Killifish
Immature Nothobranchius palmqvisti Gezani feeding on grindal worms

Grindal worms (Enchytraeus buchholzi) are very easy to keep and breed, and make an excellent food for small to medium fish. A typical harvest will contain numerous larger (up to 1cm) and smaller worms (1mm or smaller) suitable for even tiny fry, and what's more, these worms will live happily underwater without dieing and causing pollution. This is an ideal situation to feed tanks of immature killies. Some individuals of certain species (like Nothobranchius palmqvisti Gezani, above) may outgrow, and ultimately predate on their smaller siblings. Grindal worms provide ample food for fry of all sizes, and unlike artemia, don't all bunch together in one area of the tank. Importantly, all fish get a chance to feed.

All you need to culture grindal worms: oats, media, glass, water
All you need to culture grindal worms: oats, media, glass, water

Grindal worm culture regime

The worms and media are kept in plastic food storage boxes, loosely lidded, with ventilation holes. Each culture is fed and harvested at the same time approximately every 24 hours. Cultures live indoors on the top (warmest) shelf of the fish room all year round. It is important to allow the worms ample ventilation; cultures with no air can crash very quickly, however they should not be allowed to dry out.

The traditional culture media for grindal worms is much the same as for white worms: a blend of coir (45%), peat/compost (45%), a small amount of sand (10%), maybe a handful of lime to maintain alkalinity. Cultures will turn acidic eventually and should either be replaced with new cultures if production drops, or partially replaced continuously (I take a few handfuls of media to a fish auction every now and again, and then top up the old culture). Activated carbon can be added to the media. The media should always be damp, yet never waterlogged or sodden.

Another method for housing grindal worms, and one that works very well indeed, is to keep the worms in damp sponge. Simply cut a rectangle of open-pored sponge, maybe three to four centimetres thick, and place it in half a centimetre depth of water in the food storage box. This is the perfect media for grindal worms, maintaining the correct humidity, and providing a huge area for the worms to inhabit. The sponge may need to be rinsed out periodically, especially if production drops.

A typical grindal worm culture
A typical grindal worm culture
The worms gather on the glass in large numbers
The worms gather on the glass in large numbers
The worms can be simply rinsed off
The worms can be simply rinsed off

Feeding grindal worms

Whichever media the worms are kept in, they are fed the same way: on (under) glass plates. I sprinkle a light layer of fine instant oat cereal on the damp glass, and place face down on the culture. Keeping the food on the glass keeps the culture fresh, minimises mold and mites, and draws the worms to the glass for easy harvesting.

The worms are collected 24 hours later, simply by running clean water over the glass. The glass can then again be reloaded with food.

Grindal worm culturing problems

These really are one of the easiest livefoods available for killifish keepers. Provided cultures are kept warm and well fed they can provide daily worms for months with no real problems. Cultures should be restarted when production drops off. Many people complain about mites within their cultures, and moth balls can be used, however if the food is under a large enough piece of glass this is rarely a problem. In fact mites can act as an additional food source for surface feeding killies.

Feeding grindal worms to killifish

Grindal worms make a superb food for most small and medium sized killifish. Quicker growing annual fish such as Nothobranchius will take grindal worms fairly quickly after artemia, often within their first week. Make sure you feed very small numbers if you have a substrate in your tank, as worms will bury themselves, eventually dieing under the gravel. As is the case with white worms, apple and rams-horn snails will eat grindal worms given the opportunity.

10 day old Nothobranchius furzeri eating grindal worms

10 day old Nothobranchius furzeri eating grindal worms This is a still from a short video clip. Click the the image to go to youtube and play the clip. Note there is a high resolution version (just below the image on youtube, look for the 'watch in high quality' link)


Grindal worm cultures for sale

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GRINDAL Worms! 2oz Starter Culture Fry Nano Betta Corydora Tetra LIVE Fish Food!

Midlothian, Virginia, 231**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$16

One of the easiest live food cultures to raise & maintain for best coloration, growth, breeding condition and health of your fish!
You will receive a 2 OZ portion of worms in coco coir and complete instructions on how to begin your never ending supply of Grindal worms!

Shipping is on MON & TUES.
using USPS Ground Advantage. Delivery dates and times are NOT guaranteed through USPS.
... more

Grindal worm culture in 12OZ Cup(Please read description before purchasing)

Marathon, New York, 138**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$18


I ship orders (usps first class mail service) on Monday and Tuesday ?

??️ONLY ship to continental states, WILL NOT ship to P O. Box address either??️

Grindal worms culture starter in 12oz cup, very easy to culture no smell at all!

 DOA Policy: In case of any DOA, buyer MUST send a 10 second video of dead in closed container next to shipping label within 2 hours of delivery time  
If the lowest temperature in your area is below 40F / ... more

2 oz Grindal worm starter culture LIVE fish food for betta fry killifish & more

Ardenvoir, Washington, 988**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$13

Grindal worms are small cousins to earthworms, and appeal to many species of fish, and fish fry, and are very easy to raise! You will receive a 2 oz portion cup of soil less media filled with live grindal worms, as well as detailed instructions to get your colony going and reproducing quickly. Also check out our other live fish food items, as well as heirloom seeds for the gardener in you!... more

Grindal Worm Complete Culture Starter Kit Everything You Need * FREE SHIPPING *

Burlington, New Jersey, 080**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$20

This complete culture starter kit by Out Of The Bowl is perfect for those who want to raise Grindal Worms for their tropical fish. The kit includes everything you need to get started, and is suitable for both beginners and experienced aquarists.

The kit includes: an 8oz cup with breathable fabric lid, media, worm food, a square feeding tile, pipette for harvesting, full instructions and a live Grindal Worms starter culture, making it an ideal choice for those who want to provide ... more

4 oz Grindal worms Starter culture

Ogden, Kansas, 665**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$11

We do not ship to Hawaii, Alaska, Guam or Puerto Rico, 4 OZ Grindal worms Starter culture Comes in a 12 ounce plastic container
friend the worm when you receive it you only put a small ball of food
and as the worm multiplies another ball of food is added
If you throw a lot of food to the worms, the food that they don't eat is damaged and that kills the oxygen of the earth and they die the wormsI only recommend feeding them as they multiply
if you buy before 12:30 pm I ship your order... more