Vinegar eels are small (2mm) long nonparasitic nematodes. They feed on live bacteria naturally found in fermenting apple cider vinegar. Vinegar eels are a must-have for any fish breeder as they function as an important stepping stone between smaller nematode feeds and larger live feeds such as daphnia and brine shrimp.
Vinegar eels are possibly the easiest live food to keep and to culture, they can thrive for years with minimal attention. Not only are they easy to keep but they are also a very enticing food for young fry- lively wriggling attracts fry and can last for multiple-day in the water column, swimming through the water, meaning minimal wastage.
The culture should be kept out of direct sunlight and at room temperature to ensure the best reproductive conditions. The female Vinegar Eel gives birth to up to 45 young every 8-10 days they live for an average of 10 months.
 
Instructions for culture starting Vinegar Eels:
Fill a jar with a 1:1 apple cider vinegar and treated water (or old tank water) remembering to leave a little space for air in the jar and cut an air hole in the lid.
Peel and cut an apple into small pieces and add a few pieces into the mixture. (you may also add a little sugar or yeast to give the culture a boost, but this is not necessary).
Add starter culture to the jar.
Store at room temperature and watch as the eels populate the culture. (they will be ready to harvest in 2-3 weeks (depending on the size of the starter culture ordered).
Instructions for harvesting Vinegar Eels
Transfer culture to a long-necked bottle
Insert a small piece of filter floss or a cotton ball into the neck so that it sits about 1-2cm into the culture fill the space above the cotton ball with the water from the tank they’re intended for.
Wait a few hours for the eels to move into the water and syringe them up for harvest
Instructions for maintenance of Vinegar Eels:
Split the culture once every 6 months
Using new diluted apple cider vinegar to refresh the cultures
Culture needs refreshing when the culture begins to get cloudy