Description
This article is from the Aquaria:
Food FAQ, by Oleg Kiselev, Don Wilson, and Steve Bartling.
13 Microworms (Nematodes)
Uses:
These microscopic worms are good for feeding newly hatched fry
and the smallest fish, although fish up to 1" or more will eat
them.
Culturing:
Good culture media include Oatmeal pablum, Gerber high-protein
cereal or cooked oatmeal porridge. The oatmeal porridge is
inexpensive and is the media of choice of one of us (DW). All
media should be prepared so that it is thick, then added to a
dish so that it is from 1.5 cm. deep or more. Add at least 1
tsp. (5 ml) of deactivated brewers yeast (can be bought from
health food stores); the cultures do not do well without the
brewers yeast. Seed with a small quantity of the nematodes. If
you are subculturing from an existing culture, just use the top
1/8" of the old culture; that's where all the worms are. Your
new culture will be encouraged by initially storing it in a
warm area (such as the top of a tank).
They can be cultured in 500 ml. yogurt containers, made out of
type "5" plastic (the type of plastic will be marked in the
recycling information on the bottom). This material is fairly
thick, flexible, and cheap, and the micro-structure of the
surface seems to be such that the worms can crawl up the sides
in thick enough concentrations that they can be wiped off and
collected. The thinner, more brittle plastic containers work
very poorly - the worms do not thrive, and they can't seem to
climb up the sides. Cut a hole, perhaps, 3/4" wide in the lid
to provide air, and if the cultures are piled several cultures
high, ensure the containers are rotated so that all cultures
are exposed to the air at least every second day. If this is
not done, the cultures will die off. Cultures can be grown in
the house, and as many as 24 containers still make up a
compact, but very productive source of live food.
In about a week, microworms can be "harvested" off the sides of
the dish with a finger (the best way), a Q-tip or a brush.
Optionally, once can place a flat piece of plastic or wood onto
the culture and scrape the worms off with a razor when they
become numerous (a popsicle can be used stick as this
"collection platform"). Wash them out in a glass of clean water
and dump them into the tank, or place them directly in the
tank.
Cultures will last about 2 weeks. As long as the culture media
is fairly fresh, there will not be any offensive odours
produced but when the the odour increases and production
decreases, it is time to subculture.
One can extend the time it takes for the microworms to be
passed into the tank by placing them in a worm feeder stuffed
with filter floss.
Sources:
friends, clubs, mail order.
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aquaria, fish, acquarium, tank, live food
