Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 2: Creating favorable conditions for the development of mosquito larvae (bloodworms)
• Part 2 of 2: Feeding the Fish with Bloodworms

Some types of aquarium fish need to be fed live food, which is often more expensive than using dry food in the form of flakes or pellets. In addition, if you want to breed fish, then during the spawning period they also need to be fed with live food. Regardless of why you decide to use live food, growing it yourself can sometimes be a more convenient and cheaper alternative to purchasing such food at a pet store. It is quite simple to grow bloodworms (mosquito larvae), while it will serve your fish with nutritious and, which is also important, completely free food! All you need is a container for water, as well as a little patience and care.

Steps

Part 1 of 2: Creating favorable conditions for the development of mosquito larvae (bloodworms)

1. 1 Find a water container. As a container for growing bloodworms, you can take a wide variety of containers. A larger container will allow you to grow more bloodworms, but remember that bloodworms that are not fed to fish will eventually turn into mosquitoes that fly in your garden. Be sure to use a new or cleanly washed food-safe container. Do not use old containers from paint, resin and other chemicals that can poison algae or the bloodworm itself.
   • For example, a 20-liter bucket is a good choice, but if you are going to feed a lot of fish, you can take a larger container - a 200-liter barrel.
   • That being said, a one-liter container can provide enough bloodworms for most small aquarium owners.
2. 2 Fill the container with water. In clean water, mosquito larvae often lack essential nutrients to survive. Allowing the container to fill with rainwater will create conditions that are more favorable for the bloodworm being grown. However, sometimes it is inconvenient to wait so long for the container to fill itself with rainwater. If you decide to use tap water, be sure to treat it so that it is safe for the larvae. Otherwise, chlorine will inhibit the growth of algae, which are the main food source for bloodworms.
   • Do not pick up various debris that accidentally fall into the water. It will promote the growth of bacteria that mosquito larvae also feed on.
   • Treat tap water with a dechlorinating agent to neutralize the chlorine it contains.
   • Special dechlorinating water conditioners are available at pet stores or aquarium stores.
3. 3 Place a container of water in a shady place. Mosquitoes love dirty water and shade. Do not place the bloodworm breeding container in direct sun, as the water may become too warm for larvae to survive on hot days. While you carry the container to its designated place, some water may spill, but for a successful outcome, the container does not need to be full to the brim.
   • Place the container under a canopy or spreading tree to keep it out of the sun.
   • It is okay if sometimes the scattered rays of the sun still get to the container, but it should not be in direct sunlight for too long.
4. 4 Wait for the mosquitoes to lay their eggs in the water. Since live bloodworms are not sold very often in stores, you will have to wait for the mosquitoes to arrive and lay their eggs in the water you have prepared. Depending on where you live, this can happen during the spring or summer months. Chances are, after a week or two, you will be able to spot mosquito eggs in the water.
   • Mosquito eggs look like miniature floating "rafts" of brown grains stuck together. They usually turn into larvae after 48 hours.
   • The larva hatched from the egg looks like the abdomen of an insect with two antennae. It is the hatched mosquito larvae that is called the bloodworm, which is used to feed the fish.
   • If no eggs appear in the water container after 1–2 weeks, consider moving it to a more suitable location in your garden. The water in the container can either overheat (with excess sunlight) or overcool.

Part 2 of 2: Feeding the Fish with Bloodworms

1. 1 Use a pipette or small net to catch bloodworms. Mosquito larvae are very small, so it will be useful to catch them for catching a small landing net designed for the smallest aquatic organisms. A net for brine shrimp is quite suitable for you. Also, for individual catching of individual larvae or for catching eggs and larvae from the water in small groups, you can take a pipette.
   • Try to send bloodworms or mosquito eggs directly to the aquarium immediately after catching so that the fish can eat live food.
   • Pouring water from a container with bloodworms into the aquarium is not recommended, as it can introduce unwanted algae and dirt.
2. 2 Introduce mosquito eggs that have not yet hatched into the aquarium. Most fish will not immediately pay attention to unremarkable accumulations of eggs, but will gladly attack them when the larvae begin to hatch from there. Using mosquito eggs to feed your fish is the surest way to keep mosquito populations from growing in your garden.
   • Even if the fish eat the eggs before the larvae appear, there is nothing to worry about.
   • However, eggs mature in 48 hours, so you may not always be able to catch them in time for your fish.
3. 3 Feed the captured larvae to the fish. Usually, it will be easier for you to find the hatched larvae in the bloodworm container, rather than the eggs themselves, which ripen very quickly. Bloodworms very often float to the surface of the water to breathe. As they grow up, the larvae periodically shed the old skin that has become tight. Pisces prefer not to eat it.
   • The larvae have noticeable antennae, which are actually the tubes of the respiratory siphon.
   • The larva, which has entered the pupal stage, is characterized by a grown head and stops feeding on algae. Pupae can also be fed to fish, but otherwise they must be drained into the sewer so that they do not have time to turn into mosquitoes.
4. 4 Harvest bloodworms weekly. Even if there are so many bloodworms that it is impossible to feed the fish completely, it is very important to catch the developing larvae from the container on a weekly basis. Depending on the specific conditions, mosquito larvae can develop into adult flying parasites in as little as four days or take up to two weeks to do this.
   • In order not to breed a huge swarm of mosquitoes in your garden, those larvae that will not be fed to the fish must be drained along with the water into the sewer.
   • If you pour the water with the larvae right in your garden, it may not prevent them from turning into mosquitoes.
5. 5 Remember to remove dead larvae from the water. Fish will likely refuse to eat dead larvae, so if you find any, drain them along with the old water, which you should renew weekly. If all the larvae in the container die, then there is a problem with the temperature or quality of the water.
   • When using tap water to grow bloodworms, some chlorine may still remain in the water, which is harmful to the larvae.
   • If at some point in the day a container of water is exposed to direct sunlight, then the water in it may become too hot for the larvae to survive.