From: oleg@Veritas.COM (Oleg Kiselev)
Newsgroups: alt.aquaria,rec.aquaria
Subject: Re: Earthworms
Date: 13 Aug 92 23:58:54 GMT
Reply-To: oleg@veritas.com (Oleg Kiselev)
Organization: Palo Alto Killifish Loft
X-Disclaimer: I speak for myself only unless explicitly indicated otherwise

howardr@col.hp.com (Howard Rebel) writes:
>Sounds great, lets here from a few fish keepers that are growing their
>own and how to set up for it.

Here is one from my archives:

>From: bartling@cayman.amd.com (Steve Bartling)
>Newsgroups: sci.aquaria,alt.aquaria
>Subject: Earthworm Cultures !!
>Keywords: Earthworms, extra protein for starving students
>Message-ID: <29936@amdcad.AMD.COM>
>Date: 17 Apr 90 03:25:52 GMT
>Sender: news@amdcad.AMD.COM
>Reply-To: bartling@cayman.amd.com (Steve Bartling)
>Organization: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., Austin, Texas
>Lines: 91
>
>
>In article <4084@sage.cc.purdue.edu> qnp@sage.cc.purdue.edu (V. Kutty) writes:
>>I have heard/read a lot of different approaches to raising earthworms for
>>feeding larger fish. Steve, how do you raise yours? How many do you harvest
>>daily/weekly? 
>>
>>                                                         Vinny.
>
>Hi Vinny and netlanders et. al.,
>
>To raise earthworms cheaply and easily :
>
>1) build a box out of wood ( any size is fine, a bigger box
>   = more worms ) ( apt dwellers can make do with a 1' x 1' x 8" box)
>
>   a) attach the top with two cheap hinges 
>   b) drill/cut two 2-inch holes in the front of the box
>      in such a way as to line up the bottom of the hole
>      with the bottom of the inside of the box
>   c) paint the box with any outdoor rated, oil based paint.
>   d) place a small piece of fine plastic screen against
>      holes that were drilled/cut. Make sure that you place
>      the screen on the inside of the box. Firmly nail the
>      screen into place. The screen will allow the box to drain,
>      but will not allow the worms to escape.
>
>The box is now complete.
>
>2) prepare the box for worms
>
>   a) buy enough peat moss from a garden supply store or nursery
>      to fill up the box ( remember the peat moss will compact
>      after it gets soaking wet )
>   b) place the peat moss in the box and completely soak the
>      peat moss ( stir it up until you are sure it is uniformly
>      wet ). 
>   c) get 6 bricks
>   d) place one brick at each front corner and two bricks at each
>      rear corner so that the box slopes forward and can drain
>      from the holes.
>   e) place a pan under the holes to catch the future runoff
>      ( unless you place the box outside ). Note, after worms
>      are growing, the runoff is great for plants.
>
>3) Now, for the worms 
>
>   a) go buy three or four boxes of the smallest worms that
>      you can find at a fish and tackle shop.
>   b) put the worms in the box
>   c) buy some corn meal ( a small bag will last forever !! )
>      This is all the worms need for addequate nutrition.
>   d) every three or four days, sprinkle a LIGHT layer of corn
>      meal on top of the peat moss. Note : before you apply
>      each new layer, use a small, tined garden hand tool to
>      stir up the peat moss and to mix the corn meal left over
>      from the previous feeding into the peat moss.
>   e) Wait about a month, and you will discover that you have
>      literally millions of worms ranging in size from 
>      tiny little young worms to fully adult worms. The baby
>      worms can be used for small fish and very young fish, while
>      the larger worms will easily satify the live food 
>      requirements of even the most ravenous large fish.
>   f) this is an infinitely renewable resource !!! You can
>      not possibly feed your fish enough worms to reduce
>      or even dent the supply. I have been keeping worms
>      for fishing and for fish food for 17 years, TRUST ME !!
>   g) the peat moss must be kept damp by periodic watering.
>      Don't over water !! Do not allow it to dry out !! The
>      worms will die QUICKLY if the peat moss dries out.
>      Fortunately, peat moss retains water very well, and
>      watering is rarely needed. 
>   h) The worms must not be allowed to freeze. The worms and the
>      worm box will not smell and can be kept in garages or closets
>      during the winter. The worms do not like being baked in
>      the full evening sun in the summer ( you will kill them ).
>      Place them in a shady location if they are left outside.
>   i) keep the lid closed, worms like it dark.
>
>4) Other uses for Earthworms !
>
>   a) potted plants love earthworms !!
>   b) gardens love earthworms !!
>   c) lawns love earthworms !!
>   d) fish love earthworms !!
>   e) Gorbeshev loves earthworms !! 
>      Well, maybe not :-)
>      
>- Steve Bartling, man of many 'strange' talents. Raising worms is
>		  one more reason for my wife to love me :-)
>
>email : bartling@neptune.amd.com
-- 
"Republicans understand the importance of bondage between a mother and 
child." -- Dan Quayle
 
Oleg Kiselev                                             oleg@veritas.com
Newsgroups: alt.aquaria,sci.aquaria,rec.aquaria