Re: White worm culture

["Dennis Heltzel" <dennis at fishroom_net>]

I agree completely. All my Grindal worm cultures have the mites to a
greater or lesser extent. When the culture is healthy, the mites are only
present in small numbers, when they increase, it's because the worms are
declining. I treat them as an early warning system of a culture that needs
attention (usually is need more water or needs to be split).

I find that my fish, especially killies, go nuts for the mites, which
incidentally sink very quickly. I also often have small pieces of Trout
Chow with the worms if they have not eaten it all completely. Both the
Trout Chow and the mites are consumed with the worms. Variety is the spice
of life. Still, it's a little disconcerting to see the fish swim through a
cloud of wiggling worms to pick up pieces of falling Trout Chow and mites
that aren't even moving. They eventually pick all the worms off the
bottom.

I've given up trying to get a mite-free culture. I don't know if it would
produce more or less than with mites anyway. My advice is to keep the
mites and spend your time watching the fish and doing water changes
instead of fretting over mites in the worms.

Dennis in PA

> Tish KB wrote:
>
> regarding brown mites:
>
>>
>> Is it possible to just leave them in the culture, or
>> is it something i should really be concerned about?
>
> Don't get too fussed, and please don't leave bad feedback. Mites are
> pretty harmless. If you can figure a way to collect and deliver them,
> they  are excellent fish food!
>
>> Can they get out and infest other things?
>
> Sure, but mostly only other worm cultures. House plants? IDK.
>
>> Should i
>> throw away the substrate the worms are in right now
>> and start with a fresh stuff?
>
> I wouldn't bother. I'd try to drown or chill them down to levels that
> means they are not eating all the worm food, but otherwise just ignore
> them.
>
>> Sorry about all the
>> questions, but this is the first experience i've had
>> with growing live worms... and of course i buy an
>> infested culture.
>
> Most of us have BTDTBTTS. :-)
>
> . Thank you so much.
>> --Tricia in PA
>> (and i got my packet of AKA stuff today, yay!)
>
> Neat! Have fun.
>
> Wright
>
>
>
> --
> Wright Huntley -- 209 521-0557 -- 731 Loletta Ave, Modesto CA 95351
>
>                       EARTH FIRST!
>            [We can wreck the other planets later.]
>
>                   http://www.sfbaka.net/
>
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