Maintaining Micro Worms!

I wasn't sure where to post this so.... mods/admins feel free to re-direct. BUT
I've gone to one of our members at least 5 or more times for a start-up culture of Microworms... (One of the better fry foods)...
For the life of me, I cannot keep a culture going for a month! And yes, I do start new cultures from the existing one running but... Perhaps I await too long between start-ups!
So.... Our MW guru.. could you please share with us your routine that allows you to respond to EVERY request, at the drop of a hat, to provide start-ups?
Bill

williemcd wrote:I wasn't sure where to post this so.... mods/admins feel free to re-direct.  BUT
I've gone to one of our members at least 5 or more times for a start-up culture of Microworms... (One of the better fry foods)...
For the life of me, I cannot keep a culture going for a month!  And yes, I do start new cultures from the existing one running but... Perhaps I await too long between start-ups!
So.... Our MW guru.. could you please share with us your routine that allows you to respond to EVERY request, at the drop of a hat, to provide start-ups?  
Bill

I haven't had success with MicroWorms, but IIRC a month is about the limit on a culture. For some of the cultures you can extend their life, but decrease productivity by keeping them in a fridge.

Forgive me ALL....on my first cup of coffee!!
Things you'll need;
1. Microworm starter culture-from another member or online. I ALWAYS have one!
2. A canister of oats (any brand/quick or old fashioned) Worms are not picky!!
3. Packet of active dry yeast
4. WARM water
2. TWO Clear plastic containers with lid and air hole. Betta containers are the best thing I've found and LFS will usually GIVE them to you. Cover the hole with a cotton ball or something that will still allow air exchange.

Add about 1/4 tsp. of yeast to container (don't worry about exact measurement!) I usually do a "sprinkle". Add about 1/4 cup of WARM water and dissolve yeast...this is important as the yeast has to begin to work! It WILL NOT begin to activate in cold water. Takes about 1 minute and some "swirling".
Add enough Oats to absorb the water. You want a thick mix....not soupy. Add your starter culture to the top. Cover...DATE IT! and store in a room temp dark place! STIR IT every three or four days to add air to culture. I keep a wooden toothpick in my cultures.
In about 2-3 day you will see teeny tiny worms creeping up the side of the container. They are so small it looks like the oatmeal mix....but these are hundreds of worms. Use cotton swab (I just swipe with my finger!) to harvest and dip it in tank for ALL fry, small fish (tetras LOVE them), cories .  These worms will wriggle and live on the bottom of your tank for up to 24 hrs! TRY NOT TO GET OATMEAL MIXTURE IN YOUR TANKS...LOL!! ONLY harvest from the side of container.
As your culture ages it will multiply. In about three weeks you'll want to begin a new culture or when the old culture begins to smell like sour dough! A fresh culture smells like fresh raw pizza dough. Just use a tablespoon of existing culture and start again with new yeast/oatmeal mixture. DATE the container. Three weeks is an average life of a GOOD FRESH culture...I go by smell...as soon as it starts to sour just a little....I start new!
~~~DISPOSAL OF BAD/SOUR CULTURES~~~To be safe I add a splash of chlorine bleach to the bad culture, fill container with water then dispose of outdoors!! Wash container before starting new cultures.

PERSONAL NOTES....I keep TWO SMALL cultures...ONE ACTIVE-good amount of worms to harvest/ONE NEW(multiplying). If you have MANY tanks...you may want to increase your amounts of mix or keep MORE cultures rotating.
Also...to JUMP start a culture...just add more yeast to new mix. This makes them multiply faster BUT culture will SOUR faster!!
This is an easy, inexpensive way to feed fry and supplement with a "live moving" target food for small fish!!
Any questions WELCOME!!
Hope this helps!!
Doxiemom (Jules)

Amp2020 has been saving the betta containers for us. Kat picked them up and I now have about a dozen avail for others. Kat probably has even more! Bill

Bill, save me a some. With the amount of fry(wink wink) I have, its always a good idea to have more than just bbs. Also will do a guide on bbs setup soon once our video section up and running . Sorry for going off topic but a big thanks to Doxiemom for writing a guide on how to maintain a microworm culture now for a video guide any takers?

I'll help you film the video on BBS and then help Doxie with the video on culturing micro worms if she's comfortable with it.

Amp... I'm ok with it! But if the media start camping outside my house and Paparazzi follow me to Wal Mart...LOL. Let me know when, guys! This would be a great link to the forum. AWESOME ideas!!

Dangit.. there is SO MUCH material to work with here regarding a joking post.... but.. I've just got to walk away from it as the intent is to keep this group family oriented!  Bill