Banana Worm Live Culture — Perfect Mid-Size Live Food for Growing Fry

A Live Banana Worm Culture provides a thriving colony of Panagrellus nepenthicola — a tiny, harmless nematode ideal for feeding fish fry that have outgrown vinegar eels but are not yet ready for larger foods like microworms or baby brine shrimp.

Banana worms are slightly larger than vinegar eels, growing to around 2 mm in length and about 80 µm in diameter. Their gentle wriggling motion instantly attracts fry, making them one of the easiest and most reliable live foods to introduce in the first few weeks of life.

Why Banana Worms Are So Useful

If you’re raising small species such as bettas, guppies, rasboras, or rainbowfish, banana worms are a natural stepping stone in your fry-feeding routine. They bridge the gap perfectly between the ultra-fine vinegar eels and the chunkier microworms or Walter worms. Because they remain suspended for a short time before slowly sinking, both top- and mid-water fry can take advantage of the feeding opportunity.

Unlike some other live foods, banana worms reproduce quickly and are extremely easy to maintain. A small starter culture can produce enough food for dozens of fry within days — and with the right care, it can keep going for months.

How They Differ from Microworms and Walter Worms

Banana worms sit right between vinegar eels and microworms in size and behaviour. Microworms (Panagrellus redivivus) are slightly thicker and tend to sink faster, while Walter worms (Panagrellus silusioides) are almost identical in care but just a touch smaller and more active. Many breeders rotate between all three species to give their fry a variety of movement speeds and sizes — encouraging stronger feeding responses and better early growth.

In short: Vinegar Eels → Banana Worms → Walter Worms / Microworms → Baby Brine Shrimp. It’s a natural progression that keeps pace with your fry’s development.

How to Feed

Feed small portions once or twice a day, depending on how many fry you’re raising. Use a cotton bud, cocktail stick, or fingertip to collect a small smear from the culture surface and rinse it gently into the fry tank. You’ll see the tiny worms disperse and start swimming — irresistible to any hungry fry nearby.

Banana worms will survive for a short time in fresh water, giving your fry plenty of opportunity to feed, but it’s best to remove any uneaten residue after a few hours to keep water quality high.

Culture Care & Maintenance

Banana worm cultures thrive on a simple mix of baby cereal or mashed oats moistened with water and a touch of mashed banana. The banana not only provides nutrition for the worms but also encourages a mild, sweet smell rather than the yeasty scent of microworm cultures. Keep the mixture damp but not wet, at room temperature, and covered with a breathable lid or cloth to allow air exchange.

Within a few days, you’ll notice a shimmering layer of worms climbing the sides of the container — a sure sign your culture is booming. Start a fresh culture every few weeks to keep productivity high and avoid mould or souring.

Product Information

Supplied as a live starter culture containing banana worms and their growth medium, ready to establish your own continuous supply. On arrival, transfer a small portion to a clean container with fresh medium, and you’ll have a thriving, self-sustaining colony within a week.

Banana Worm Live Culture is the ideal mid-sized live food for developing fry — nutritious, easy to harvest, and endlessly renewable. Whether you’re breeding bettas, guppies, or any small egg-layer, it’s one of those quiet essentials that makes raising healthy, fast-growing fry much simpler.