Gut loading Blackworms?

Coral Keeper · Mar 17, 2019

So, I've had this Copper Band since January 3rd 2019 and the ONLY thing he eats are live blackworms... I've tried just about everything else out there with minimal success.. however, blackworms.. he goes CRAZY after them.. he has gained so much weight eating these guys.. he is just FAT.. just wanted to know if anyone out there gut loads their blackworms and if they do, with what and what is the your process in doing so? So far I just buy a fresh batch once a week or every other week, keep them in a shallow container in the fridge and change their water every day with ro/di water...

Coral Keeper · Mar 17, 2019

Here are a few pictures of the fatboy

SDK · Mar 17, 2019

Grindal worms and White Worms are both easier to gutload. I feed my Grindals things like nutritional yeast.

I think the only practical thing you can do with Blackworms is give them a quick Selcon soak before feeding.....

Justfebreezeit · Mar 17, 2019

Have you tried little neck clams? masstik? Also my dads copperband likes when you leave the cube frozen and it picks at it that way. If the food thaws he wont touch it.

SDK · Mar 17, 2019

Beautiful fish. Have you tried fresh live clams on the half shell.

Coral Keeper · Mar 17, 2019

Ive tried live mussels, clams and oysters... he might pick at it a bit.. But that's it.. not that much.. doesn't go crazy for them like he does live blackworms..

SDK · Mar 17, 2019

The standard advice would be to cut back and force the fish to eat something else, but I don’t think I would risk that with a CB that is eating well.

I would recommend one of the other worms I mentioned above to at least get it started on something else. Maybe also keep putting clams in and hope the fish develops a taste for them over time....

lapin · Mar 17, 2019

I feed my black worms. They are in a 10 gallon tank with an air stone, sponge filter and some of that ammonia reducer gravel like stuff. I use alfalfa pellets used for rabbits. Nori is too salty . If I could find fresh water dried algae sheet (cladophora) like in Viet Nam I would try that.

jd371 · Mar 18, 2019

That's all my CBB ate while in QT. Once he was moved onto the DT he did start to eat other foods I feed my fish but it wasn't right away. I'll add a couple of drops of Selcon to the black worm water from time to time but I mostly put it on the LRS reef frenzy that's thawing in the fridge for the evening feeding.

Havasuviking · Mar 18, 2019

My CBB just ate black worms for a year. He just started eating frozen spirulina brine shrimp. Going to try feeding mysis next. Don't give up.

Coral Keeper · Mar 18, 2019

I definitely won't be giving up on the guy.. ill feed him live blackworms for the rest of his life if thats the only thing he will eat.. just wanted to see if gut loading these guys is possible to boost the nutrition..
@Paul B

Coral Keeper · Mar 19, 2019

elisa h · Mar 19, 2019

When I used to feed live black worms I would put some selcon and crush up some flakes for them to feed on in their cup. I really couldn’t tell you how much good it did but just an idea

Coral Keeper · Mar 24, 2019

Tried putting flakes and pellets.. after 4-5 days it's all still there.. doesn't look like they touched them at all.. the water just fouled...

lapin · Mar 24, 2019

I think elisa h meant that when feeding the worms to the fish they would add this. I dont think worms will eat it. Normally black worms eat decomposing vegetable matter. Lettuce, spinach, plant matter ect.... I use alfalfa pellets used for rabbits. It sinks and breaks down fast in the water.

AcanSkywalker · Aug 12, 2022

Havasuviking said:
My CBB just ate black worms for a year. He just started eating frozen spirulina brine shrimp. Going to try feeding mysis next. Don't give up.

Amen to that. Keeping Blackworms is an extra job with having to constantly change their water.