How To Culture Live Food?

How do you have a successful culture for live food like brine shrimp, blood worms, white worms, etc. I want to get discus but I don’t have any live food and my lfs doesn’t sell it. I can order a starter culture online.

 

For the baby brine shrimp (BBS), start with watching a youtube video (or two or three) of DIY baby brine shrimp hatcheries. They are really easy to make. And then hop online and order some BBS eggs and aquarium salt.

I don't know how to do blood worms. I've never seen people talk about blood worm cultures. But with the white worms (aka micro worms) you can buy a starter culture like you mentioned.

Me personally, I found another local hobbyist on facebook who was kind enough to make a microworm culture for me using one of his cultures. I found him by doing a shout out on a local aquarium club facebook page.

 

For the baby brine shrimp (BBS), start with watching a youtube video (or two or three) of DIY baby brine shrimp hatcheries. They are really easy to make. And then hop online and order some BBS eggs and aquarium salt.

I don't know how to do blood worms. I've never seen people talk about blood worm cultures. But with the white worms (aka micro worms) you can buy a starter culture like you mentioned.

Me personally, I found another local hobbyist on facebook who was kind enough to make a microworm culture for me using one of his cultures. I found him by doing a shout out on a local aquarium club facebook page.

Which would be best for discus? And what about vinegar eels?

 

Which would be best for discus? And what about vinegar eels?

I don't have experience with discus.

But all the foods mentioned are more for fish fry rather than adult fish.

 

I don't have experience with discus.

But all the foods mentioned are more for fish fry rather than adult fish.

The discus I might be getting would be prettying small so is it ok?

 

The discus I might be getting would be prettying small so is it ok?

Maybe. I'm not sure.

I know my adult and young adult angels don't even notice the crumb sized bbs.

 

Maybe. I'm not sure.

I know my adult and young adult angels don't even notice the crumb sized bbs.

So should I just feed frozen blood worms and brine shrimp?

 

So should I just feed frozen blood worms and brine shrimp?

That's what I would do in your position!

 

Do you mean adult brine shrimp? Fairy shrimp would probably be a lot easier if that's the case, they're easy to raise. White worms are really easy, just grab a tub, coconut husk, and cat food or table scraps and you're good to go. I experimented with mine a bit and they'll even eat plant trimmings.
As for blood worms, those are Midge fly larvae and very difficult to establish a culture for.

 

White worms are really easy, just grab a tub, coconut husk, and cat food or table scraps and you're good to go.

Why do you need coconut husk?

Do you mean adult brine shrimp?

Yes

 

Why do you need coconut husk?

Yes

White worms are terrestrial and need a soil substrate but coconut husk is safer for fish if it gets in the tank.

 

White worms are terrestrial and need a soil substrate but coconut husk is safer for fish if it gets in the tank.

Can I just buy regular organic soil?

 

Can I just buy regular organic soil?

Sure, but you'd have to clean them before putting them in the aquarium, and it takes a good amount of time tbh

 

How do you raise the fairy shrimp?

 

How do you raise the fairy shrimp?

Hatch them in a container without greenwater, then acclimate them to greenwater after 1-3 days. Feed yeast/sugar at first, forgot the recipe, but it should show up if you google

 

My adult discus would eat raw, finely shredded pigs, lambs or ox heart - small quantities, rinsed first to remove excess blood. If you're not squeamish, finely chopped earthworms as well (yuk).
I used to freeze them first, it's a little more humane.