The benefits of the vinegar nematode

The vinegar nematode has many advantages over other types of nematodes. There are four common types of nematodes in similar size ranges that are fed to fish and fry as live fish food. These include microworms, banana worms, Walter’s worms, and vinegar eels. Microworms, banana worms, and Walter’s worms are grown in a grain medium, often oatmeal, cornmeal, baby cereal, or mashed potatoes. However, vinegar eels have four main advantages over these other nematodes.

• First of all, they are grown in vinegar. While many people don’t like the smell of apple cider vinegar or wine vinegar, they never smell any different than that. On the other hand, the other types of nematodes can smell bad. In fact, the older they get, the worse they smell. Over time, they get to the point where they smell horrible. If the cultures go bad, the smell is even worse and can make you feel sick to your stomach.
• Next, it should be noted that pickled eels are easy. Microworms and other nematodes often require you to add food once a week. Then, after two or three weeks, they need to start over. This can be time consuming, especially if you have large or multiple cultures. On the other hand, growing eel in vinegar only needs a little food added once a month and will last a minimum of three months, but often up to six.
• The next thing to note is that pickled eels are much easier to fry and eat fish. The other nematodes grow and live on the surface of the sour paste. The microworm is called sour paste nematode. However, when added to water, they slowly sink to the bottom. They can then crawl onto the substrate or sand if not eaten by snails or bottom feeders. Eventually they can die and add waste to the water quality. On the other hand, vinegar eels swim. They stick on top of the surface and stay there. This makes it easier for the fry to eat them and they can even be seen by larger fish that might miss the sinking microworms.
• Vinegar eels can live for days in water. In fact, they may live for weeks, but it’s hard to tell because the fish will catch them. Because they can live in the water and won’t die before the fish eat them, they also won’t add waste to your water.

These benefits make them more attractive to many than microworms, banana worms, or Walter’s worms. These easy-to-maintain cultures can be set up, reserved, and pulled out when you need them. A vinegar nematode starter culture is inexpensive, and if you start a new regular culture, you can keep it forever.