LIVE FOODS FOR FISH - PART 2 - English version

The natural and best for aquarium fish foods are alive. This type of food can be found in the pond, river, ditch of meadows, gardens and water with rainwater. Each live food should carefully review because with it we can make to the aquarium dangerous predators and parasites. Food can also be purchased live fish store or grow themselves, then it is more reliable and safer than the one derived directly from the environment.




Black mosquito larvae - Culex pipiens

They are found in the warm season from spring to autumn in puddles, bajorach, meadow ditches, ponds for rainwater tanks. Fish give only as much as can be immediately eaten. The administration of excessive amounts thereof could cause a plague of mosquitoes in the apartment. The larvae of mosquitoes is a good and safe food for fish. Generally they are considered particularly valuable food for ornamental fish. Under natural conditions constitute the staple food of tropical fish. Many species of fish prefer to spawn by the administration of mosquito larvae.

Larvae Glassworm (Chaoborus flavicans)

A glassworm is a type of midge larva called Chaoborus. They are also known as phantom midge larvae, because they are transparent. They can be found commonly in lakes all over the world and can be up to 2 centimeters in length. Breathing is not as black mosquito larvae atmospheric air, but gets through the skin dissolved oxygen. Hovering horizontally on the water white and transparent conduction larvae are clearly visible. The larvae are prey conduction, so it should be administered with caution to small rybkom. All larger fish willingly eat them. For long retention in cold places 2 - 8 ° C of from 1 to 4 weeks. An excellent and safe food for many species of fish. They are one of the most common foods live in freshwater aquariums. We can buy in stores aquarium as frozen or living in plastic bags. 

The red mosquito midge larvae (Chironomus and others)

Occur throughout the year, but most during the winter. Enlist them from rainwater tanks and ponds. They are very eager eaten by fishes. There are food willingly adopted and quite nutritious. Hatching adult insects do not bite. But they can not be the only aquarium fish food. Not eaten the larvae hide in the bottom of the tank, so you should not be administered once too many of them. Top-hold them in a jar with constant flow or bag for 2 - 8 ° C for 1-4 weeks

Tubifex tubifex 

Tubifex tubifex, also called the sludge worm, or sewage worm, is a species of tubificid That segmented worm inhabits the sediments of lakes and rivers on several continents. These worms ingest sediments, bacteria selectively digest, and absorb molecules through Their body walls. The worms can survive with little oxygen to hemoglobin-rich waving tail ends that exploit all available oxygen, and can exchange carbon dioxide and oxygen through Their thin skins, in a manner similar to frogs.

They are very thin, threadlike worms length of from 1 to 6 cm. They can be found in ponds, lakes, rivers and ditches on the muddy ground. The largest amounts are found in polluted waters. Because they have a very high potential absorption and accumulation of harmful substances often - it may be that when a course of antibiotics - enough to give drugs rurecznikom for several minutes before skarmieniem fish them, surely eat willingly and medicine will get to where you want to locate. They contain a lot of protein and fat so should be used in moderation, can be a source of parasites.

Mysis relicta

Relicta is a Mysis shrimp-like crustacean in the Mysid order, native is the lakes of Northern Europe and to the brackish Baltic Sea. Mysis is a small, transparent shrimp-like crustacean, of less than 2.5 cm in length. It has two pairs of relatively long antennae, associated with rounded antennal plates; large, stalked compound eyes; the thorax covered by a coat-like carapace; and muscular, cylindrical abdomen; and a tail fan featuring a telson with a v-shaped cleft terminal.

Marine cultured shrimp in water 12% salt content, so that prior to the feeding can survive a few days in fresh water. They are a favorite food of seahorses, as well as some species of fish coming directly from catches in nature. For large fish are able to cope with up to 40 mm measuring a tasty morsel they are quite a delicacy. In exchange for this high-grade fish food growers return the favor good health and a desire to breed.

Gammarus pulex

Gammarus pulex is a species of Amphipoda crustacean found in fresh water across much of Europe. It is a greyish animal, growing to 21 mm (0.83 in) long. Adult males of Gammarus pulex small reach a total length of 21 millimetres (0.83 in), while females only grow to 14 mm (0.55 in). [1] The adults have a robust appearance; they are typically greyish with markings in dark brown or green

Gammarus pulex reaches a length of up to 1 cm, has strongly squeezed in side-body planes. It is classified as crustaceans. The easiest way to find a clean and flowing waters. Usually they are hiding under pieces of wood and stones. They eat mostly detritus and the remains of animal and vegetable origin. They are willingly consumed by most of the fish, however, they may be carriers of parasites.

Gammarus oceanicus

Gammarus is extracted off the coast of France can survive even in the most extreme conditions for themselves - they should not only be subject to too rapid change. GAMMARUS these may also be kept in fresh water, but in such an environment there is no breeding. Feeding gammarids is recommended only in densely stocked aquariums, because the point is that all in the shortest time possible have been eaten. Those remaining may in fact cause a lot of damage, for example. In aquariums nibble soft corals and freshwater plants.

Shrimp vessel (Palaemonetes varians)

Floating shrimp are very tolerant to salt concentration in the water and its other parameters. They grow up to 3.5 cm in length and may be present in both salt water and fresh water. These shrimps, despite its size, do not cause any damage in aquariums. Offered by us shrimp come exclusively from its own farm, which completely eliminates the threat of the presence of pathogens and parasites.

Asellus aquaticus-Asellus acuaticus

Asellus aquaticus is a freshwater crustacean resembling a woodlouse. It is known by the common names Including "waterlouse", "aquatic sowbug" and "water hoglouse". Asellus aquaticus is common throughout the temperate zone Including Europe, Russia, and North America.Asellus aquaticus is found in rivers, streams and standing water PARTICULARLY where there are plenty of stones under Which it hides although not where the water is strongly acidic. It is omnivorous.Asellus aquaticus is relatively tolerant of a range of pollutants and has been used as an indicator of water quality. 

Asellus aquaticus can breed throughout the year, provided That temperature is high enough; they do not breed under cold temperatures. Maturity can be reached With in a few months under warm summer temperatures, but also small maturing as much as two years in Permanently cold water bodies

Asellus aquaticus moves quite slowly, crawling between water and rotting plants and parts of plants. Floats quickly in an emergency. The easiest way to catch him by pulling out of the water withers filamentous algae or moss of water, which often occurs.

Larvae Nematocera

The larvae are mostly aquatic and have distinct heads with mouthparts That May be modified for filter feeding. The pupae are orthorrhaphous (meaning adults emerge from the pupa through a straight seam in the pupal cuticle). The bodies and legs of the adults are usually we elongate, and Often These flies have relatively long abdomens.

Many species form mating swarms of males, and in some of These, competition for females is extreme. Although many species (as larvae) have a strong association with water, even within a single family there be a small trend toward semiaquatic and terrestrial Habitats.

Part Nematocera lays eggs in small water reservoirs, ditches and puddles. Often they filled up water tanks because some of them may be carriers of malaria. They are considered valuable and precious food for aquarium fish. The successful culture of certain species is closely related to the administration of the food.

Drosophila melanogaster - Fruit fly

A valuable and rarely grown food for many species of aquarium fish are fruit flies, grows up to 4 mm długości.Występują eg. In the kitchen near the fruit. Breeding fruit flies at any time of year can provide live food fish and is more efficient and less cumbersome than breeding or doniczkowców grindalu. Most aquarium fish willingly eats fruit flies, because the fish we are usually accustomed to feeding from the surface of the water. 

Particularly keen to eat flies and cichlid fish pupfish. Of course peach fruit can not become the only food for the fish needs to be supplemented with solid food live and dry, but really no food is absolutely sufficient and therefore a basic requirement of aquarium fish breeding is the use of a varied diet.

Blackworm (Lumbriculus variegatus)

Lumbriculus variegatus, also known as the Blackworm or California Blackworm, is a species of worm inhabiting North America and Europe. It lives in shallow-water marshes, ponds, and swamps, feeding on Microorganisms and organic material.

Lumbriculus is a close relative of the earthworm, also known under the trivial name "California Blackworm" has for years been the most popular food for freshwater aquarium in the US and Australia. His current position is due, among other things fairly easy breeding capabilities, durability during transport and storage as well as excellent nutritional properties. Above all, however, by the fact that even in a fairly well-fed fish can cause impulsive reflexes hunting. Lumbriculusa breed in closed rooms by feeding him only the flesh of apples and soya flour. So it is kept free of parasites, environmental pollution and other pathogens. Thanks to its high protein content supports the development of fry and spawn in sexually mature animals.

Earthworms Lumbricus 

Lumbricus is a species of earthworm That is related to Lumbricus terrestris. It is usually we reddish brown or reddish violet, iridescent dorsally, and pale yellow ventrally. They are usually we about 25 millimetres (0.98 in) is 105 millimetres (4.1 in) in length, with around 95-120 segments

Lumbricus or the "red earthworm", ranges from 25 millimetres (0.98 in) is 105 millimetres (4.1 in) in length and has smooth, reddish, semi-transparent, flexible skin segmented into circular sections. Each segment contains four pairs of SETA, or bristles, and the total number of segments per matured organism ranges from 95-105

Lumbricus lives naturally in soils high in organic matter, preferably dung and feces. [2] The worms require loose this burrow in soil and soil moist enough for gas exchange [3] Further Requirements include dry abiotic factors as pH and temperature.

They are found throughout the world. In the winter and dry season fall into a state of rest. Most earthworms are devoured during their physiological rest. They are a very valuable food. Especially they indicated in cichlid fish farming. sliced earthworms (great food for the female before spawning, really if you want to have a lot of healthy fry, but without exaggeration, Noncommutative feeding this food may even cause hypertrophy of the gonads and ultimately infertility, otherwise you should put these annelids at some time in the water in order to have a bowel movement leftovers . Served in too large quantities can cause infertility and fatness of fish. Before serving, earthworms move into an empty jar covered with gauze in which empty their digestive tracts, on the jar leaves covering their skin mucus.

Grindal  - Enchytraeus buchholzi

In aquariums two species are useful: doniczkowiec white (Euchytraceus albidus) and Grindal (Euchytraceus buchholtzi) are small and medium-sized annelids with a length of approx. 3 cm and white color. They can be successfully grown in peat. Need dark humidity and a temperature of 9 to 16 C. The nutritional value doniczkowców is significant, because they contain large amounts of fat and protein, but relatively few vitamins and minerals. You can change this by adding food to them the appropriate vitamins and minerals. Apparently, in the western pet stores are sold doniczkowce fed a variety of vitamins with added food coloring - different for each vitamin. The color so you can learn what vitamin feeding fish.


Enchytraeus buchholzi (Grindal worm) are cultured by aquarists as a fish food. They are used for conditioning tropical fish before spawning, or for young fast-growing fish.

Grindal worms, Enchytraeus buchholzi are a smaller relative of the whiteworm, but usually only grow is about 10 mm and THUS are an ideal size for most rainbowfishes Including both adults and larger fry. Mrs. Morten Grindal, of Sweden, who was prominent in the development of culturing techniques for whiteworms, was apparently the first person that isolate this smaller species. Grindal worms can be cultured exactly as whiteworms but are a much more adaptable species and have a greater tolerance for warmer temperatures. Maturity has been reported that Occur around 16 days at 20 ° C, the clitellum (see above) forming when the worms are about 3 ~ 4 mm. The generation period (cocoon) is about a month at 20 ° C.