Microworm Culture Questions

[Joe]

Hello,

I have two icecream containers filled with porridge, yeast and microworms. I have a few questions:

- How long does this mixture last before it is supposed to be changed? So far it's lasted me a week.

- I store it in a cupboard. Should I use the fridge?

- I've heard of people using vinegar in their cultures. What is the benefit in this and is it worthwhile?

- The mixture I use is two cups of porridge mix, and I make that into porridge with boiling water, let it cool, and divide it between the two boxes. Then I sprinkle yeast over the porridge. Are there any better feeding mixtures that people have had a lot of success with?

Thanks,

Joe

[Jennifer]

I make only enough porridge to make a layer about 1cm thick, it is a very dense hard porridge. Alan advised that I try brewers yeast from BinInn and now I swear by it, it makes the mixture much less stinky. I add enough yeast powder so that it completely covers the porridge. Then I add the worms and a teaspoon of water so they don't dehydrate in the dry yeast. I keep them at room temperature.

I always run two microworm cultures in containers that are the size of a medium yogurt pottle and they provide far more that I can use. I harvest a couple of teaspoons of worms from the sides of the containers every day. It is way more than I can use so I harvest and dispose of worms most days. I replace the mixture once a month.

Edit: was supposed to say microworm cultures, not whiteworm cultures. :oops:

[Joe]

Cool thanks Jennifer

Speaking of whiteworms, I was thinking of trying them in an icecrean with peat, but I know that they don't like low pH. Would it be a wise idea to add a bit of lime?

[Sophia]

mine do Ok in peat. Am going to try peat and old potting mix next

[Joe]

Awesome

[Jennifer]

Speaking of whiteworms, I was thinking of trying them in an icecrean with peat, but I know that they don't like low pH. Would it be a wise idea to add a bit of lime?

Whoops! I meant to say microworm cultures, not whiteworm cultures (edited my post above). :oops:

Joe, I know the whiteworms don't like acid, but I can't be bothered using other types of soil. Every time I try other types of soil I get mites so not I just use peat now. The worms are fine, and have actually survived the hot summer with no problems. I have mine in two plastic bins that are the size of large shoeboxes. I guess I believe in having two cultures of everything in case one crashes.

[Sophia]

I am mean to my whiteworms - so that I could safely feed them to smaller fish and also ensure that all the fish got a bite, I cut them up live and feed in smaller pieces.

[Joe]

I had better not get on the wrong side of you then :lol:

I went and got some potting mix for whiteworm cultures today. I'm going to try them again in icecream containers, with my new ventilation system.

[Sophia]

Since this thread started I grew a microworm culture in hard porridge and brewers yeast. It started off a bit more slowly than the edible consistency porridge and other yeast but I do believe it is slightly less stinky. The worms stay a little further down the sides of the container and make a thicker mass so it's easier to scoop them off. Have also made an effort to harvest every couple of days even if I have to wash them down the sink so they don't overpopulate.

My mini fish love them.

[Stephanie]

I use those little round 200ml pots like the ones you get at the supermarket, weatbix (it seems to work wonders and we always have them in the cupboard), edmonds active yeast and then I throw them in the hot water cupboard and you get a culture in two days max. Smaller containers mean the whole container is covered every day which means the swordtail, cherry barb, platy, guppy, molly and danio fry all get a good feed (there's always heaps of worms!)

I usually change it when it gets manky and there's not so many worms maybe every month or so. I'm lazy and it went super gross and they still managed to survive and make two awesome new cultures (lucky because you can't buy more here!).