Tubifex

1 9.9

A small freshwater worm often fed to aquarium fish

noun

Specialized

: Tubifex

Tubifex worms

Examples

I couldn't imagine tubifex that thick or such leeches in our pond.

Fiction book (1997)
Aquarium enthusiasts often feed their fish with tubifex worms because of their high nutritional value.
In the muddy areas of the river, tubifex worms thrive, providing a food source for various aquatic animals.
During the biological investigation, scientists collected tubifex worms to study their role in freshwater ecosystems.

Surface Forms

Tubifex singular

Tubifex plural

Etymology

Tubifex comes from Latin parts tubi- meaning 'tube' and -fex meaning 'maker'. These small, muddy worms live in or make tiny tubes, so the name is like 'tube-maker', which explains their shape and why aquarium owners use them as fish food.