Glassworms

About

 * Glassworms are actually the larval stage of Chaoborus sp. which are non-biting gnats (midges) that look similar to mosquitoes. These carnivorous larvae are found most often in ponds with few to no fish, and feed primarily on daphnia, cyclops, and mosquito larvae.  Due to their predatory nature, they may pose a risk to small fry.  Also called "white mosquito larvae" or "phantom midge larvae", glassworms can be refrigerated for weeks, survive extreme crowding, and are high in lipid content making them a supplemental food choice for freshwater fish.

Live

 * Glassworms are hard to cultivate in comparison to true mosquito larvae, and are most easily obtained through collection from local ponds, or by purchase from an aquarium shop.

Frozen

 * Glassworms are also sold frozen by


 * San Francisco Bay Brand (USA)
 * Ocean Nutrition (Europe)

Nutrition Values

 * Analysis of San Francisco Bay Brand frozen glassworms:


 * Crude Protein Min 5.40%
 * Crude Fat Min 1.10%
 * Crude Fiber Max 1.00%
 * Moisture Max 93.00%
 * Dry Protein 77%

Links

 * NativeFish.org