 |
||
|
|
Select Aquatics E-Z Worms |
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
These are a hardy, nutritious species of White or
Grindal Worm that
does not need to be refrigerated, or even to be kept cool! This
is not the
common species of white worm usually traded and
maintained in the
hobby. Many choose not to keep white worms because they
will die out
if kept too warm. These do not need to be kept cool or
refrigerated.
They were discovered accidentally- Here is the story.
As mentioned
at the page on keeping Red Worms, we feed ground
Chicken feed to the
Red Worms. In the spring of 2015 a new organic brand
was offered to
me, and within that chicken feed were the eggs of this
room
temperature species of white worm. They multiplied
within the red
worm containers, living in the moist peat, and feeding
from the chicken
feed. Others keeping these worms have since found that
they will feed
from the same diet used for other white worms- oatmeal,
bread, etc.
Though
identified as White Worms by many hobbyists that claimed
to know them well (I do not) some customers have
written to say
they may actually be a species of grindal worm. I have
found them
to be prolific nutritious and easy to care for,
whichever they are.
I gradually introduced them to the fish, who eat them
eagerly, and
after 18 months of learning how best to culture them in
containers
of their own, they are now a staple
live food in this
fishroom, and
found to be easy to raise, hardy, very prolific and
easy to harvest.
|
|
generously drilled with small holes needs to be over
the culture at all times to maintain humidity.
Kept in shallow tubs or shoebox containers, this
one is approximately
20 inches square and 5 inches deep. They are filled about
2/3rds with
moist Canadian peat, commonly available. The peat
must be kept
moist, and once going are very prolific.
The tubs are firmly covered
with tops that are drilled for
ventilation. (They do not escape).
Recent conversations with customers and a month of
testing has
shown here that feeding "Nutritional Yeast Flakes"
produces robust,
healthy cultures, without the contaminants (such as
small flies) that
will come in the chicken feed. I will grind it up
before feeding.
An
excellent video on one method of keeping white worms, done by
a good friend, Dave Ramsey, can be seen
HERE:
As seen in the picture above, they will crawl up the
sides of the
container and collect near the top, where they are
easily harvested
with a moist paper towel. See below for the best way to
harvest them.
These are maintained in
smaller shoebox sized containers, and
must be kept very moist.
a finger was poked to check the moisture level. The top
is off for the photo, but it is always covered so that it does
not dry out.
One culture of worms = $10 + $8 (One Price 3-5 Day Priority) = $18*
*During colder weather, worms
are shipped in fish quality stryos with a heat pack for a total cost of
$22-26, depending on your zip code within the continental US.
One culture is approximately 3-5 ounces of moist peat infused with
hundreds of worms, fed
on day of shipping, with a bag of enough ground chicken feed to last
about 2 weeks.
The Guide to keep these worms, a copy also included with each order, can be found HERE.
If you are in the continental
US, email me at
selectaquatics@gmail.com so I can let you know if they
are currently
available, and I will know to expect your payment.
Payment is made to the Select Aquatics Paypal account (selectaquatics@gmail.com),
or if you do not have a Paypal account, I can invoice you for credit
card payment
by email (through Paypal). Payment can be easily made from the Paypal
homepage.
Other forms of payment can be arranged, contact me by email.
Culture will be shipped to the address on the Paypal account,
unless you
let me know otherwise.
|
How To Harvest Them Easily:
|
|
|
|
Pick up a sheet of plastic cross stitch
backing,
available at most fabric, hobby
and craft stores.
|
|
Worm culture. After you receive the white worm culture
starter, keep the peat very moist- almost wet- and feed lightly
every day, and keep covered to hold in moisture.
In 1-3 weeks a layer of worms will cover the surface. Lay the
backing over the worms, and sprinkle the food over the top of
the backing. The plastic sheet will become solidly inhabited
by these worms, and it can be be easily rinsed off to be fed to
the fish.
have started to populate over the plasctic mesh backing.
I did not feed this bin for a day, and you can see how they
they have eaten away all of the ground chicken feed.
This sheet can then be swished into water in another
container. After a few moments, the worms settle to
the bottom, any dirty water is then poured off and
replenished with new, and the worms are fed to the
fish with a turkey baster.
I am able to harvest far greater quantities of
these worms than with any
other type of White Worm I have ever kept. There are
currently 6 shoebox
cultures going here, and this is one day's feeding!
|
|