Free fish food or kill them with fire?

[Si4geckos]

There's a plastic tub in the garden with rain water in and lots of these wriggly critters.

I know the photos aren't the best, but their bodies are made of of little sections/lumps in a big line.

Are they ok to feed to the tropical community or should i run and hide from them? I've got mosquito larvae in another tub I bring in and feed, but these are different. Guess I'm most worried they're leeches, but I don't think so.

Thoughts?

[fr499y]

sounds like bloodworm to me! they should be fine

[Si4geckos]

sounds like bloodworm to me! they should be fine

From googling, I think you might be correct. Any reason why they're brown and not bright red like the frozen ones?

[Vale!]

There are several different species of midge ... [goes off to Google] ...

Good grief - there are 35 species of 'biting' midge in Scotland alone! Not to mention the non-biting ones!

Anyway, point is that the larvae of different species will look probably look different from each other. Ones that don't make haemoglobin won't look red.

They could equally be gnat larvae - and again I imagine there's multiple gernera/species of those, too!

[Martinspuddle]

Food ...serve with chips and peas.

[Si4geckos]

There are several different species of midge ... [goes off to Google] ...

Good grief - there are 35 species of 'biting' midge in Scotland alone! Not to mention the non-biting ones!

Anyway, point is that the larvae of different species will look probably look different from each other. Ones that don't make haemoglobin won't look red.

They could equally be gnat larvae - and again I imagine there's multiple gernera/species of those, too!

All good for the tank though?

[Vale!]

Yes, they should be - with the usual proviso that they're from a source that's free from fishy-type pathogens. Yours should be fine, I think.

Try one in-tank and see what happens to it?

[plankton]

If they are baby witches then "Burn them!"

They do look like something else though, fish food come to mind.....

[Kfamtvw7]

Definitely the larvae of some non biting midge. I find these in any recepticle in the garden that collects water, they tend to hide in detritus at the bottom during the day but climb the sides at night and I just suck them up with a big pippette. Have been feeding them to fish for years.

[Si4geckos]

Definitely the larvae of some non biting midge. I find these in any recepticle in the garden that collects water, they tend to hide in detritus at the bottom during the day but climb the sides at night and I just suck them up with a big pippette. Have been feeding them to fish for years.

Thank you. The fish enjoyed them