Separating tubifex and blackworms

[jolt100]

Hi all, does anyone have a method for separating a mixture of the two?
I have an old tank that I use for daphnia which also has both types of worms, its years since I bought any and not sure how they got in there:-S
I want to try cultivating the tubifex but not sure how to get them apart, or do I just throw them both in together and see which survive?
Cheers
John

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

Hi all, does anyone have a method for separating a mixture of the two?
I have an old tank that I use for daphnia which also has both types of worms, its years since I bought any and not sure how they got in there:-S
I want to try cultivating the tubifex but not sure how to get them apart, or do I just throw them both in together and see which survive?
Cheers
John

You can do it by the way they move.

If you annoy a Blackworm it will swim backwards in a helical manner, a bit like a cork-screw. A Tubifex will just wriggle.

Cheers Darrel

 

[jolt100]

Thanks Darrel, I was hoping I wouldn't have to do it one at a time ☺
I had put a mixture of worms and sediment in a container with an overflow but I think I'll start again with filtered worms and separate them as i go along.
I'll feedback my findings so anyone else in the same boat might benefit.
Cheers
John