Trick to feeding microworms

[TXHawgHunter]

Looking for the trick to feeding these little critters without getting oatmeal in the tank.  I tried the wipe them off the sides of the container method, but they don't seem to come up the sides fast enough.  I'm sure there is a trick someone here knows and would love to share.

Thanks!

[PhishPhreek]

Re: Trick to feeding microworms

I use a cheap watercolor paintbrush  to gather up the worms from the side of my container and then swish the end in the tank to feed my fry.
But here is a good page with all kinds of microworm info.


Expiriments with Microworms

[TXHawgHunter]

Re: Trick to feeding microworms

I start a new culture every week, they seem to go up the sides for only a couple days.  I'm using 8 oz. plastic ziploc containers.  Maybe a taller jar?  I'm just mixing oatmeal and water and adding a pinch of yeast them some worms from the last culture.  I don't cook my oatmeal, should I?  There seems to be millions of worms crawling on top of the mixture, kinda shimmers in the light.

[AnotherWoogie]

Re: Trick to feeding microworms

I only change my culture once a month - what I was told to do. Maybe you're making new cultures too fast? After I make a new culture, it takes them a couple days before they make it up the sides, too. I think you're just changing too often, but I could be wrong.

[PhishPhreek]

Re: Trick to feeding microworms

If you have plenty of worms on the culture material, try the paper towel harvest as shown in the expirements.

[TXHawgHunter]

Re: Trick to feeding microworms

Thanks for the link.  I will try it.  It is amazing what shows up in a search if you add the word harvesting.

[Spot86t]

Re: Trick to feeding microworms

a trick and a warning on the paper towel method.....

trick:
about 30 minutes before you harvest, take a second towel, slightly smaller than the first and lay it on top of the first towel.  The worms will crawl onto that one, then you have a clean towel, loaded with worms that you can dip right in teh tank (I dip in a bowel tho then use a pipette to feed the fry)

warning:
remove the towels when you're finished feeding.  I found that cultures spoiled rapidly with the reduction of accessible air when I left the towels laying on the culture between harvests.

I found that I get more worms then I really need for my fry if I use one of those cheap plastic shoeboxes from walmart.  1/4" of culture in it (oatmeal and yeast, mixed with dechlor water).  I do not cook the oatmeal, I just use warm water from the tap (then i dechlorinate it).  For a bit of a growth spurt, mix a small sprayer or squirt tyope bottle with some warm dechlor water, and a pinch of yeast.   Shake it to dissolve the yeast, and sprinkle/spray it on your culture.  Within 20 minutes they should be crawling like mad.

For scraping the sides of the container, I found a thick piece of red rubber gasket meaterial in the plumbing section of lowes, (it comes in a 1/8" thick and roughly 6"sqare piece) and using a sharp razor blace, I cut a piece about 3/4" wide at a strong angle so the edge is sharp.  I tapered the end so that it's kinda like the shape of a knife - coming to a point.  Cut it so it works dependant on whether you're right or left handed.  This works great for scraping the sides and it's easy to wipe the tip (pointy end if knife shaped) if it accidently gets some culture media on it.  Then just dip in either the tank or a cup of clean dechlor water (if you use a pipette to feed). You could probably cut a rubber spatula if you have a spare one of those around (just don't tell your wife what you're using her good spatula for...)

[jklntx]

Re: Trick to feeding microworms

I know you meant to write towel ....however, you could have been more selective in your choice of misspellings.  ushingit:

[jklntx]

Re: Trick to feeding microworms

Above is not meant as a criticism...it just the word sounds kinda,well, yucky...

[Spot86t]

Re: Trick to feeding microworms

actually, that was sposed to be bowl  :)

Yeah, that would make for a yucky comment!  lol