THE Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) center in Barangay Bonuan Binloc, Dagupan City is now culturing “bookworms” which have been proven to be a superb alternative fish food for fry in ponds.

Also known as microworms (Panagrellus spp), the species is a small, free living nematode, which means they don’t need an intermediate host unlike parasites to breed.

Dr. Westly Rosario, chief of the BFAR-National Integrated Fisheries Technology and Development Center, said the bookworms are “cheap, have similar amino acid content, easy to culture, has fast reproduction and can be propagated at room temperature or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit.”

Fish farmers usually use artemia or brine shrimp which costs about P2,500 per dipper (locally known as tabo) while a tray of microworms would cost only P13.50

Further, artemia requires special hatching jars  that must be well- aerated while microworms can be grown in plastic containers with lid that have pin-pricked holes.

Microworms can also multiply by as many as 1.5 million in one tray in a week, Rosario added.

Culturing microworms only need instant/commercial oatmeal, water, generic vitamins B12, B complex, plastic containers with lids, baker’s yeast and sprayer.

Rosario started his experiment on microworms last January after somebody from U.P. Diliman gave him inoculums of these worms.

The experiments proved successful and Rosario now wants to try it on a commercial scale.

Aquaculturists are welcome to visit the BFAR center to learn how to produce microworms in their own backyards.

Rosario said the BFAR center in Dagupan is possibly the only one so far in the country using microworms.—Tita Roces

Back to Homepage

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments