Vinegar eels are a common first food for betta fry and many other fish. They are smaller than most nematodes, last longer in the tank, and swim throughout the water column which prevents too much bottom-feeding. They are extraordinarily easy to keep and can thrive for years with minimal attention. Vinegar eels, in my opinion, are a must-have food for all betta breeders. While other cultures might crash or brine shrimp hatches might fail, you will always be able to pull out vinegar eels and know they are ready to harvest when you need them.
What you will receive is a starter culture in apple cider vinegar which holds enough vinegar eels to start 2 Large soda bottles of Culture.
Culturing Directions:
What you need:
- Jar or large bottle (1-2L) with a cap or lid.
- 1 small apple, cut into slices small enough to fit into the jar
- Apple cider vinegar
- Treated tap water
- Starter culture of vinegar eels taken from an established culture
Instructions:
- Fill the jar with a 1:1 ratio of apple cider vinegar and treated tap water, leave a little space at the top for air and also make sure to cut a small air hole in the top of the jar.
- Wash the apple thoroughly to remove any contaminants on the skin. Cut it into pieces and stick into the jar with the diluted vinegar.
- Add the starter culture to the jar
- Seal and store at room temperature. A dark cabinet is preferable but not necessary
(Note: Some people add a small pinch of sugar or yeast to their cultures to start them. I’ve never tried this myself and find it an unnecessary step. The apple will act as food for the culture).
I split my cultures and start fresh cultures every 6 months or so, sometimes letting it go as long as a year between splitting. In that time, I do not add any food or fresh water/vinegar to the culture. The colony thrives well on its own. If you notice it getting cloudy it’s probably time to refresh the culture. To refresh, simply get a new jar and pour half the culture in there and then top both jars off with fresh diluted vinegar. If you don’t want to start a second culture but merely keep one going you can always pour half down the drain or offer it to another hobbyist then refresh the original with diluted vinegar.
Depending on the size of your starter culture you should find your culture ready to feed in about 2-4 weeks, sooner if you buy a large starter. If you have good eyesight or a magnifying glass you will be able to see the eels swimming around in the jar, if you cannot see them a ready to feed culture will look just the slightest bit cloudy when teeming with eels.