RE: [Killietalk] Shipping Blackworms

["Al Anderson" <killiman at iquest_net>]

Some of my black worms crawled out of their box with a little water and
decided to keep my white worms company by dropping into their beds that was
over a month ago and the black worms are still living in the bedding if they
get any food it is white bread. When I use them I just rinse the bedding off
under my well tap water and feed them to the fish. The white worms are kept
at 55 degrees F.

I wonder if they cold be shipped in slightly moist neutral peat?


killiman at iquest_net
Al Anderson
6246 N Rural
Indianapolis IN 46220
317 253 2170

-----Original Message-----
From: killietalk-bounces at aka_org [mailto:killietalk-bounces at aka_org]On
Behalf Of LeeH920226 at aol_com
Sent: Thursday, March 03, 2005 5:39 PM
To: killietalk at aka_org
Subject: Re: [Killietalk] Shipping Blackworms

There are several things to consider. First, is this shipment of blackworms
meant to feed some fish? If not, is it to start a culture? If to start a
culture, it might be feasible to ship a few worms in several bags with just
enough
water to keep them wet and also with cooler packs. If it is meant to supply
food -- forget it. Maybe they could be shipped in moist peat moss. I have
seen
them survive for a few days in moist peat moss that I have gathered for
killifish eggs. Or maybe they lay eggs and they could be harvested and
shipped. I
found this in a quick Google search.

Although never documented, sexual reproduction in mature worms probably
involves copulation and sperm exchange, as seen in many earthworms.   Then,
worms
produce transparent cocoons, each containing 4-11 fertilized eggs that
undergo
direct embryonic development with no larval stage (Drewes and Brinkhurst,
1990). Small worms, about 1 cm in length, emerge from cocoons in about two
weeks.


Lee Harper
Media, PA USA


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