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Post by Chard56 on Jul 20, 2024 21:13:38 GMT -6
There are many different ways to keep and feed Grindal and White worms. I like simple so here's my method. First you need a pint storage container with a half inch of moist potting soil. Not too wet or you'll drown the worms. No need to cut a hole in the lid or poke air holes or you'll have mites. Some people use bread with cream cheese others different food and different collecting methods. I use dry cat food. Purina brand since that's what my cat and ferret both eat. After adding the worms to the culture I put about 10 pieces of cat chow on top of the soil and place a clear plastic lid on top of the food. Within a day or two you should see the worms congregate on the underside of the plastic lid. I swish that in the tank I'm feeding and just put it back. If the cat food gets too wet and doesn't get eaten fast enough it will mold and smell. Just take it out with tweezers and replace with more dry food.
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Post by Chard56 on Jul 20, 2024 21:24:58 GMT -6
My experience with Daphnia in the past was not good. I had them show up in my tanks when I lived in Iowa. I don't know if they were from the local water when I seined bait for my bait shop or they hatched out from eggs in one of the food products. I got some Daphnia in trade twice and killed them off both times so when I purchased these Daphnia Magna I made sure to read up on them and research them online. The information was helpful but vague. Luckily this time I separated the Daphnia into several cultures, from a 10 gallon tank and a 20 gallon tote tub to a 60 gallon plastic trash can and a kiddie pool in the basement. I've killed off the smaller cultures a time or two but once you figure out their cycle and how much to NOT to overfeed them they will multiply 100 fold in a week to make a good conditioning food and bigger fry food, as a treat or as a supplimental food added to their diet. An aerator is a must. Just an airline tube with enough pressure to keep the surface broken up and create a little current. Otherwise it will get stagnant and you may as well turn it into a tubifex worm culture. Using an air stone will make the small bubbles get caught under their carapace and then they float and can't swim normally. I feed the Daphnia a mixture of one part each of yeast, spurulina powder and flour. Add a little garlic for taste and paprika for color. Add a couple teaspoons to warm water and shake well before adding to the culture. It will smell like you're cooking Italian and making guacamole. Just add a little to start so the water is a little cloudy and see how fast it clears. Should be a couple days and they will have eaten it all and reproduced tremendously. Don't overfeed the culture and don't take too many Daphnia out. You'll need a good number to keep propagating to keep the numbers up and have a constant supply.
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Post by Chard56 on Jul 20, 2024 21:30:20 GMT -6
Micro worm cultures are started with a half inch of very wet oatmeal with a little yeast sprinkled on top. Then some medium from a live culture is added. You should make a fresh one every 10 days or so depending on how well you maintain the culture and how much you feed out of it. If it stops producing well then it's time to add some yeast or make up a new culture. I use a q-tip and wipe the worms off the sides of a quart deli cup I use for the culture and swish that in the fry tank and squeeze the water out of it.
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Post by Chard56 on Jul 20, 2024 21:33:22 GMT -6
For Infusoria, I cut the top off of a 2 litre soda bottle and fill it with used aquarium water and add a little shredded lettuce to it once a week or so. Just cut up a piece the size of a quarter is all. It will have tiny critters growing in it that you can see with a magnifying glass within a few days. If it stinks after awhile you are probably adding too much lettuce and it will foul the water. It should not smell. I've kept one on the kitchen sink for years and through several girlfriends so if it smells, dump it out and start over. I use a turkey baster to suck up the water and put it in the fry tanks starting the day before they hatch.
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