but wahtever it is it's preventing my cluture from getting to the surface.
it's driving me nuts!!! i have no idea what i'm doing wrong but it seems like all my cultures are spoiled becuase of this. 
) there' sno expiry date on it, but i think ti's time for ones 
lol cc, I would almost bet money on it. My yeast only lasted for maybe 6 months max, and then it was just not producing. You don't necessarily have to add yeast when starting a new culture from an old one, because there is usually enough in the sample you add. However, I add yeast anyway because I've found it gives a much bigger, and faster, yield. Also, if you just swiped them off the side there wasn't any yeast with them, so that's another problem. No worm food! Get some new yeast and tell me how it works out for you. (You might be able to find packages like I do, then you can just open one and use it for awhile before moving on to the next one.) maybe ti's the bread 
That might also be an issue for you, it's getting rotten.
I had the same problem though,they weren't crawling up the sides and I came to the same conclusion about the yeast. I had a HUGE bag I got from Costco some time ago and it expired last year I got some fresh and viola...worms ahoy!Ill try that I guess.....wuvmybetta said:I use bread because I think the oatmeal gets too smelly
/www.petfish.net/max-micro.htm (specifically the update at the bottom)I've noticed a small container that's more tall than flat works well. I tried a culture in a wide container once and all the worms just kind of congealed. I think there was too much surface area and it was too easy for the moisture to escape. When I use one of those tall butter containers I never have to add moisture... as long as there's a lid on it (with a couple holes) it's self-sustaining until the oatmeal goes bad.cutecotton said:i tried that method, but the paper towel only dried up my cluture to flakes overnight
