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Thread: Feeding meal worms to Discus

  1. #1
    Moderator Team LizStreithorst's Avatar
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    Default Feeding meal worms to Discus

    I'm posting this here because I don't think that anyone has tried this before. I'm going to try feeding my Discus meal worms. I have a supply because I breed them for the chickens and the wild birds. When I first thought about feeding them to the fish I rejected the idea because the worms have an hard exoskeleton. Today as I was separating beetles from larvae it occurred to me that if I were to slice the worm in half or thirds the fish could get to the juicy good stuff and leave the shell for me to suck up at WC..

    I'd only toss them the worms once or twice a week. From what I have read they are very fatty. Besides, I'm the one who will have to cut the nasty worms in half. \

    Any thoughts about my idea other than the fact that I can think up some weird stuff?
    Mama Bear

  2. #2
    Homesteader Adam S's Avatar
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    Default Re: Feeding meal worms to Discus

    Hey Liz, seems like mealworms are a go: http://forum.simplydiscus.com/showth...7615-Mealworms

  3. #3
    Moderator Team LizStreithorst's Avatar
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    Default Re: Feeding meal worms to Discus

    And here I was thinking that this was something never attempted. I'm embarrassed. I should have done a search. Thanks for doing it for me. Even with the white ones I still worry about it clogging up the Discus' guts. I'm going to cut them up and let the fish peck the good stuff out.
    Mama Bear

  4. #4
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    Default Re: Feeding meal worms to Discus

    I purchased a large bag of freeze dry meal worms today at the local pet store. The advertising said they were for chickens. I ground them up and mixed with black worms. The fishies ate them and did not die. Meal worms are high protein.

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    Administrator brewmaster15's Avatar
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    Default Re: Feeding meal worms to Discus

    Quote Originally Posted by peewee1 View Post
    I purchased a large bag of freeze dry meal worms today at the local pet store. The advertising said they were for chickens. I ground them up and mixed with black worms. The fishies ate them and did not die. Meal worms are high protein.
    I would be cautious on these. If you do an internet search on "mealworms treated with hormones" you will see many references to this. They use it to make them grow big and not pupate as fast or make them sterile.. Its a common discussion item on chicken, reptile, and arthropod forums. If your culture them yourself and they reproduce you are fine. I have done this for years. But commercially dried ones may be have been exposed to chemicals/hormones.

    Al
    AquaticSuppliers.com Freeze Dried BlackWorms and other foods your Discus will Love!!!


    >>>>>I am a science guy.. show me the science minus the BS

    Al Sabetta
    Simplydiscus LLC Owner
    Aquaticsuppliers.com


    I take Pics.. click here for my Flickr images

  6. #6
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    Default Re: Feeding meal worms to Discus

    Thanks, I wondered about that, Al. Caution to be sure. I had lunch yesterday with a friend of yours. Won't mention name but has to do with a photography project. Heading off topic here but have you posted any of your photos elsewhere? I heard that you are talented in that.

  7. #7
    Administrator brewmaster15's Avatar
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    Default Re: Feeding meal worms to Discus

    Quote Originally Posted by peewee1 View Post
    Thanks, I wondered about that, Al. Caution to be sure. I had lunch yesterday with a friend of yours. Won't mention name but has to do with a photography project. Heading off topic here but have you posted any of your photos elsewhere? I heard that you are talented in that.
    lol... don't know about that but I just dropped you a pm.


    al
    AquaticSuppliers.com Freeze Dried BlackWorms and other foods your Discus will Love!!!


    >>>>>I am a science guy.. show me the science minus the BS

    Al Sabetta
    Simplydiscus LLC Owner
    Aquaticsuppliers.com


    I take Pics.. click here for my Flickr images

  8. #8
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    Default Re: Feeding meal worms to Discus

    This an older thread but I’m probably not the only person who throws every living insect in my tank, if it moves it’s eaten. Back in the late 80’s I used to have an earthworm farm just to feed my fish. I think I’m going to start one again, somewhere I read that growing earth in used coffee grinds “scrubs” their intestinal tract so they are not so dirty when being fed, I never did this myself in the past. Do you think this would be safe, I’m not sure how much caffeine is left behind? Anyone try this, or thoughts?
    Thanks
    Eric

  9. #9
    Moderator Team LizStreithorst's Avatar
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    Default Re: Feeding meal worms to Discus

    I used to do the same thing. Once the fish figure out what they are they scarf them like nobody's business. I quit because they just became too much bother. I'm retired now, so I think I'll start up a culture again. They're a great food! I didn't mind them having dirty intestines. That's what WC is for.
    Mama Bear

  10. #10
    Silver Member Willie's Avatar
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    Default Re: Feeding meal worms to Discus

    Liz;

    I’m retiring too, so that’s an interesting project for me as well. My old red worm cultures used to die off from neglect. No more excuses now!

    Willie
    At my age, everything is irritating.

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