Culturing Microworm (Panagrellus Redivivus) Part II

Well, on my old entry, I did a new culture by using HappyGuppies (AquaticQuotient)'s culture. Using a rectangular container, oatmeal, water and an extra ingredient Yeast.

I did that culture on 05/09/2012. Below is how it looks like on 11/09/2012.

 

 

The left side; those white shimmering, those aren't oatmeals. Those are the worms!!! Incredible! A lot!! I added a bit of yeast to experiment. We will see progress down the road.

Culturing Microworm (Panagrellus Redivivus)

Introduction

Having started on a new project, breeding Albino Full Red Guppy, I researched online to find other forms of food that I can feed the frys that I will have in future. I know I could just feed them commercial food like flakes and pound them to powder to feed. And there's always the boiled egg yolk. I wanted something live. Something small that can feed a frys mouth. That was when I stumble upon microworms. Scientifically known as Panagrellus Redivivus.

Thanks to Stan aka Wongce (Aquatic Quotient) who alerted me to a fellow member who was selling the microworms.

I sent a message to HappyGuppies via Whatapps and was glad that he had some to sell off to me. It was $5 for a package. He sold two tubs of the culture and some other stuffs like oatmeals. I was caught off guard as it seems a lot. I only expected to get the two tubs only.

It's difficult to see these worms but if you look closely, they shimmer as they are constanly moving. They are really tiny!

Anyway, having learn a few things from HappyGuppies own way of culturing and checking online for guidance, I did my own using the culture sold to me by HappyGuppies. So here is my version.

Mazlan's First Culture

It's not difficult at all and it ain't rocket science either. Let's start with what we need.

1) Container with Cover

Get a small container such as the one shown in the picture. Don't get a container that is shallow. The worms will be climbing the sides of the container and that's where you will harvest them.

2) Oatmeal

Now, reading online, some "microworm rancher" cook their oatmeals. This is not necessary at all. I'm not certain of the purpose. Just use any ordinary oatmeal.

By the way, there are other 'ranchers' that uses baby cereal. You can use that as well. But pour more water as those baby food will absorb a lot of water.

3) Water

Just enough to make a paste.

4) Yeast

Optional. It is not necessary at all. You may if you want. Just a tiny pinch will do.

How?

1) Take the cover and using whatever sharp object you have, make tiny holes on the container cover. The worms do need oxygen. Do not leave it open or else it gets contaminated. Meaning, you might get maggots in your culture as well. Another method is to make a big hole and use a netting to cover. Aluminium foil as a cover works fine too.

2) Pour your oatmeal in and add water. How much oatmeal? Up to you.If you check the pictures, mine is about 1/5th of the container in height. Stir and make a paste.

3) Scoop the top portion of an existing culture. Don't dig in with the spoon. Just the top layer. That's where the worms are. Put the culture on top of your oatmeal paste. There's no need to stir it.

4) Optional: add a small pinch of yeast.

5) Place your cover and wait.

When to Harvest?

The worms will start to climb the side of your container. That's when you harvest. Using a toothpick or cotton swap, take a little bit from the side.

Two methods that you can do is to put into a small container of water. Use a pippette and feed the frys. Or the norm, just dip the toothpick or cotton swap into the tank with frys.

Facts

Temperature: 80 degrees Farenheit. Err...my room temperature is 86 degrees Farenheit. It's not "die-die" must be 80 Farenheit which is about 26 Degrees Celcius. So this portion doesn't matter much to me. I'm not living in Antartica or Sahara Desert.

Medium: The medium use often is oatmeal. Then baby cereal and the most uncommon one is bread.

Sub-Culturing: It is best to have a new culture started in 2-3 weeks time from the last. Just add the old culture to the new medium. The worms takes care of the rest.

Lifespan: Interestingly enough, this worm live 20-25 days. After 3rd day of their life they reproduce and bearing about 40 worms a day!

Do note, if the top portion of your culture starts to become watery and brown, start a new culture. If you are using yeast which is really not necessary, make sure the "air holes" you made are plenty as the carbon dioxide produce will kill them instead.

Well, that' about it. Not difficult isn't it. Oh one thing I like to say is, regardless new or a culture that is crashing, man it stinks! Yeasty smell; sour kind smell. Crap, I don't even know how to explain that "exotic" smell.

Anyway, have fun!

PS: If you are looking to purchase a culture, please go to Aquatic Quotient and look for HappyGuppies. Nice chap.

DIY CO2 (My Version)

DIY CO2 (My Version)

Disclaimer: Please do your research before embarking on any type of DIY projects. Including those that have been posted here. The blogger will not be held responsible for any mishap, injury and/or material damage that might happen. The intention of the blogger is not to teach but to share these projects.

Before embarking on my very own DIY CO2, I did some research to better understand the building of this system. My main confusion was the need for the check valve. Nonetheless, the construction and mixture was pretty straight forward and many have done it with much success.

I would also like you to refer to Robert's and Stanley's Blog. The links are on the side. They did a marvelous job on their DIY projects. A job well done guys.

I was not getting enough BPS (Bubble Per Second) with one bottle CO2 and had tried a construction similiar to Robert's but I was not getting much success. Hence, I came up with my own.

Here's my version. If you have comments on the construction, please comment. I would love to hear from you.

Equipment

• 2 1.5l Bottles (I'm using 100 Plus bottles as the surface of the cap is flat. Just a personal preference)
• 1 0.5l Bottle (Use as a bubble counter/seperator)
• 1 Check Valve (In my setup, 3 Check Valve would be ideal. Connect it at the tube from the 1.5l bottle)
• 1 Glass Diffuser (I had a spare one since my tank are using Up Atomizer)
• CO2 Tubing

Note:

Using a bubble counter of any kind at least for me does not matter. The bigger the tube, the slower the bps; smaller it is, the faster the bps. You're better off having a Drop Checker to check that your tank is receiving enough CO2.

Try not to use the Atomizer for this. It requires a higher pressure. It did work on my first DIY CO2 but the bottle went bloated.

My Ingredient

1/2 Teaspoon of Yeast

1/2 Teaspoon of Bicarbonate of Soda (Baking Soda)

2 Cups of Sugar

Warm Water

Note:

The recommended is 1/4 Teaspoon of Yeast but here I added more to produce slightly more CO2.

Price Est. $15.00 (I might be wrong here as some of the stuffs are lying around at home)

This is how it will be set up.

1.5l Bottles (Mixture)

Drill a hole on the cap of the 1.5l bottle. (The hole made is smaller than the CO2 tubing.)

Cut the CO2 tubing at an angle and insert into hole.

Using a plier pull the tubing.

Cut the excess and level it to that of the bottle cap. (Do not submerge the tube)

0.5l Bottle (Bubble Counter/Seperator)

Drill three holes on the cap.

Cut the CO2 tubing at an angle and insert into hole.

Using a plier pull the tubing.

Pull two of the tubing till about 10cm from the cap. (This will be submerged)

For the third tube, cut the excess and level it to that of the bottle cap.

You can add the water into the 0.5l bottle now.

Note:

Measure the amount of CO2 tubing that you need.

Install the check valve and diffuser accordingly.

I don't see the need to use a bubble counter (LFS kind of Bubble Counter) but as I would like to record the progress for this DIY, I will be adding one more Bubble Counter (From LFS) between the diffuser and the check valve.

Please comment if a check valve between the bottle (mixture) and the 0.5l bottle (bubble counter/seperator) is necessary and whether it will help should you prefer changing one bottle without having to remove the entire construction.

Mixture

Add sugar into each bottle.

Add just a bit of hot water and fill 3/4 of the bottle with warm water.

Place cap and shake it till sugar dissolves.

Wait till the bottle cools. Do not pour the yeast if the water is hot.

Add the yeast and bicarbonate of soda.

Shake it again.

Now you're more or less set. Tighten the cap on all three bottles. All you have to do now is wait. It takes about 12 hours or so to see the bubbles in your bubble counter/seperator. Once you see bubbles coming from your diffuser, start checking for leaks. If you have notice, I did not use any glue of any kind for this construction. The reason is, the hole I made is smaller than the tube. Hence, when I pull the tube through the hole, it creates a seal. Check done around the hole shows no leaks.

Anyway, to those who wish to go down this road, good luck! It's not as difficult as it may sound. Just note, the more yeast you put in, the more CO2 but it will run out much faster. I'm looking at a 3 weeks usage minimum. 4 weeks will be the goal.

Have fun!!