Live Grindal worms (Enchytraeus buchholzi): natural and easy-to-raise food for your fish
What are Grindal worms?
Grindal worms are small white worms (1 to 3 mm) from the enchytraeids family, appreciated for decades by aquarists as live food. Their intermediate size suits small fish and fry a few weeks old. Home breeding is simple and these worms are very rich in protein and healthy, making them an ideal daily pleasure food.
Why use Grindal worms in a natural aquarium?
- Rich in protein and digestible: very palatable and attractive live food for fish.
- It harbors no pathogenic germs.
- Easy to cultivate at home. The ZollaBox Fish S allows very easy sustainable breeding.
- Helps condition breeders (triggering spawning).
- Available all year round if raised yourself, a live food ready at any time.
- An intermediate size that makes it suitable for all fish sizes, up to juveniles.
Who are Grindal worms intended for?
- Small tropical fish: guppies, rasboras, killifish, bettas, micro-characids, etc.
- Fry in the growth phase (after nematodes and micro worms).
- Pairs or trios of fish to trigger or stimulate spawning and reproduction.
- Difficult, sick, or convalescent fish.
Introduction and usage tips
- Distribute in small quantities to avoid pollution.
- Easy harvest on a smooth plate (finger or brush).
- Sustainable culture: closed ventilated box, moist support (sphagnum or synthetic fiber), low light.
- Our strains are contained in a synthetic wool thread. The worms are often invisible because they are hidden among the fibers.
FAQ - Grindal worms
How to raise a strain at home?
The ZollaBox Fish S contains everything needed, including a step-by-step manual. You can also find the food alone with ZollaBox Fish S refills.
What is their nutritional value?
Protein-rich and energy-dense live food, highly appreciated by fish, completely free of pathogens or parasites.
Differences with micro worms and enchytraeids?
It’s mainly a question of size. Micro worms are smaller (perfect for very young fry) and enchytraeids larger (only for adult fish). Grindal worms, of intermediate size, are very versatile.
How long can a strain last?
A very long time if hygiene, aeration, and moderate feeding are maintained (make two cultures for safety).
How long will it take before I can start harvesting?
Don’t be in a hurry at first! Grindal worms take a little time to get started. You won’t see them for weeks because they first need to explore the entire support space, then reproduce there. So feed them almost not at all at the beginning; it would be pointless.
Additional information
- Scientific name: Enchytraeus buchholzi
- Size: 1 to 3 mm long maximum.
- Use: live food for fish
- Advice: vary and alternate with daphnia, enchytraeids, ostracods, and other natural foods.
- Packaging: live strain to start a culture. The worms travel with a strand of damp synthetic wool. They hide in the fibers and are generally invisible (approximate weight 1.5 g)
- Guarantee: Grindal worms are a completely harmless species for humans. We cultivate them in an untreated and natural environment (natural sphagnum). Harvested the very morning of shipping. This species never harbors pathogens harmful to your fish.
