Re: NANFA-L-- Live Culture Options

J. C. (hillbillynursery-in-yahoo.com)
Thu, 23 Mar 2006 20:42:59 -0800 (PST)

I am way behind on my emails so if other answered
better already I am sorry. I know a few AKA members
are on this email list. I currently culture
microworms/walterworms, wingless fruit flies, grindal
worms and vinegar eels. The only 2 that small bluegill
would be interested in would be the grindals and
wingless fruit flies. I want to try culturing the
white worms but I fear I will not keep them cool
enough here in TN. From my reading up on the white
worms they do best in 50-60F temps.

There are several types of fruit flies. I got the
smallest wingless type. The next size up only come in
deformed winged strains and are to large for some
killifish but for your purposses they should work
great. The culture does not stink unless it is going
bad in which case you throw it away. The media you
grow the flies in is instant potatoe flakes with a bit
of sugar and yeast with water and applecider vinegar.
The vinegar helps keep it from going bad. I have a few
cultures that are still producing some flies after 7
weeks. The first 2 weeks the flies are maggots and
pupa. A single female fly will lay about 400 eggs in
her life time. So my 4 oz of media with 20-50 flies
dropped in makes over enough flies for my 9 tanks of
killies and the few that get fed to the cichlids.

Redworms are another good food which IF I had the
room I would set up a box. I just collect worms when I
can and chop them for my small types of fish.

Later, John

BTW I do dislike the mussel talk and several other
topics but I know how to delete them. I have never
been someone to complain about simular topics or even
some off topic stuff. So if it pleases you all, leave
it on this list as I have not seen anyone say they are
against it.

--- Jase Roberts <nanfa_list-in-jaseroberts.net> wrote:

> Patrick,
>
> Yes, I'd love to hear how you culture the
> blackworms. A lot of searching hasn't turned up
> much more than the basic "paper towel" method as
> described on Carolina Biological's site at
> http://www.carolina.com/tips/worm/worma.asp. It
> seems there must be a better substrate and method of
> raising them...
>
> Anyone out there raising fly larvae (maggots)? Is
> there a way to do it without too much mess/stink?
> The rapid life cycle would seem to make this a
> fairly attractive option if it could be done easily.
>
> Thanks,
> Jase
>
> > Date: Wed, 22 Mar 2006 23:30:39 -0500
> > From: "Patrick Rose" <pncwd-in-picusnet.com>
> > Subject: Re: NANFA-L-- Live Culture Options
> >
> > well now,
> > I do black worms and walter worms, the walter
> worms are a tad bit small for
> > semi adult sun fish. the black worms are easy to
> culture just a little time
> > consuming. Also be careful if you try them because
> if you end up with one
> > bad culture or one starting to go bad change it
> out and get rid of it quick
> > or else you will be sick by the next day when you
> walk in the room. I can
> > post more on how I do it if you choose to go that
> route. The reds are also
> > fairly easy to culture but they need much more
> space to be productive.
> > Confused flour beetles are a good option as well,
> they seem to be fairly
> > easy to grow also, although I have not tried these
> before. Unless you just
> > want to feed only live food you might want to try
> to get them taking frozen
> > or freeze dried foods, and use the live ones for
> treats or one time a day
> > feedings.
> > The above are only my opinions and we all know
> what opinions are like, judge
> > mine the way you wish.
>
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John Cox of Cumberland Killifish
Honey Robber beekeeping and removal services

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/ visit http://www.nanfa.org Please make sure all posts to nanfa-l are
/ consistent with the guidelines as per
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