WHITE WORMS: Full box of a warm temperature strain

Description

CULTURE:
A USPS priority box(5-3/8 x 8-5/8 1-5/8") filled with established culture that’s ready to harvest from. The included image is what you receive. If I have plenty of worms, which I typically do, I’ll add additional worms. It’s enough culture to make 2-3 sandwich size containers. Ships well to all parts of the country throughout winter.
CULTURE BASICS:
Why white worms?:
I have cultured white worms for decades and they are easily my favorite live food culture. I have kept this particular strain on a garage shelf, over a decade, and never had a problem. They are very high in protein, can be gut-loaded for extra nutritional value, will survive in a fish tank for weeks, don’t have mite issues like grindal worms do, are productive year round, fish go crazy for them - there are many reasons that make white worms my favored culture.
Medium:
I find most soil, peat, cocofiber, commercial bedding, and green kitchen scrub pads all work well. I use cocofiber but don't recommend it over other products. Medium can be the thinnest layer to several inches deep.
White worms inhabit very wet areas. Make their medium wet.
Food:
Feed like any composting worm. On the menu is bread, cereal, rice, potato, and fruits & vegetables. It needs to be soft & wet or the worms struggle consuming it. To help keep it wet you can mix in some medium with the food, place a plastic lid over it, spread it thinly, or bury it.
Temperature:
There is a lot of misleading information suggesting white worms require an abnormally low temperature of 62 degrees. Enchytraeus Albidus, on this continent ranges from Canada to Virginia, as well as inhabiting many other temperate parts of the world. The magic ‘62’ degree number originates from one very old study, one of the only scientific studies done - so it represents only one localized strain. Being there are very few scientific studies on WW that one gets regurgitated, ad nauseum. In addition, many of these strains have been in the hobby for decades, such as mine, allowing it to further adapt to our home environments. Reality is, white worms are robust & productive in a very wide range of temperatures. I can keep white worms in my garage year round without an issue, but can only keep grindals there during summer months.
Ideal temperature range is 55 to 75 degrees.
Tip: If you live in a hot area and your home doesn’t have a cool spot to keep a culture your cold water lines are ideal. Set your culture on aluminum foil that is wrapped around the cold water line.
Culture Invaders / Mites:
‘Mites’ are an over discussed issue. Without time consuming efforts it’s impossible to keep invaders out of any worm culture. However, there is an easy solution - mitigate them. How? Tap on the culture to drive the worms deep into the medium. Once the worms have retreated, remove the top layer of medium, and place it outside where the mites will walk off. This takes only seconds and removes nearly every bug.
Harvesting:
Place a plastic deli container lid over their food and the worms will crawl onto it. Dip that directly into your fish tanks.
GUARANTEE:
If DOA, provide a picture, and a one time replacement will be sent at zero cost to you. Please don't create a return as that adds additional steps for us both - just send a picture and we will send another package.
INSTRUCTIONS AFTER RECEIVING PACKAGE:
White worms are long and can be damaged if over-handled. Don't stir or rummage through the medium after you receive it.
Add the culture into a plastic container with small holes in the lid. I’m sending enough medium for a shoebox with a thin layer of medium, or several full sandwich containers.
Prior to shipping I reduce moisture from the medium so it doesn't leech water into the packaging. When in their new container add water until soggy.
Add a small piece of bread in the center.
Place your new culture in a cool location. Ideal temperature is 50 to 75 degrees.
The Carbon Dragon
Visit my YouTube Channel for my culturing videos...check the 'Playlists'.
GRINDAL WORM vs. WHITE WORM:
There is one important difference to consider before deciding which to culture - that is temperature. If it wasn’t for temperature these two worms are equally easy to culture. Both these worms are temperate species but each has a different ‘ideal’ temperature they are fond of. Grindal worms are happy at room temperature & warmer; white worms are happy at room temperature & cooler.
White Worm Temperatures:
White worms are actually robust to an extremely wide range of temperatures. I can culture & harvest white worms in my garage year round without any consideration, but can only keep grindals there for a couple months out of the year.
The ideal temperature is
55
to
75
degrees. My outdoor temperatures range 20 to 110 degrees, my garage 40 to 90 degrees, with culture temperatures from 40 to 85 degrees...but between 55 to 75 degrees is best for culture temperatures.
Grindal Worm Temperatures:
What’s nice about grindal worms is they prefer the exact same temperatures humans find cozy.
The ideal temperature is
78
to
85
degrees.
Summary: If I was a grindal worm you would find my home a little on the warm side. If I was my strain of white worm you would find my home a little on the cool side. Other than this difference they are equally easy to culture. b>White Worm Temperatures:
White worms are robust to a very wide range of temperatures. Strangely, despite so much discussion given to what the ideal white worm temperature is, I can culture & harvest white worms in my garage year round, but can only keep grindals there for a couple months out of the year.
The ideal temperature is
55
to
75
degrees. My outdoor temperatures normally range 25 to 110 degrees, my garage 40 to 90 degrees, with culture temperatures from 40 to 85 degrees...but between 55 to 75 degrees is best.
Grindal Worm Temperatures:
What’s nice about grindal worms is they prefer the exact same temperatures humans find cozy, so every home has a location you can keep a culture.
The ideal temperature is
78
to
85
degrees. Culture temperatures safely range 65 to 90 degrees.
Let me summarize this. Grindal worms like to be warm and hate being chilly. White worms like to be cool and hate being warm. Other than this difference they are equally easy to culture.