Instructions for Culturing Micro Worms

Micro Worm Starter Cultures:
The Micro Worm culture can be left in the tub you receive to grow. Similar or larger containers can be used to culture Micro Worms. Larger and shallow being better than small and tall.

Culture Container.
I use plastic containers with snap on lids. I find that long and narrow work well but the container can be any size. The circumference is more important than depth. Punch a few small holes in the lid near the center so the culture can "breathe".

Culture Media / Food.
I use "Readybrek Original" mixed with water to a consistency of whipped cream. You can use any Oat based breakfast cereal provided that it is not too coarse. The container should be filled to a depth of about 1/4 to 1/2 an inch but this is not too important.

Culture Temperature.
The optimum temperature for reproduction is 24 / 27 Deg. C. They will stand a little cooler but they will not reproduce as fast. The hotter the culture the quicker the worms will breed and the quicker the culture will go bad.

Your new Starter Culture.
The Starter culture you will received was started the day it was despatched. Before removing the tape from around and on top of the lid make sure that all of the culture material is in the base of the container by tapping it base down on a hard surface. Remove all the tape and keep the culture in a warm place out of direct sunlight. The culture does not need to be kept in the dark. After a few days you will find that the micro worms have multiplied and the culture medium (Readybrek) is quite runny. This is normal and the culture medium should still be a cream color. As soon as the culture medium is runny I recommend that you start two or more new cultures in a larger container as described below.

Expanding / Re Starting the Culture.
When the original culture medium has become runny and is still a cream color get one, or more, plastic containers and mix up some "Readybrek" and place in the new containers. Then take an old small teaspoon, not one you intend to stir your tea with again, and carefully scrape about a teaspoon of liquid off the SURFACE of your original starter culture and pour it on top of the Readybrek in one of the new culture(s). Approximately one teaspoon per 4 square inches of culture container. Depending on temperature these cultures will eventually start to take on a grayish appearance. This is time to renew them. I renew one and discard one so that I have a constant amount of cultures on the go. You will learn by experience the time interval between restarts. The color is a good indicator. They also start to get a sweet acid smell as well when they are coming to the end of there useful life. Any micro worm culture will start to deteriorate and, if not renewed, will eventually die. When the culture medium starts to get grey spots or smells I renew it. Wash out the old culture container with cold water, no detergent, making sure you clean off any old media from the sides of the container. I use a foam washing up pad with a Scotch brite side.

Collecting worms.
As the culture multiplies the micro worms will start to climb the sides of the culture container so you just need to wipe a damp small paint brush around the sides of the container and then wash the paint brush directly into the fish tank that contains the fry you wish to feed. Do not put the paint brush into the culture medium as this could pollute the water and kill the fry. You can also use your finger but wash your hands well afterwards.

Health and Saftey:
KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN. NOT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION.
For the good of your own Health. DO NOT keep any live culture anywhere that it could come into contact with food or utensils used for human food preparation.