Help with excess tubifex worm in the gravel

[CacaManiac]

alrighty guys, i've got this problem... I got this small tank with 20 plus Axelrodi Blue and a pair of Apistogramma nijsseni. i feed them live tubifex about once a week as a little treat. but the worms that dont make it into the stomachs of the fish crawl into the gravel.. and i can see them from the side of the tank... any ways to get rid or them.. or should i just let it be?

Here's a Picture of the tank.

[bryan]

A couple of corydoras or kuhli loach should help.

[grey_fox]

Having tubifex in the gravel should be fine, but of course not in excess. Like what bryan mentioned, get either a loach or a corydora to help in the removal.

By the way, that looks like quite a lot of tubifex for a small school of tetras and a pair of apistos.

[tropic]

why dont try feeding with frozen bloodworm?

[CacaManiac]

i just put the whole lot there so that the fish get to eat the worms that manage to escape from the cone.... i removed all of them after a few hours.
i feel the worms that manage to escape from the hoard are the strongest.

[bossteck]

i just put the whole lot there so that the fish get to eat the worms that manage to escape from the cone.... i removed all of them after a few hours.
i feel the worms that manage to escape from the hoard are the strongest.

Hi,

Do you mean your fishes are so well-behaved that they will not go up to the cone to feed on those partially exposed worms? But only wait for worms to escape from the cone? I find it a little unbelievable.

[bryan]

Ok maybe its paranoia.

I see hundreds of dirty unhygenic worms having a 'spa session' in your fish tank. Worms poop alot so try not to have too many of them in the tank too long.

[taysh75]

Ok maybe its paranoia.

I see hundreds of dirty unhygenic worms having a 'spa session' in your fish tank. Worms poop alot so try not to have too many of them in the tank too long.

Think the best way is to stop feeding your fishes and the worms would clear in no time.

When that happens to me last time, i just starve the fishes and the worms would be gone for good.

[gills]

i agree with taysh75.the fish will clear up e worms in no time if u don't feed em.

[Desmond]

Hi Caca,

I faced the same problem as you when i fed my fishes with the worms. The holes in the so called 'holder' are too big and the worms escape easily. I read on killies.com (i cant find the post! thus i cant post the webpage ) that one member, uses a clothes hanger and bent it to fit the top of the fish tank. Then, he will place filter wool on it and add some worms on the wool. The worms will slowly make their way down through the wool and to the other end, and if unlucky, a passing fish will just gobble it! The wool can oso act as a physical cleaner to rid the worms of dirt and stuff like that.

I have tried it myself and it's good! just that, the worms tend to move a little too fast and my fishes were too full to eat any excess worms. I had to limit the amount of worms being fed.

Hope this post helps!

Desmond

[wks]

Hi CacaManiac, don't mind me saying this. Your exposed root monster and CO2 supply coupled with few plants will invite algae in no time.

[unicorn 555]

use coolie loach is the best