It goes without saying that aquarists want to provide their fish with the best possible diet and oftentimes, that means using foods that are widely available and yet massively healthy. While many people focus on things like bloodworms and flake foods, superworms have long been a popular choice for many tank animals.
Their use isn’t limited to the fish tank and pet owners with reptiles, turtles and amphibians also find them to be a viable food source.
If you’ve never used superworms as part of your fish’s diet then you’re in the right place. We are going to be discussing everything you need to know about the superworm and how to offer it to your fish as a staple part of their diet.
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What Are Superworms?
Before we begin looking at the various superworm options on the market, it is important to get to know these creatures and understand why they form such an important diet for many fish and other animals. In this section, we will be looking at everything you need to know about the superworm; after all, you’re now going to be having a lot to do with them.
When fully developed, superworms become a large darkling beetle. One thing to be aware of is that these are not the same animals as the mealworm darkling beetle; although they are often confused, the latter is smaller.
If you are going to use superworms to feed your fish, or any other pet, for that matter you must be willing to prepare them properly. This involves crushing their heads as these worms are known for biting very hard which could, of course, injure your fish. While adult fish are likely already aware of the threat or being bitten, juveniles and younger fish may not be and are often injured as a result of this.
Surprisingly, it is possible for humans to eat superworms; not that many of us would want to. However, those who are brave enough to try have commented that these creatures have a taste that is similar to almonds.
Not only super by name but also by nature, these worms can grow as large as 50mm when they are fully mature. If you’re going to use them as food for your fish then it is vital that they are given a sufficient diet and kept well watered. You will, however, find that when they are kept in bigger groups, it takes longer for them to grow. This isn’t such a huge problem but it does mean that they may have a bigger appetite so you must keep up with this when rearing them. If you don’t then there is a very real risk that the superworms will turn on one another and engage in cannibalism.
In the wild, the superworm will typically feed on decaying or dead plants. Over the course of their larval stage, they are known to molt several times and eventually, they will emerge into their pupal stage. At this point of their development, they take on a more white appearance, before turning darker until they become black. The reason that we offer superworms to our fish during the larval stage is that the worms are much softer at this point and far easier to eat.
What Types Of Fish Can Eat Superworms?
The main benefit of superworms is that they are an amazing source of protein especially for larger species of fish. You can feed them to both freshwater and saltwater species which makes them hugely versatile and you’ll be looking to provide them to fish such as the Arowana and pufferfish, among others.
As well as bursting with protein, superworms are also packed with a variety of other essential nutrients with calcium being in abundance. You will also find that these worms provide your fish with some of its most important hormones, enzymes, and vitamins making them an important staple of the fish’s diet. In terms of protein, each superworm contains more than 50%!
Now, if you have smaller aquarium fish then you could be forgiven for thinking that it wouldn’t be possible to offer superworms as they would be too large. But this is not necessarily the case. You can still use superworms and provide your fish with the many nutritional benefits they can offer but you must first process them into smaller pieces, typically as part of a fish feed. Many companies offer prepared fish foods that contain superworms but it is more than plausible to think that you could make this at home.
The Best Superworms For Fish Food
There are a huge number of retailers selling superworms but not all of them are as good as they claim to be. It is important to find a supplier that will provide you with protein and nutrient-rich superworms that are bred in optimal conditions. While there are a lot of suppliers that meet these expectations, we believe that the following are among the best.
Zoo Med Can O’ Superworms
It’s always a good idea to buy your fish food in bulk and the great thing about these worms is that they come in packs of three, so you’re definitely getting excellent value for money. Recommended for larger breeds, these worms will provide a great protein boost for your fish who will hugely enjoy the taste and texture.
Being dried, you don’t need to worry about keeping the worms alive until feeding time which is convenient for the busy fish keeper. Moreover, the worms were farm raised so you can feel confident that they will contain no nasties that could be harmful to your fish.
Bassett’s Cricket Ranch LIve Superworms
One of the great things about buying from Bassett’s Cricket Ranch is that the company ensures your worms are in the best condition when they get to you. They will check local temperatures and will only ship when they are sure that extreme temps won’t affect the worms.
With 250 live superworms, your fish will have plenty of hearty and protein-packed meals. The quality of these superworms is second to none and being raised by experts in the field, you know that they are going to be one of the most nutritionally beneficial on the market!
Animal Specialities 1000 Superworms
If you need to bulk buy live superworms then Animal Specialities is one of the best brands to use. These worms are raised in the perfect environment to ensure the best quality and nutritional value including infusing their bedding with vitamins!
What’s more, these worms are naturally low in fat and yet give a protein boost to your fish to ensure healthy growth. With fast shipping and excellent customer service, it is no wonder that this brand has one of the best reputations for supplying live worms.
Raising Your Own Superworms
Buying superworms from a reputable supplier is, without doubt, one of the most convenient ways of using them as a diet staple. However, it can be more affordable to raise your own, and provided that you have the right conditions, this is a perfectly viable idea. Of course, you can still purchase any of the live worms we have discussed in this guide to get your colony started.
You must ensure that the superworms have an enclosure that is properly ventilated but they will also need a great deal of space so be sure to choose something that is large enough. You probably won’t need to put a lid on the enclosure as superworms aren’t known for trying to escape unless they feel threatened or the set up is interfered with. However, covering the enclosure will limit any problems that may arise.
As we have already discovered, superworms will turn to cannibalism if they are not well-fed. For this reason, most breeders would suggest keeping several enclosures with a few superworms in each rather than one super-sized enclosure packed to the brim with worms. Once one worm begins turning on the others, it isn’t long before they’re all doing it!
Ideally, you will need a ten-gallon aquarium for the best results. However, if you don’t have access to one of these then a decent-sized plastic container will work just as well. You will need to cut a hole in one of the sides and replace this with a mesh cover as this will ensure proper ventilation. If you fail to do this then it won’t be long before the worms will begin to die off. Moreover, you should not make the mistake of storing the worms in a chilled environment as they will not be able to survive this and your colony will quickly die off.
Feeding your superworms isn’t as complicated as you might have first thought. In the wild, they love any type of rotting vegetation including wood. These things can be provided as bedding for the worms as you raise them and they will also use them as food. However, if you don’t want to use natural materials then it is possible to purchase powdered grain feed which will serve exactly the same dual purpose as bedding and food.
You have a couple of choices when it comes to sourcing food for your superworms. The powdered products can be purchased from a supplier and you will find that they are typically sold as chick mash. However, if you prefer, it is entirely possible to blend down grains at home and use these instead.
After eating, the superworms will, of course, excrete their waste which is known as frass as well as shedding their skin several times over the larval stage. Both of these products are very fine by nature and will replace any powdered grain you have added.
Another important part of caring for your superworms is keeping them hydrated. There are several ways you can ensure this and a very easy one is to add fruit and vegetables into the enclosure. Things like potatoes, carrots, and bananas work very well but you might also consider eggplants, broccoli, and cabbage.
Conclusion
Superworms are an excellent food source for larger fish such as the Arowana and the pufferfish. The great thing about them is that they are so versatile and whether you own freshwater species or saltwater fish, you can still use superworms as a staple part of their diet.
It is important to make the decision as to whether you will raise your own superworms or buy them from a supplier. While it is certainly more affordable to raise your own, this does require a lot of effort and you may not always get the best results.
Superworm suppliers often have farms where they rear thousands of worms each month and have developed just the right conditions to do so. While there are a lot of companies out there, the ones we have discussed in this article are among some of the very best and will provide you with brilliant superworms for fish food that are packed with nutrients.
