White Worm Culture Questions

[JGT]

So got a white worm culture, put in a covered tupperware with organic potting soil, cat food and added water to keep damp. So been about 2 weeks or so and I have some questions:
-Some mold is growing on the cat food. Do I remove those pieces?
-There also seems to be little white bugs/mites moving around, esp on the cat food pieces. Are those good/bad/neither?
-How long before more worms become visible? The orginal batch I can see but not much else.
Thanks.

 

[lapin]

Remove the moldy pieces
Try to bury the pieces in the soil.
Try to feed the worms bread cut into cubes. Bury them in the soil if they mold. A different food might help the culture grow. Even a different brand of cat food. Might take a month to see good growth.
You could have mites. A few wont matter much.
I try to keep my cultures between 60 to 70F

 

[JGT]

OK, thanks for the feedback. I did pretty much that. I removed the really heavily molded pieces and pieces with a lot of mites on them. Any remaining I stirred up with the soil to mix it in. I have it on a shelf at around 64 degrees.
Will try the bread cubes next. Where do the mites come from?

 

[lapin]

The soil prob had them in it to start with. Some people sterilze the soil before using. Common in Grindal worm raising. I have issues with those tiny knat like flies in the summer.

 

[WVNed]

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/live-white-worms.687284/

 

[JGT]

The soil prob had them in it to start with. Some people sterilze the soil before using. Common in Grindal worm raising. I have issues with those tiny knat like flies in the summer.

Hmm weird. Soil is supposedly organic. I tossed them with the moldy cat food. Onto the bread cubes. Thanks.

 

[JGT]

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/live-white-worms.687284/

Thanks, will give it a read.

 

[taulgrl]

Thanks, will give it a read.

I’m curious if your worms took off with the different food. I’m having same issues you did… mold that grows quickly on the cat food, culture that is stagnant.

 

[JGT]

I’m curious if your worms took off with the different food. I’m having same issues you did… mold that grows quickly on the cat food, culture that is stagnant.

Nope, I give up.

 

[Kmst80]

Switch to natural Greek yoghurt. I Had fruit flies and fed bread that got mouldy all the time. Worms love the yoghurt, they eat it clean, no more flies either.

 

[lapin]

I’m curious if your worms took off with the different food. I’m having same issues you did… mold that grows quickly on the cat food, culture that is stagnant.

Nope, I give up.

After a few years I found that this works best for me, even in spring when the bugs are looking for a place to breed.
I use coconut coir for my soil. Less problems than with other things. For food, I cube up a slice of bread. I then use a "spice / coffee bean" grinder and grind up some algae wafers. Mix it all in with the soil. I make sure the bread is covered . If left uncovered I notice mold grows quickly.