Culturing Blackworms and Tubifex - Page 2 - Shrimp & other inverts for planted aquariums

lauraleellbp · 02-09-2008, 07:07 PM

That's great info- I've never seen it anywhere else, either!

How many worms do you think you have going at any given time to make sure your culture is sustainable?

MartialTheory · 02-10-2008, 06:14 PM

I thought about adding an airstone but I never tried so I'm not sure.

However, I believe if u add an airstone to a blackworm culture, u can keep them in deeper water. I think they are weak in their ablity of obtaining oxygen through passive diffusion of surface water. Which is probally why it perfers to be close to the water surface.

Yeah it can get out of hand if they establish themselfs in the tanks. I use worm feeders all the time but I love using my pipet becuase I can make sure no worm escape my fishes.

Thanks, I really hope this helps others so they don't have to go through the same troubles as I have to feed my fishes.

I would wait close to about a month. Maybe less time depending on the conditions. It would be about close to a 4 inch circle before it is safe to harvest. Then I would harvest about a dimes size every 2 weeks. This is the bare minium.

I usually have about a tenis size ball of worms and I can harvest about a quarter size amount of worms every week. Sometimes more.

zebo · 02-13-2008, 09:49 PM

Hi MartialTheory,

Thanks a bunch!

MartialTheory · 02-19-2008, 10:57 AM

no prob. just add to my rep!! lol!

zebo · 05-05-2008, 11:57 PM

HI MartialTheory,

I finally started my culture of black worms.

Will they survive thru winter?

erm, they can only survive in water right?
Will they climb out of water?

Thanks.

MartialTheory · 05-15-2008, 07:15 PM

Hi zebo. They will survive the winter only if the temperture doesn't drop below 65 degrees. Or at least thats the lowest I ever kept it at.

And no they will never climb out of the water.

Good luck culturing!

zebo · 05-16-2008, 03:50 AM

Thanks MartialTheory

MartialTheory · 05-17-2008, 02:57 PM

No problem just add to my rep. lol!

zebo · 07-22-2008, 04:49 AM

Hi MartialTheory,
The worms were doing alright until recently. Some have started turning white. Some died.

The water smells very foul even though I change water every day.

I have been leaving it out in the sun for more than 5 hours thinking winter sun isn't harsh on them. Also becoz Java Moss looked like they were dying and I thought it might need more light.

I gave them some mushrooms. I dunno if its the caused of the foul smell and sudden change in their color and deaths.

Your advise is appreciated. Thanks.

ZooTycoonMaster · 07-24-2008, 07:00 AM

Will CRS and RCS eat live blackworms? Or will they get away and hide in the gravel forever and multiply and take over the tank