Bloodworms are a popular live food used to feed fish and invertebrates in home aquariums. Their writhing red forms are difficult for tank inhabitants to resist! But can these nutritious wigglers also make a tasty treat for your shrimp?
In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about feeding bloodworms to shrimp, including:
- What are bloodworms exactly?
- The benefits of bloodworms for shrimp
- How to feed bloodworms safely
- Proper storage and handling
- Potential risks and precautions
- Alternate foods to provide variety
- Signs your shrimp enjoy bloodworms
- How bloodworms can enhance color
- Answers to common questions
We’ll make sure you have all the information you need to make bloodworms part of a healthy well-rounded diet for your freshwater shrimp colony. Let’s get started!
What Are Bloodworms?
Bloodworms are the small, red larvae of non-biting midge flies in the family Chironomidae. They live in freshwater sediments and are an important natural food source for fish, shrimp and other creatures.
In the aquarium trade, bloodworms are harvested from managed ponds then sold frozen or freeze-dried as fish food. Live bloodworms are also cultured and sold for feeding purposes.
Both their bright red color and writhing movements trigger feeding instincts making bloodworms irresistible to most aquatic life!
Why Are Bloodworms Good for Shrimp?
Bloodworms make an excellent supplemental food for shrimp for a few key reasons:
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High in protein. Bloodworms contain over 80% protein, which facilitates growth and breeding. This aids molting and helps develop vivid coloration.
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Meaty texture. The plump bodies are easy for shrimp to grab and consume compared to tiny powders or flakes.
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Attractive wriggling. The movement stimulates shrimp’s predatory instincts. Even finicky eaters may be enticed.
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Nutrient rich. Bloodworms provide a rich source of vitamins, minerals and carotenoids that boost health.
Offering bloodworms a few times a week provides great nutrition shrimp need. They add diversity to typicalflake and pellet-based diets.
How to Feed Bloodworms to Shrimp
Bloodworms can be fed to shrimp either frozen or live. Here are some tips for safe feeding:
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Thaw frozen worms first to prevent temperature shock and make them easier to grab.
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Feed 3-4 medium worms per shrimp 2-3 times weekly. Adjust amounts based on consumption.
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Use feeding dishes to prevent worms from getting lost in the substrate. Target feeding works best.
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For live worms, drop them directly into the current so shrimp can catch them as they float by.
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Feed at night or when lights are off to simulate natural foraging behaviors.
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Remove any uneaten worms within a few hours to maintain water quality.
Follow these tips to help your shrimp enjoy bloodworms while keeping the tank clean!
How to Store and Handle Bloodworms
Proper storage and handling maintains safety and nutrition of bloodworms:
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Keep frozen worms sealed airtight in the freezer to prevent freezer burn.
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Thaw chilled worms in cool tank water to retain texture. Avoid direct heat.
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Live bloodworms can be kept short-term in the fridge in original bag water.
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Wash hands before and after handling live or frozen worms to prevent contamination.
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Discard any dead, damaged or decomposing bloodworms, which can foul water.
Following good storage practices preserves bloodworm nutrition and safety for your shrimp.
Are There Any Risks of Feeding Bloodworms?
Provided they come from a reputable source, bloodworms pose little risk beyond a few potential issues:
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Overfeeding can cause ammonia spikes if excess worms decay. Stick to recommended amounts.
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Some bloodworm shipments may carry pathogens if starved or crowded. Always quarantine new worms.
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Large bloodworms could potentially choke small shrimp. Crush or cut worms to size if needed.
With reasonable precautions and proper feeding techniques, bloodworms are quite safe for shrimp. They offer nutritional benefits that outweigh their minimal risks.
Alternate Foods to Vary the Shrimp Diet
While bloodworms make a great supplemental food, shrimp benefit from a varied diet including:
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Sinking shrimp pellets to provide balanced everyday nutrition
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Blanched vegetables like zucchini or spinach for fiber
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Daphnia, brine shrimp or cyclops for variety
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Mineral rocks or cuttlebone for calcium and trace elements
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Powdered spirulina algae to introduce carotenoids
Varying protein sources, vegetation, and gut foods keeps shrimp healthy and helps colors pop!
How Can You Tell if Shrimp Like Bloodworms?
It’s easy to tell if shrimp are attracted to bloodworms by watching their behavior:
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Shrimp swarming the worms in a feeding frenzy
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Increased activity and boldness coming out to eat
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Quickly grabbing worms as they touch down
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Food getting monopolized by assertive shrimp
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Bright colors and excited movements
These signs show bloodworms trigger prey drive and enjoyment. Shrimp often become more visible and energetic at feeding time.
Do Bloodworms Enhance Shrimp Color?
Bloodworms can enhance the vivid colors of shrimp like cherries, crystals and tigers. Why?
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Protein aids growth of new color-producing cells.
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Pigments called carotenoids get incorporated into the shell.
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A varied diet provides different health benefits.
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Improved overall health shows in stronger color.
The nutrients in bloodworms translate directly to brighter and more intense hues in many colorful shrimp breeds.
Frequently Asked Questions About Shrimp and Bloodworms
Here are answers to some other common questions about feeding bloodworms to shrimp:
How often can I offer bloodworms? 2-3 times per week is ideal. They are very protein-rich, so daily feeding is not recommended.
Can I feed freeze-dried bloodworms? Yes, but rehydrate in tank water first. The moving live or thawed worms elicit a stronger feeding response.
How do I keep worms from getting everywhere? Use a feeding dish, drop them directly into flow, or feed at night when shrimp are already active.
Is it okay to feed bloodworms meant for fish? Yes, as long as they are from a reputable source. Fish-marketed bloodworms are safe for invertebrates.
Can bloodworms go bad? If dead, decomposing or smell foul, discard them. Only feed fresh, intact bloodworms.
How do I make bloodworms sink? Soak freeze-dried worms first to rehydrate. For frozen, let thaw completely before feeding to prevent floating.
The Takeaway on Shrimp and Bloodworms
At the end of the day, bloodworms are a nutritious supplemental food that most shrimp cannot resist!
Their bright wriggling forms appeal to shrimp’s instincts to hunt and stimulate their appetite. The high protein content provides nutrition that aids growth and enhances color.
By following proper storage methods, monitoring water quality, and offering bloodworms in moderation as part of a varied shrimp diet, you can take full advantage of their benefits safely.
Observe your shrimp at feeding time to see if they enthusiastically accept this tantalizing treat. If so, bloodworms can become a beneficial part of their dietary rotation that keeps your colony active, growing and vibrant!
