Culture technique for Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri (Annelida : Oligochaeta)‎

Abstract EN

The Oligochactc worm Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri is one of the best and cheapest live food for fish.

The worm grows fastest (8.0 mg in 50 days) on the substrate containing 75 % cow dung and 25 % fine sand ; the culture system (100*100*75 cm) requires continuous running water at the rate of 250 ml min-1 to maintain 3 mg CK L'1.

Addition of fresh cow dung (250 mg cm-2) one in 4 days is the optimum frequency.

As the worm is photophobic, so the best time for collection the worm from the substrate is before dawn.