Bloodworms
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Bloodworms are the larvae of the midge family Chironomidae (Order Diptera, Class Insecta). Midges are mosquito-like insects. They are often sold as food for carnivorous fish such as bettas (also known as Siamese Fighting Fish) suspended in gel, freeze-dried, or frozen. Chemical analysis shows that bloodworms contain 9.3% dry matter and of this there is 62.5% crude protein, 10.4% crude fat and 11.6% ash with 15.4% nitrogen free extract. They are also a good source of iron for the fish since they contain haemoglobin. Bloodworms can also be sold live, although they are often refrigerated.
Attempts to propagate bloodworms have been carried out in many countries without much success. The major problem is the inability to induce swarming and mating of the chironomid midges in captivity. However, there is now some successful cultivation of Bloodworms in Southeast Asia.
If you wish to collect bloodworms the best time to catch them in large numbers is during the night when the larvae leave their self-made tubes and when the dissolved oxygen at the bottom of water is low. They can be caught easily using small mesh netting. Bloodworms can also be obtained by sieving the mud on the spot. The larvae and the coarse particles of detritus will remain in the sieve and then shaken into a bucket filled with water. After a while the larvae will swim to the surface where they can be fished out with a net.
