Frozen bloodworms are a great option for pet turtles. In today’s article, I will explain everything you need ton know about frozen bloodworms and turtles.
What are frozen bloodworms?
Frozen bloodworms are a frozen block of worms that is commonly fed to fish and turtles. The two most common worms used in commercial bloodworms are midge flies and genus glycera. These two species of worms are naturally red, which is why bloodworms got its name.
Should I feed my turtle frozen bloodworms
Yes, frozen bloodworms are a great treat that you can feed your turtle once a week. They are much better than live food because there is not a risk that they have parasites or harmful bacteria. Additionally, frozen bloodworms do not have a bad odor that will stink up your tank. If you have problems with smell, you should check out my article on why does my turtle tank stink?
Best of all, frozen bloodworms never expire as long as you keep them frozen.
Are frozen bloodworms good for turtles?
Yes, frozen bloodworms are great for turtles because they are a great source of both protein and calcium. Most frozen bloodworms consist of around 60% crude protein.
Frozen bloodworms are also high in crude fat, so they are a great source to help your turtle gain some weight.
Frozen bloodworms are also very tasty, so you can give them to your turtle if they are a picky eater.
That being said, you should only feed bloodworms to your turtle once a week, as overfeeding them could cause obesity.
Cheap frozen bloodworms for turtles
You can buy cheap frozen bloodworms from most pet shops and fishing shops. You can buy cheap freeze dried bloodworms here.
How to feed frozen bloodworm to turtles?
There are two main ways you can feed your turtle frozen bloodworms. You can either thaw them in an external dish and then put it in the tank, or you can drop the frozen cube directly into the tank. Both have pros and cons.
If you thaw the bloodworms in an external dish first, the bloodworms will look much more realistic when you drop them in the tank. You turtle might think the bloodworms are still alive and could get stimulated by trying to catch them.
However, once you thaw the frozen bloodworms, they will be very messy, and your turtle might not be able to catch them all. Additionally, they can cause a pretty big mess in your tank and cause bacteria build up if your turtle doesn’t eat them all. It can also cause algae and moss to grow on your turtle.
This shouldn’t be a problem if you have a big tank with a strong filter. However, if your tank is 50 gallons or left, you might want to consider dropping the frozen cube directly in the water.
If you drop the frozen cube in the water, the bloodworms are more compact and it is easier for your turtle to eat them all. Your turtle might also prefer the texture of the frozen block. That being said, the frozen block might cause your turtle some problems since turtles are cold blooded. This is usually only a problem if you feed your turtle multiple frozen bloodworm blocks at a time, which you shouldn’t do anyways.
Whichever way you decide to feed your turtle, make sure to always put the bloodworms directly in the water. Turtles need to eat their food in the water in order to help with digestion. If you feed the turtle bloodworms on land, it may cause them to choke.
Additionally, you should be cautious when feeding your turtle bloodworms for the first time. Even though turtles do have a pretty hardy digestive system, new food in their diet can cause some digestive issues. Therefore, you should start by only feeding your turtle half a cube of frozen bloodworms.
Frozen bloodworms vs Freeze dried bloodworms
You may have also heard of freeze-dried bloodworms. I prefer freeze dried bloodworms because they are a lot less messy when you put them in your tank. Additionally, freeze dried bloodworms are a better bang for your buck, as frozen bloodworms usually contain around 80% water. Freeze dried bloodworms are also much easier to handles, as you can have them shipped from amazon and you don’t have to keep them in a freezer.
That being said, there are some advantages to frozen bloodworms.
While both frozen and freeze-dried bloodworms lose some nutrients when they are frozen, the frozen bloodworms retain more nutrients during the process. Additionally, frozen bloodworms can help keep your turtle hydrated since they have a high water content.
Additionally, frozen bloodworms have a much more realistic texture compared to freeze dried bloodworms. Therefore, your turtle might prefer frozen bloodworms since they are more natural to their habitat.
Which turtles can have frozen bloodworms?
Just about any pet turtle can have frozen bloodworms, since turtles are omnivores and eat both animal and plant sources.
Bloodworms are a great option for aquatic turtle species such as painted turtles and red-eared sliders. This is because these species of turtles usually eat worms in their natural habitat. Frozen bloodworms are a great option if your red eared slider is not growing.
Where to buy bloodworms for you turtle?
If you plan on buying freeze dried bloodworms, you should buy them online from amazon. They have freeze dried bloodworms that ship straight to your door, and you can get some for as cheap as $5.
While some online vendors do sell frozen bloodworms, I would not recommend it. If you get them shipped to your house, you risk the chance that they melt on the way. If you want to buy frozen bloodworms for your turtle, I suggest you go buy them from you local PetSmart or another pet store.
Can you freeze freeze-dried bloodworms?
While you can freeze freeze-dried bloodworms, there is no point. The bloodworms would likely lose some of their nutrients, and refreezing them can also cause them to lose their attractive taste.
