Bloodworms are one of the best foods for aquarium fish. They are tiny red worms that live in the mud of lakes and rivers. To collect bloodworms, sift the mud through a mesh. In cities, you can buy them at specialized pet stores. Feed fish 5–6 bloodworms a day. Toss them in all at once rather than one by one so every fish can grab one. Don’t drop them straight onto the substrate — they’ll bury themselves in the sand. Instead, put the bloodworms on a small white dish on the bottom so the fish can see them. Rinse the bloodworms in water to remove debris and impurities before feeding.
Earthworms are also good food for fish. But don’t feed fish only earthworms for long; a steady diet of earthworms can make fish become overly fatty. Harvest and store earthworms for winter by lining a box with alternating layers of soil and fallen leaves, finishing with a layer of sand on top. Add pieces of turf layered with manure. Add about 100 worms per bucket of the mixture. Bury a few boiled potatoes in the box every two weeks.
Fish also enjoy semolina porridge made with water. Use the standard ratio: 1 cup water to 1/4 cup semolina. When the mixture boils, strain the porridge through a fine sieve and rinse it with cold water until the water running from the sieve is clear. This keeps the semolina grains separated.
Feed fish buckwheat porridge prepared so the grains stay loose.
In winter, feed dried daphnia in small amounts. Scald the dried daphnia with boiling water first. Gently place them on the water’s surface instead of tossing them into the aquarium.
