The Grindal worm is a feed crop that many aquarists use to feed fry and small fish. It is small in size and not particularly demanding on the conditions of detention, and therefore quite popular. Consider the conditions of keeping and breeding the Grindal worm at home. Learn how to get rid of a worm that wound up in flower pots.
General information
Grindal worm is a dwarf white worm, which reaches from 0.4 to 1 cm in length and about 0.5 mm in width. It has the smallest size among the enchitreus. The visual body is divided into segments, on which several bundles of villi are located. The worm received its name from the surname of Morton Grindahl, who first used this culture to feed fish.
In nature, the Grindal worm lives in the soil. He loves moisture. Can start in the soil of flower pots. It eats bacteria and decaying organic matter. Able to fight earth ticks.
It is a nutritious feed crop that contains 70% protein, 10% carbohydrates and 14% fat. At the same time, there are almost no vitamins and minerals in the composition. Grindahl is not recommended as a permanent feed culture for fish, as it can cause digestive problems, infertility and obesity.
Containment and Feeding
Wooden, glass or plastic boxes with a wide bottom and a height of about 10 cm are used to keep the Grindal worm. They should be tightly covered with a lid on top to avoid the entry of parasites and mold spores into the box. The distance from the substrate to the cover should be 1-2 cm.
As the soil, you can use:
- coconut substrate;
- moss sphagnum;
- neutralized peat;
- Styrofoam layers
- nylon batting.
When buying a substrate in a flower shop, you should make sure that it does not contain fertilizers or chemical components. The substrate (except for moss) should be boiled to kill all living organisms that may be on it. Moss can be scalded with boiling water or poured with warm water for a while.
In a wet substrate, several depressions should be made in which the food is placed. The diet of the Grindal worm includes:
- oatmeal and oatmeal;
- boiled vegetables (potatoes, carrots, cabbage);
- crumb of bread;
- children food;
- milk;
- fish fat;
- dry nettle;
- low-fat cheese;
- wheat sprouts;
- coconut.
You can get worms for feeding with the help of a landing net. In this case, you should dig in the earth with worms and lower it into the water. You can use tweezers.
Breeding
The Grindal worm multiplies rapidly when optimal conditions are created. The population may double in three days. It should maintain a temperature of about 18-22 degrees. At higher temperatures, reproduction occurs faster. However, parasites and molds are also possible. Reproduction stops at a temperature of 4 degrees. The substrate must be moist, and therefore it must be sprayed from the spray gun at least once every three days. The box should be in a dark place.
Parasites and mold
Since the container with the Grindal worm is humid and warm, an earthen tick often starts up in it. These are small white insects. They are not dangerous for the worms or fish themselves, but, having bred, can absorb food that is in the container. To avoid the multiplication of ticks, you need to make sure that there are no rotting food debris on the substrate. Putting a new portion of food is possible only after the past has been completely eaten. In this case, do not raise the temperature much. To get rid of ticks, the substrate must be washed well in water. Grindahl is also worth rinsing with water in a container. In this case, the worms fall to the bottom, and ticks emerge. Washed worms can be returned to the substrate. Before that, it is worth boiling.
Also in a humid environment, mold often develops. Her spores can adversely affect fish. When mold appears, immediately replace the substrate with a new one.
How to get rid
Grindal worms feed on decaying organic matter. Having multiplied greatly, with a lack of food, they can feed on the roots of indoor plants. That is why it is important to know how to get rid of the Grindal worm.
First, you should thoroughly examine the soil. It is worth removing all decaying organic matter: fallen leaves, flowers, tea leaves and more. Watering should be adjusted. The soil should not be waterlogged.
If this does not help, you need to pour the soil with a solution of "Bazudin" or "Regent."
Thus, the Grindal worm is a popular feed crop that is easy to maintain and breed. Aquarists use it to feed young and small fish. You should not feed fish grindale constantly, otherwise serious health problems may begin. He lives in water for no more than a day, so you should not give it more than the fish can eat, since dead worms will lead to rapid contamination of the aquarium. Worms can be stored in the refrigerator at a temperature of 0 degrees for about three months.