Microworm cultures confuse me

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DevilSpirit

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Sep 23, 2009
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I've tried MW cultures twice, and both times, my culture starts smelling very yeasty within 1-2 days, when its suppososedly supposed to last at least a week...

I'm hoping for some advice on reducing, or even better, eliminating the smell.

I'm using Quaker Oatmeal, mixing it with water until its moist, but not wet. Spreading this about 1/2 an inch thickness in an old buttur contaier, and adding about 3-5 grains of yeast dissolved in a tbsp of water.

Also, I'm not sure of the purpose of the yeast/oatmeal. Some sources say that the yeast is the microworm food, but other sources say its the oatmeal that provides food. I'm wondering if it's possible to start a yeast-less culture, since that seems to be where the smell's coming from. o.O
 
When I get a smell it's because something wrong is growing in the culture. I use a lot more yeast than you do and normally there is no yeasty smell.

Try starting a few different containers and get rid of the ones that smell bad.

I get more problems when I don't use the yeast than when I do. I don't think you are really using enough with just a couple of grains. I sprinkle the whole top of the oatmeal before adding water.

Without the yeast, it seems like the culture lasts longer but it's not as productive.
 
I have a very sensitive nose, and with using yeast, the culture smells yeasty, but that doesn't mean it's bad. Mine last almost 4 weeks before they begin to turn sour. You think yeasty smells bad? Don't let one go bad! LOL! Anyway, I use oatmeal and water and cook it in the microwave according to package directions, put the culture on top and sprinkle it heavily with yeast. Seems the yeast is what sends them up the sides of the containers fast! I don't keep my cultures close to a heat source so they're a little slower to climb. I've had my cultures well over a year now. When you're raising tiny fry, you've got to have some tiny live food to really get them growing.
 
what do you grow MW cultures for? and where do the worms come from?
 
Well where they come from is not a real technical answer....I bought a culture from someone else! There are people that sell starter cultures. They are very very tiny (micro) worms that are small enough for fry to be able to eat as some first food. If I didn't raise small fish, I would have no need for the microworms. Although my ember tetras love them too!

Hi Keith....are you talking about a white worm culture, not a micro worm culture?
 
Well, personally, I can take the smell up to a few days, but its noticable at 1-2. My mom's the main problem here xD

Right now, my solutions are add more yeast, feed with bread, or microwave my cultures (which I usually don't do)

Still not sure of the purpose of the oatmeal and yeast tho. I just saw something tday that said something about the oatmeal feeding the yeast which then feeds the microworms o.O
 
The smell is not to bad.. imagine getting a culture in a double plastic bag baggy within a week.. THAT IS WHIFFY!

Get a container with a top, poke holes but DO NOT make a hole and stuff the hole with a cottonball or something seeing any flies that get in could lay eggs and ruin your culture. I use hot water from the faucet, mix in oatmeal that is not mushy or to dry. Add culture on top than sprinkle a layer of yeast on top. I would say close to 3-4 weeks they get funky and turn black.

Don't the MW feed on the oatmeal, and the yeast is a raiser so I guess it stimulates growth and break down of the oatmeal?

"The microworms feed on the yeast and bacteria produced from the oatmeal.he microworms feed on the yeast and bacteria produced from the oatmeal." http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FA022

Its an edu site... usually more trusting in information due to the education stamp ( I think that is what edu is :S... seeing a lot of school websites are .edu.)
 
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