Do I need to cut up earthworms for betta?

Hiya!

So my new tank will be cycled soon (I hope...) and I was wondering if I can feed earthworms as a treat to a betta? The worms will come from my compost heap, so no fertilisers or anything. Can a betta eat earthworms, and if so can they be fed live without being chopped up?

Thanks, Chloe

 

I'm pretty sure they can if you diced them up, but I don't know what you would want to when you can just buy frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp, mysis etc. I think a whole, live earthworm is too big to fit into a betta's mouth.

 

I'm pretty sure they can if you diced them up, but I don't know what you would want to when you can just buy frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp, mysis etc. I think a whole, live earthworm is too big to fit into a betta's mouth.

Oh okay thanks! That's what I will do then

 

Earthworms from a compost heap are FREE, as opposed to paying for frozen. Duh!

I'm sure you would have to chop them up for the Betta, I just don't think it could handle an entire worm. Unless you can go through and find some of the baby worms, but personally I'd be hesitant about digging through a compost heap!

 

Unless you can go through and find some of the baby worms, but personally I'd be hesitant about digging through a compost heap!

Can you imagine!? Rotting food and dirt everywhere!

 

I think I speak for everyone when I say I would rather spend 3 bucks on frozen brine shrimp or mysis then dig through a compost heap, pick out earthworms, chop up the earthworms and feed them to my betta on a regular basis. Just saying.

 

Yeah, but talk about a spoiled betta! That local produce is expensive for us but he's on the Zero Mile Diet for nothin'

 

I think I speak for everyone when I say I would rather spend 3 bucks on frozen brine shrimp or mysis then dig through a compost heap, pick out earthworms, chop up the earthworms and feed them to my betta on a regular basis. Just saying.

If you did speak for everyone, we wouldn't be having this discussion, would we?

Live food is always better than frozen. Neither should be given daily, but only as occasional treats. What's a little effort for an occasional treat for the fish?

BTW, where are you getting frozen BS for $3.00? It costs more than that around here. And mysis is even more expensive.

 

Do you suppose that wild-collected earthworms should be "cleansed" on a diet of cornmeal like escargot before serving? I'm serious.

 

My fish always liked them dirt and all. That's one of the pluses of Earthworms, they cannot carry aquatic diseases because they come from the ground.

 

If you think that picking earthworms off the ground is worth it, by all means do it. It is free and if frozen and live food is really expensive where you live, that might be best for your situation.

 

Yes, the frozen food is stupidly expensive, and I can't find any live food (if anyone near the hampshire/surrey area can help with that...?) But thanks everyone for your help

My fish always liked them dirt and all. That's one of the pluses of Earthworms, they cannot carry aquatic diseases because they come from the ground.

Do you cut them up? Do you get cloudy water? What fish do you have? Lots of questions I know but hey, I'm inquisitive by nature!

 

I have fish that are big enough to eat whole nightcrawlers! I've never had water get cloudy from feeding earthworms. I keep a lot of different kinds of fish, in over 40 tanks at the moment, with a number of tanks that still need to be sterilized and set up again.

 

Even the earthworms you find in the pile under the rabbit hutch?! Those must be big fish indeed:shock:

 

And do you chop them up? @chromedome52 Whats your smallest fish that eats them? Would a betta?

 

I expect a betta would love them! Mine will try to eat anything. If it's too big they'll fight with it and try to tear a chunk off

 

I expect a betta would love them! Mine will try to eat anything. If it's too big they'll fight with it and try to tear a chunk off

Wow! I knew they were vicious but this is a new level!

 

I have fed small earthworms to 3 inch Cichlids, and they certainly managed to get them down - eventually. I do not chop up earthworms, as they are an opportunistic treat for my larger fish only. I have other live foods that I culture for the smaller fish, such as Daphnia and Mosquito larvae (okay, I don't "culture" those, they just show up).

DO NOT use worms from Dung piles!!!!! They are somehow different, and not good for the fish, or for your tanks. A compost heap is not the same as a dung pile, and those worms would be safe.

 

I like to think that bunny beans are different But yeah, I see why you wouldn't want to harvest worms from manure. Do as he says, not as I says!

 

Don't worry Aquaphobia chromedome52 I have a food waste/garden clippings compost bin! No nasties in there (besides rotting bananas... YUCK!)

(Who noticed my new signature? I only just worked out how to do them and I'm really proud. The dificulty of trying not to sound self-centered > Tee hee hee!!!)