Ornamental Fish Production and Management

7.1.8 Culture of tubifex

Tubifex comes under the phylum Annelida. Tubifex are small, reddish worms up to 2 cm long which occur in the mud of ditches and streams. Their front portion is inside the mud for taking food and posterior end is above the mud for respiration. Tubifex worms form an ideal food for faster growth and reproduction of ornamental fishes.

Natural collection :

They can be collected from ditches and canals. The mud along with tubifex is collected and kept in a large bucket for drying of water. During drying, the worms will congregate to the surface due to lack of oxygen. Then, they are collected and washed to remove the residual mud attached to the body. But their guts still may contain mud which they have eaten and should be kept under the stream of water for the mud to be evacuated from the intestine. After proper cleaning, they are fed to fishes.

Method – 1 :

Cement tank can be used. Mud from ponds or canals is kept upto 5 cm. Water is filled to 5 cm depth. Rice bran is spread over the surface and left to ferment for 3 days. After 3 days the Tubifex worms are inoculated. Care must be taken not to let the pond mud dry completely. After one month the pond can be refilled with water up to 4 to 6 inches aboue the mud. After the filling the worms will congregate on the mud surface where they can be easily harvested. The cycle can be repeated after three days.

Method – 2 :

It can be cultured in any container with 5 cm thick pond mud on the bottom mixed with decaying vegetable matter and rice bran and bread. Continuous mild water flow is to be maintained in the container with a suitable drainage system. Then Tubifex worms are inoculated. Within 15 days, clusters of Tubifex worms develop.