If you are considering feeding worms to your goldfish, you will be pleased to know that they will love them! But is the question ‘Can Goldfish eat worms‘ worth looking into?
These freshwater cyprinids are one of the world’s best-loved aquarium fish, and despite their reputation for low-maintenance handling and feeding, they can really come into their own with inquiry and investment in an enriched and fully-balanced diet.
It is entirely possible to move your goldfish beyond the generic flaked and pelleted foods, and introduce delicious morsels such as worms. Indeed you should be rewarded with enhanced growth, and color of your goldfish as well as a more resilient specimen in your tank.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Why a varied diet is great for goldfish!
Varying the diet of your goldfish is a nod to the natural diet of these opportunistic omnivores who would be partaking of freshwater crustaceans, mollusks, insects, and vegetation in ponds and other bodies of water.
A reliance on dried goldfish foods which are carbohydrate-heavy can mean that their protein intake is inadequate. Flakes and pelleted foods can also be associated with overfeeding and attendant health problems.
Experienced goldfish keepers will supplement dried foods with not only worms but shelled peas and other leafy greens such as nori.
Have your thought about feeding live foods for your goldfish?
The addition of live foods really takes your goldfish diet to the next level! Live foods are living creatures that can be directly fed to your fish. This provides a high level of energy and nutrition as they are rich in proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals that are unprocessed.
This is great if your goldfish are in an outdoor pond. The feeding experience is also greatly relished by your fish who will want to feed from these foods again and again. With the abundance of commercially produced complete fish foods, live foods (which are usually more expensive) have become a form of supplemental nutrition for goldfish rather than the main part of the diet.
What are the live foods I can feed my goldfish?
You will be pleased to find that there is a wide range of live foods you can introduce to your goldfish, including a whole host of worms. Options include:
- Bloodworms
- Waxworms
- Blackworms
- Earthworms
- Daphnia
- Mysis shrimp
- Brine shrimp
- Mealworms
Can I feed only live foods to my goldfish?
Live foods were once the only option for aquarists, but they may cause a goldfish to become deficient in certain nutrients if eaten exclusively. A nutritionally complete dried feed is a surer way of providing a balanced diet for your fish.
Live foods can also transmit parasites and diseases to your goldfish so it is important you source them from a reputable supplier and avoid feeding them in excess.
How do I feed live foods to my goldfish?
Before feeding your live foods they should be rinsed thoroughly and drained from any water in which they had been housed. Place the food in some of your goldfish’s aquarium water for a few minutes then feed them directly to your fish, in a net, floating, or by hand.
You should be as careful about overfeeding live foods as you would with dried foods. We are sure that you will find it a highly satisfying experience and your goldfish will be hunting leftovers for hours!
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I have been working in the tropical fish industry for over 30 years now and I’m still learning. Everyday is a school day in this hobby. In my spare time I play golf very badly!