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Encrrj)trae: A Fish Food 



C. J. HEEDE 



The small, white worms called "En- 

 chytrae," are related to the common 

 earthworm, which was described in the 

 September number of Aquatic 

 LiF£, but, unlike it, obtain their food 

 in concentrated form. The name is 

 from the Greek and means "in pots," 

 these worms occasionally appearing- in 

 flower pots. They are now much used 

 as a food for aquarium fishes, especially 

 during the months of winter, when 

 Daphne is scarce or unobtainable. They 

 make an ideal ration, and fortunately 

 are very easily raised. This is best ac- 

 complished in a wooden box, six to 

 eight inches deep, filled with well-mixed 

 leaf-mold and sawdust (not from resin- 

 ous wood). Grounds from the coffee 

 pot may be added to make the mixture 

 more porous. The compost thus made 

 should be a little moist, not wet, and 

 the box provided with a cover to pre- 

 vent it becoming dry. If it is too wet 

 or too dry the worms will perish. They 

 breathe through their skin, hence 

 reasonable moisture and ventilation is 

 necessary, the latter being afforded by 

 boring a few holes through the sides of 

 the box above the earth. Light is not 

 necessary, but the box should be plac- 

 ed where it will have an average tem- 

 perature of about 60 degrees, Fahren- 

 heit. 



A supply of the worms should now 

 be placed in the box, and will be found 

 to multiply rapidly. They are double- 

 sexed and produce their eggs in co- 

 coons, which, however, are fertilized by 

 the sperm of another worm inserted or 

 placed on the one now bearing the co- 



coon. The cocoon is formed around 

 the body, moves forward, and on the 

 way absorbs the fertilizing sperms. 

 After it passes over the head both ends 

 close. The eggs hatch within the co- 

 coon, the young remaining therein for 

 a short time feeding upon the inner 

 parts, after which they creep out and 

 shift for themselves. 



The food of, the worms, which con- 

 sists of boiled potatoes or white bread 

 moistened with milk, boiled oatmeal, or 

 remnants from the pantry, such as pan- 

 cakes or liver pudding, is placed in 

 grooves or holes in the earth one inch 

 deep. With this method the food sup- 

 ply can be examined at any time, and 

 only replenished when exhausted. Too 

 much food will sour and contaminate 

 the soil and cause failure. 



When worms are desired for the 

 fishes a slice of white bread, moistened 

 with milk, should be laid upon the 

 earth. Soon after the worms will 

 usually be found beneath it in clumps. 

 When dropped into the aquarium they 

 may live for days if they manage to 

 escape the fishes. Some aquarists have 

 asserted that it is safer to cut the worms 

 into pieces, especially the larger ones, 

 as they may otherwise find lodging in 

 the gills of the fishes with sad results. 

 Such an occurrence is rather exception- 

 al, and rarely will any harm result from 

 feeding them whole. 



When collecting a supply from the 

 breeding box the minute cocoons should 

 not be disturbed, as it is upon these that 

 the future supply depends. 



