Live food for dummies

[CaptainBarnicles]

Well not impressed.

My worms arrived this morning....and thankfully, I was fine and not grossed out at all. They came in a zip lock baggy with soil and dry kitten food as well as a little laminated card with aftercare instructions....AND MITES. Honestly I've tried to take a video to show the seller, but they're so small I don't know of he'll be able to see them.

What do I do now? Will they harm the worms? Can/will rainbows eat them? Or do I have to chuck it out?

 

[Colin_T]

Most grindal worm cultures have mites, they are harmless and my rainbows would eat them. Once the culture is established, or even while its establishing, you can scrape the mites off. When the culture is established, you can cut sections of it out and start new cultures. The mites like damp conditions so don't let the cultures get too wet.

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

Most grindal worm cultures have mites, they are harmless and my rainbows would eat them. Once the culture is established, or even while its establishing, you can scrape the mites off. When the culture is established, you can cut sections of it out and start new cultures. The mites like damp conditions so don't let the cultures get too wet.

That's good to know, thank you! I've just used potting soil for now, it retains a fair amount of moisure so it's probably a bit too wet, it's a warm day again here so I'm hoping it will dry out a little but if not I'll blot it with some kitchen towel tonight.

Will the mites somehow get into my house plants?

And where should I store my cultures? I've set 2 up for now...

 

[Colin_T]

If you have holes in the lid of the culture container, it can let some moisture out. You can also just have a handkerchief on the top of the culture to stop things getting in but allow it to dry out.

The mites could get onto garden plants. If they do, lather some soap up on your hands and wipe the soap over the mites on the plant. Leave for 15-30 minutes and then rinse off with tap water.

The mites are unlikely to affect aquatic plants but might hang on to floating plants. You can dunk the plant underwater and most of the mites should wash off.

I just had my worm cultures on a shelf in the fish room. You can keep them anywhere that isn't too hot or too cold. Average room temperatures are fine (15-30C).

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

The things I put myself through it's this slimy, alien, gross, squirming mess that makes me cringe...I'm supposed to replace the food after 24hours...but how do I do that without taking out the worms?? I'm such a baby!

 

[AlexT]

View attachment 327451
The things I put myself through it's this slimy, alien, gross, squirming mess that makes me cringe...I'm supposed to replace the food after 24hours...but how do I do that without taking out the worms?? I'm such a baby!

Did that come off a meteor? I'd call Gov UK and get that area QT right away Captain

 

[AlexT]

Has anyone seen the film "The Thing", the original one with Kurt Russell?
Christ, the things we risk for our hobby! @CaptainBarnicles @Colin_T

 

[AlexT]

@Colin_T I've been researching Rotifers, and one of the things I cannot get my head around is the different sizes. I don't want to end up cultivating live food that my fish might not even see (I am not saying that is the case with rotifers, just in general).

And Colin, I've got my bentosi tetra's in mind, so as you know, small mouths. If you were me, someone with zero experience in raising their own live food, and with the tetra's in mind, what method/food would you go for? We are coming into winter within about 8 weeks in the UK, so I might have to do this indoors. However, with me being in London (South), we can go weeks and weeks without the temperature going below 0, if that makes any difference.

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

Did that come off a meteor? I'd call Gov UK and get that area QT right away Captain

I know! It's fuplie hideous! even Mr Barnicles shuddered..

 

[Back in the fold]

I’m in a phase where I feed my Grindal Worm cultures but don’t harvest them . When the food has been fully eaten I stir the culture well , let it rest a couple days and feed again . In another week or so I will put the cover plates back on and start collecting to feed again . My cultures are a little ecosystem all their own and I take care of them like that . If you must add water to the culture use a spray bottle and mist lightly . The worms seem to generate moisture themselves . It’s something to be especially vigilant about . I keep extra coconut coir medium on hand to mix in should things get too wet .

 

[sharkweek178]

Well not impressed.

My worms arrived this morning....and thankfully, I was fine and not grossed out at all. They came in a zip lock baggy with soil and dry kitten food as well as a little laminated card with aftercare instructions....AND MITES. Honestly I've tried to take a video to show the seller, but they're so small I don't know of he'll be able to see them.

What do I do now? Will they harm the worms? Can/will rainbows eat them? Or do I have to chuck it out?

Give it time. They'll grow in.

 

[sharkweek178]

View attachment 327451
The things I put myself through it's this slimy, alien, gross, squirming mess that makes me cringe...I'm supposed to replace the food after 24hours...but how do I do that without taking out the worms?? I'm such a baby!

I use my aquarium tongs to take the food out.

 

[sharkweek178]

Most grindal worm cultures have mites, they are harmless and my rainbows would eat them. Once the culture is established, or even while its establishing, you can scrape the mites off. When the culture is established, you can cut sections of it out and start new cultures. The mites like damp conditions so don't let the cultures get too wet.

Should grindal cultures be kept in light or dark?

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

I use my aquarium tongs to take the food out.

But the food is covered in worms...how do I get them off??

 

[Colin_T]

View attachment 327451
The things I put myself through it's this slimy, alien, gross, squirming mess that makes me cringe...I'm supposed to replace the food after 24hours...but how do I do that without taking out the worms?? I'm such a baby!

You don't remove the worms when feeding. You put a small amount of dry baby cereal (or whatever you are using) onto the peat/ potting mix. You leave it until all the food is gone and the worms have gone back underground. Then you wait until the next day and feed them again.

If you put too much food in it can get mouldy or go rotten. Try to use a dry food rather than wet food because it's cleaner and less likely to go off.

If you have a piece of glass or Persex (with a handle), you put a thin layer of the food on the peat and the glass/ Perspex on top of the food. When there are lots of worms on the underside of the glass, you lift it up and rinse it off in the aquarium. If there are lots of worms on the glass, don't put them all in the tank at the same time because most will drown. Just put a corner of the glass in the tank and the remaining worms can go back into the culture. The moisture on the glass (from the aquarium water) will help keep the culture moist but not too wet.