Culture Technology of Aguatic Oligochaete- Tubificids

Tubificid worms are aquatic invertebrates belonging to the class Oligochaeta and family Tubificidae. It is one of the esteemed live foods for fish and other aquatic invertebrates. Findings of the study suggest that 20% wheat bran, 30% soybean meal, 20% mustard oil cake, 20% cow-dung and 10% sand is the best culture media to get maximum yield and culture can be continued upto 180 days to minimize the cost. Use of rice gruel to wet the media ingredients proved most promising in giving even 1.5 times higher yield than without gruel. Only 1.02 kg culture media costing US$ 0.29 instead of 1.49 kg culture media costing US$ 0.42 was required to yield 1 kg Tubificid worms when rice gruel was used. Culture of Tubificid worms in larger space i.e., in cistern is possible in terms of production and economy.