Feeding earthworms

Question
Hi,
 I have 2 breeding blue acara and i was just wondering if it is o.k to feed them earthworms from the garden.It has been said that you can on websites but i just wanted to make sure with an expert like yourself.
If so,do i need to do anything with the worms before i feed them to my fish.
Thanks in advance!!!

Answer
generally speaking i don't endorse the feeding of wild caught animals of any type as u never know what diseases/parasites they may be carrying.  if u wish to feed earthworms i would suggest u buy them from a reputable pet store or from www.petsolutions.com  the best food for blue acaras is omega one brand chiclid pellets, fresh cucumber(be sure to rinse and slice, but not peel) and frozen blood worms/brine shrimp.  if live food is a must i would suggest ghost shrimp. i however cannot endorse the feeding of wild caught earthworms due to the risk of parasites and disease.  let me know if my advice helps.

good luck,

timm