Feeding rams bloodworms?

[Dunk2]

Go easy on the bloodworms.

GlennO
I read this periodically but never understood the basis for it? Any insight?

I’ve always fed my Rams bloodworms daily with a mix of other quality foods. They seem to do very well.

 

[SouthAmericanCichlids]

Well, if you don't let them get waterlogged then it can cause digestive issues. And also, they are very fatty, not the most healthy.

At least that's what I've heard, I wouldn't know though how to look into it myself.

 

[fallfever]

You can literally confirm anything you already believe about bloodworms on the internet and then spread it as gospel, so I'm fairly certain there is no hard rule. The consensus seems to be that bloodworms lack a complete nutrition profile and are a nice supplement that fish enjoy. But they are not twinkies. They do have value. As long as you are providing your fish with flakes/pellets that have the vitamins and minerals they need you are fine. I have cichlids older than my kids (9 and10) who have been getting blood worms three times a week throughout their lives and I can't imagine they could be any healthier without them.

 

[GlennO]

GlennO
I read this periodically but never understood the basis for it? Any insight?

I’ve always fed my Rams bloodworms daily with a mix of other quality foods. They seem to do very well.

I made that comment in the other thread because the OP said that the fish were stuffed full of bloodworms and that was obvious in the pics. That is a risk, even with omnivores. Bloodworms are extremely rich and overfeeding can cause constipation and bloat. The definition of overfeeding depends on the amount fed, the frequency and species of fish. For most fish a small amount a few times a week is fine. The risk of bloat is higher with fish that lean towards herbivorous such as mbuna and rainbowfish. Btw I keep rainbowfish and I do feed bloodworms a couple of times a week but the quantity is small and I mix it with vegetable matter. There are many experienced rainbowfish breeders who recommend that bloodworms be avoided totally.

 

[LowConductivity]

I wouldn’t limit it to just bloodworms….IME, most dwarf cichlids seem to react poorly to to many worms, blood or black. Like all things in life, moderation is probably the key