White Worm Help.

[a.i.m]

Ive been keeping white worm for a couple of months now, but im having problems with the compost im keeping them in.
Im using peet free multipurpose compost in an ice cream tub , the tub has holes pierced into the lid and is being kept at the botom of my fridge @ 13 C , i originally added a small amount of water to the mix to dampen it.

Im feeding them bread soaked in water or porridge oats soaked in water, making sure that when im feeding access water isnt being added to their compost, but the compost KEEPS turning out wet and soggy.

 

[black angel]

Worm cultures need the warmth to keep better. Store it in a warmer room and that should help.

 

[a.i.m]

Id read that an optimum temp for white worms was 18c , whilst above 22c they will die and the same at 0c.
Also the site where id read that suggested to keep the worms at the bottom of a fridge on its warmest settings, so thats why i followed its reccomendation.
So you keep your white worms in a warm place do you, at what temperature is that then?

 

[black angel]

I had white worm cultures a while ago and they were just kept in the same room as my fish tanks.
I now have grindalworm and whiteworm cultures at the same temps and they are fine.
Maybe theres just too much water as well.

 

[a.i.m]

I redid the peat mixture about 6 weeks ago, incase id origionally made the mixture to wet.
so i halfed my mix with new mix making it half as wet as it had gone. But still 6 weels down the line its gone the same again wet and soggy.
My micro worms are kept at room temp as thats what id read and they thrive, but i carnt get my white worm to be as productive as they should be.
What did you keep your white worms in?

 

[black angel]

Mine were in a standard margarine tub with moist but not soaking compost with the bread on top and then a lid. What are yours in?

 

[a.i.m]

check my 1st post...

 

[black angel]

OOps missed that bit.
I just done know why its not going right for you, maybe BigC might be able to help as he sells cultures.
Sorry i cant be of any more use

 

[a.i.m]

can any one tell me how they look after there white worms , also in what mixture?

 

[BigC]

Whiteworm (Enchytraeus Albidus) are another form of livefood I like to give to my adult Killifish, but they are more difficult to culture successfully than Microworm or Grindalworm.
Old aquarists swore by wooden boxes as a recepticle to culture these worms in. I, myself have found that plastic biscuit boxes are ideal. The medium I use for propagating these worms is not my own recipe but one I've tried as a result of conferring with other aquarists over the years. It's basically a 50/50 mix of potting compost and peat moss. I boil the peat first then I mix the two soils together and form a large damp ball then... wait for it....I microwave the ball for around 2 minutes. (Don't tell the wife, I do this when she's at work). My secrets out... Anyway I believe this has the affect of sterilising the soil and there will be no nasty living organisms to infest my whiteworm culture. Fill the container to a depth of around 75mm. As to feeding the worms I personally use brown bread soaked in milk. Change the bread if it becomes mouldy, but you will soon get used to feeding the right amount so as the worms consume the whole lot. You will probably be saying to yourself, well I use a different food and get better results. I've tried different foods and found that this works well for me. Again cover the whole culture with a piece of glass. Puncture the lid with random holes for air to circulate. Now the most important part of cultivating Whiteworm is the temperature of which you will store your cultures. Whiteworm are most productive stored at a temperature range between 55 - 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything over this temperature they become unproductive and begin to die. So Temperature is the most critical criteria to successfully cultivating Whiteworm

 

[a.i.m]

Where would i get peat moss from , can you buy it or do you mean the moss plant that grows on old stone and paths.

As for the temperature my 13 -14 c in my fridge ok isnt it then & i am using the glass technique as it easier to remove the clumps and aslo gives them cover whilst eating the bread.

its just the build up of moisture which keeps fouling my mix, the worms dont actually use the soil and only seem to sit on top of it.

 

[black angel]

The peat moss you can buy from garden centres and it would explain why the cultures are so wet as the peat moss will be lighter and mix better so not giving such a heavy medium. Try it as Colin has said and maybe you will notice an improvement.

 

[Synirr]

I've been feeding my white worm culture on flake fish food and it's extremely productive; much moreso than when I fed oatmeal. Unfortunately it is now infested with fruit fly maggots, so not nearly as productive now what with the maggots hogging all the food