CATDOLL : CATDOLL: Experience in breeding blood-sucking worms (living environment of blood-sucking worms)

1. The living environment of blood-sucking worms

Bloodworms generally grow in very dirty ditches. Except for a few that live in seawater, most of them are the most common zooplankton in various freshwater areas and are excellent bait for fish. The suitable water temperature is 18℃～25℃, the pH value is 7.5～8, and the dissolved oxygen saturation is 70%～120%.

Red worms grow in the dirty drains of most cities in the south.

Bloodworms generally grow in very dirty ditches. Except for a few that live in sea water, most of them are the most common plankton in various freshwater areas and are excellent bait for fish.

The suitable water temperature is 18℃～25℃, pH value is 7.5～8, and dissolved oxygen saturation is 70%～120%. Red worms grow in the dirty ditches of most cities in the south.

2. Characteristics of blood-sucking worms

Red worms:

Red worms are also called water fleas. Water fleas are a small crustacean belonging to the phylum Arthropoda, class Crustacea, order Cladocera. They are called fish worms. Water fleas are small, about 2 mm long, light flesh red, and live in fresh water.

The body is divided into the head and trunk, with a carapace, and the trunk has 5 pairs of limbs, which are organs for movement and breathing. It not only has a high protein content, but also contains amino acids, vitamins and calcium necessary for fish.

Daphnia is a high-quality bait for freshwater fish such as eels. It is relatively easy to cultivate. For small-scale breeding, bottles, cans, tanks, etc. can be used; for large-scale breeding, earthen ponds and cement ponds can be used.

Bloodworms:

Bloodworms are a common name for several bright red aquatic annelids, including Oligochaeta, Tremblingidae, and Tremblings, which can be used to raise tropical fish.

Species of the genus Rhinoceros in the family Polychaete are sometimes called bloodworms. Rhinoceros bichir is native to the east coast of North America and can be up to 37 cm long. The aquatic larvae of some insects of the family Chironomidae and genus Chironomidae are blood-red and are also called bloodworms.

5. Main distribution areas of schistosomiasis

Schistosomiasis is mainly distributed in 409 counties (cities and districts) in 12 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions in China, including Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Hunan, Hubei, Anhui, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian and Shanghai, along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and in the south of the Yangtze River. The geographical distribution of schistosomiasis is consistent with that of Oncomelania hupensis.

The two regions with the most serious schistosomiasis epidemics in the country are Yueyang in Hunan and Jingzhou in Hubei.

9. Experience in breeding blood-sucking worms

The scientific name of blood-sucking worms is leeches. There are many factors that need to be paid attention to when breeding leeches. Here are the key points of leech breeding.

Farm site selection:

Choose a place facing south, back to north, sheltered from the wind and facing the sun. It should be easy to drain and irrigate, with plenty of sunlight. The pond should be 3 meters wide and 1-1.2 meters deep. The length can be determined according to the size of the site. The bottom of the pond should be grouted with cement, with no water leakage as the principle. Inlet and outlet should be set at the diagonal of the pond. The bottom of the pond should be higher in the north and lower in the south to facilitate drainage and irrigation.

The pond is surrounded by loose sandy soil rich in humus to facilitate leeches to lay eggs. A platform 0.2 meters above the water surface is built in the middle of the pond to keep it moist, and some stones and branches are placed at the bottom of the pond for leeches to inhabit.

Water source is an important condition for leeches to survive, so the quality of the environment and water directly affects the growth, development and reproduction of leeches.

Because the density of artificially bred leeches is relatively high, the water well needs to be changed frequently during the breeding process to prevent pollution from fertilizers and pesticides. Especially in the high temperature season from July to August, it is necessary to ensure that the water inlet and outlet are unobstructed, the water quality is fresh, and there is a certain amount of dissolved oxygen.

Selection of seedlings:

When introducing leech species, we should choose individuals that are large, healthy and energetic. The specifications require that the weight is above 20 grams per piece, the longitudinal stripes on the back are clear, and the color is light yellow. The age of the species should be strictly controlled. When catching them with hands, they will become small, powerful balls. We cannot be blind when introducing species, but must carefully select excellent varieties.

It is completely possible to artificially propagate wild leeches that are caught or purchased as seed sources, but they must be domesticated and cultivated periodically. First, they must be sterilized in vitro, the seed age must be selected, and domestication must be strengthened. The requirements are that the domesticated habits are consistent, the seed age is uniform, and the water depth and adaptation environment are consistent, so that they can adapt to artificial breeding.

incubation:

Leeches can usually reproduce and lay eggs at temperatures above 11°C. The young leeches will hatch after 16-25 days. Keep quiet near the pond during the egg-laying period to avoid disturbing the egg-laying leeches and causing empty egg cocoons. Avoid walking on the platform during the incubation period to prevent the rabbits from stepping on the egg cocoons.

After three days of hatching, the young leeches can feed on the blood of river clams and snails on their own. Therefore, sufficient feed should be provided. Generally, 20 kilograms of snails and river clams should be provided for every thousand leeches. Blood clots of poultry and livestock should be fed once a week for them to feed freely. However, it is important to clean up the blood residue and other leftover food at any time to keep the water clean.

Daily management:

① Feed fresh snails regularly and disinfect the snails before feeding;

② Adjust the pool water depth according to the temperature;

③ Strictly control aquatic plants to prevent them from growing wildly;

④ Although the water quality requirements are not strict, the water quality must be kept clean and have a certain amount of dissolved oxygen for high-density breeding. During the high temperature season from July to August, the water should be changed from time to time. Adjusting the water quality to prevent the pH value from being too high can also promote feeding and digestion;

⑤ The wide-bodied golden leech can only suck 1/3 of the snail (mainly the soft parts such as the digestive tract). The remaining meat will rot and damage the bottom, causing the death of a large number of leeches. Change the bottom regularly, especially during the high temperature period in late July. On the muddy bottom, it is even more important to ensure good bottom quality.

Leeches are highly adaptable and have a very low incidence rate. No outbreaks or infectious diseases have been found so far, so the overall prospects for breeding are still very good. Before deciding to breed, it is best for farmers to find relevant sales channels (mainly in the medicine market).