microworms.. are they alive??

flyte00

flyte00

AC Members
Aug 7, 2006
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Pennsylvania
www.flyte.org
Hi guys..

I got my microworm culture about 4 days ago. I had made up some mashed potato mix for them the day before and put it in the container. They arrived in an oatmeal mix. Try as I might, I could not see anything moving at all in the oatmeal but I put it in, thinking maybe they were too small to see. I just plopped it on top of the mashed potatoes and yesterday, because the oatmeal looked kinda dried, I mixed it in with the potatoes.
Well it stinks to high heaven now and I still don't see anything moving, nothing climbing sides or 'shimmering' or anything..
I had gotten smaller containers because the one they are in now is rather large.. (old round plastic cake holder) could that be the problem? Is it worth trying to put some of the material in with new mix in the smaller containers or are they likely dead. Thanks.

Sarah
 
im not sure,i have them in outmeal,it worked fine for me,try them in different things like oats,baby cereal, cornmeal and potatoes sounds ok,not sure.ive got the worms for my baby bettas,i know this is off topic but what do you have the worms for?hope you get them climbing soon ;).................BETTAGURL
 
I use baby oatmeal from a box (dry). I mix in enough non chlorinated water to make it like a thick soup. Then mix in a pinch of yeast. I keep mine about 1-2 inches deep. Keep it warm. After a couple of days you should see a shimmering on the top of the stuff. It will smell - like yeast or like fermented yeast when the stuff needs changing. When not in use, store in the refrigerator - up to 2-3 weeks. Then when you know you might need some, begin a new batch by dumping out 1/2 the old batch and adding fresh water,oatmeal and yeast.

I'd try mixing up a couple from the seeming dead culture you have growing. Perhaps there are some live worms and they will grow and take over. I find that if the mixture is more watery, they climb up the sides faster.

You can keep it going indefinately...
Cathy
 
Hey, thanks for the info..
I was planning on breeding my betta, thats why I got the microworms.. But I've decided to hold off and learn more. In the meantime I thought my adult betta, tetra & ghost shrimp would enjoy eating them but maybe the worms are too small :| oh well.. I'll try mixing some of the 'dead' stuff into a few new containers in the morning.

Sarah
 
Just wanted to say - good for you for not jumping blindly into the big responsible world of fish husbandry!!! :clap: :clap: :clap:
 
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