodworms tend to be constipating...I had to stop feeding them because one of my Platys got really constipated twice in a row after feeding bw's. I didn't have anything to give her, but almost to my surprise she was perfectly fine the next day. I dunno if it was something with the bw's themselves or just that Sunrise was being a big food hog. :
Jon, you might want to get veggie flakes or feed them some kind of veggie like romaine lettuce or zucchinI (which I found out they love after trying to feed my Otos ) or they'll even eat an algae wafer. Just don't give them too much of the latter three things, trust me, it makes them really fat. ;D

 

I haven't fed bloodworms since ive gotten the gourami / cories... tomorrow night is my bloodworm night so ill just feed a few and throw in some veggies.