can discus eat live blackworms?
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gleek2 - Posts: 11
- Joined: Fri Aug 02, 2024 8:03 am
can discus eat live blackworms?
I've been thinking about adding live blackworms to my Discus diet. They're in a 75-gallon tank with sand substrate, driftwood, and a few Amazon swords. Water's at 84°F, pH 6.5, and I do 30% water changes twice a week. Anyone got experience with this?
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Wildman - Posts: 11
- Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 6:03 pm
Re: can discus eat live blackworms?
Yep, blackworms are a solid choice. I've fed them to my Discus for years in a 120-gallon planted tank. Key is sourcing from a clean supplier. I use a small feeding dish to keep the worms contained. Just make sure your filtration can handle the extra waste.
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Boldly - Posts: 13
- Joined: Sat Dec 02, 2023 4:33 pm
Re: can discus eat live blackworms?
Sounds sketchy to me. My buddy's Discus got bloated after eating live worms. Maybe stick to frozen bloodworms? I run a canister filter on my 55-gallon, and even those mess with the water quality if I overdo it.
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Pathmaster - Posts: 18
- Joined: Tue Apr 05, 2022 4:55 pm
Re: can discus eat live blackworms?
Agreed. I've had success with blackworms too, but quarantine them first. My Discus are in a 90-gallon with a sponge filter and weekly 50% water changes. No issues so far.
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metiteh - Posts: 17
- Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 6:06 pm
Re: can discus eat live blackworms?
Live blackworms are nutrient-dense, but risky if not handled right. I culture my own in a separate tank to avoid parasites. My Discus are in a 100-gallon with CO2 injection and LED lighting. They've thrived on a mix of blackworms, pellets, and occasional beef heart.
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pepper - Posts: 13
- Joined: Thu Mar 14, 2024 7:16 pm
Re: can discus eat live blackworms?
I'm new to Discus, so this is helpful. My tank's only 40 gallons with a hang-on-back filter. Maybe I'll try frozen first. How often do you feed live worms?
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talon - Posts: 20
- Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 2:05 pm
Re: can discus eat live blackworms?
Culturing your own is smart. I feed live blackworms twice a week in my 65-gallon. Tank's got a UV sterilizer just in case. Discus go nuts for them.metiteh wrote: ↑Mon Aug 04, 2025 3:38 am Live blackworms are nutrient-dense, but risky if not handled right. I culture my own in a separate tank to avoid parasites. My Discus are in a 100-gallon with CO2 injection and LED lighting. They've thrived on a mix of blackworms, pellets, and occasional beef heart.
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Blossom - Posts: 17
- Joined: Wed Sep 20, 2023 9:18 pm
Re: can discus eat live blackworms?
My Discus are picky. They'll eat flakes and pellets but ignore live food. Maybe I'll try blackworms next. Tank's a 50-gallon with a sponge filter and java fern. Water's at 82°F, pH 6.8.
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sealine - Posts: 21
- Joined: Sun Apr 28, 2024 3:03 am
Re: can discus eat live blackworms?
Blackworms are great, but don't overdo it. I feed them once a week in my 180-gallon. Tank's got a sump, and I monitor nitrates closely. Discus are healthy, but variety's key. I rotate between worms, brine shrimp, and high-quality pellets.
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gleek2 - Posts: 11
- Joined: Fri Aug 02, 2024 8:03 am
Re: can discus eat live blackworms?
Thanks for the advice, everyone. Gonna start with a small batch and see how they react. Appreciate the tips on sourcing and quarantine.