RE: [Killietalk] Bugs in my grindal worms

["Al Anderson" <killiman at iquest_net>]

Short blasts from the torch will not ham the boxes.

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

-----Original Message-----
From: killietalk-bounces+killiman=iquest_net at aka.org
[mailto:killietalk-bounces+killiman=iquest_net at aka.org]On Behalf Of Dennis
Heltzel
Sent: Monday, April 04, 2005 11:30 AM
To: killifish discussion list
Subject: RE: [Killietalk] Bugs in my grindal worms

Seems like that might melt the plastic shoe boxes I keep them in :)

I know this is not the accepted wisdom, but I don't bother about mites in
my Grindal cultures. I'm not able to prove any of the following theory.

Mites don't seem to actually hurt the worms. My fish readily eat the mites
as well as the worms and I figure it provides some variety in their diet.
I believe that mites tolerate a wider range of conditions in the culture
and when some parameter moves outside of what is optimal for the worms,
then the mites are able to capitalize on the opportunity and they take
over the culture. Many times I've had mite infested cultures still produce
as many worms as mite-free cultures. When the infested cultures are split
and conditions again favor the worms, the mite population fades
dramatically and the worms take over, usually with such a vengence that I
can't locate a single mite just a few days later. I now view the mites as
an indicator species and when they appear, the cultures needs something,
usually to be split or have part of the media replaced.

I do use Moth Crystals (Walmart has them) with Paradichlorobenzene
(spelling is probably off) to reduce the mite population, but I've found
it easy to overdose and wipe out the worms as well. At best, it only
prolongs the culture until I have time to split it, and the worm
production seems to drop off even though the mites are gone, which I see
as further evidence that the mites are not harming the worms, just
opportunistically eating their food.

IMO, the secrets to successful Grindal Worm culture are:
1) Feed them heavily
2) Harvest heavily
3) Split the cultures often and toss the ones that aren't doing well.

--
Dennis Heltzel
Keystone Killy Group
SE Pennsylvania, USA

> Let the culture dry and feed the worms below the surface (bury the food)
> so
> the grindals go into the soil then take a propane torch and burn off the
> mites
>
> 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 Tony Kline
> Sent: Saturday, April 02, 2005 11:07 AM
> To: Killietalk
> Subject: [Killietalk] Bugs in my grindal worms
>
> Hi All:
>
> Two months ago I sat up some grindal worm cultures using half peat moss
> and
> half African violet soil. Both media are Miraclegro products. I also added
> a
> small amount of Carib Sea Aragonite (Reef Sand) to raise the pH. I feed
> the
> worms trout chow. The cultures are doing very well, however, within the
> past
> two weeks I notice thousands of tiny white balls that appear to be about
> 1/2
> mm or less in size. Under the microscope the whiteness is actually semi
> transparent (same color as the grindals). To me they look like aphids. The
> body is a big ball and very small head. There are six or eight legs and a
> small amount a hairs around the body.
> Can someone identify them and is there a treatment to rid the culture of
> them without destroying the grindals?  Your help would be much
> appreciated.
>
> All the best,
> Tony Kline
> Northumberland, Pa.



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