Grindal worm cultures

[RonWill]

so have your microworm culture flourish? if not I can still give you summore. gimme more gimme more give me summore...

That little pinch of MWs I took from you is sufficient to kick start a culture. MWs are prolific, crawling all over the container wall and I've already started to harvest it for the Badis frys.

I'm using oatmeal now but prefer potato flakes (smells better). Hopefully the supermarket has it when I do the groceries tomorrow. Another 2 sub-cultures should be enough to tide me over until the frys are big enough for grindals. Thanks for the offer tho, much appreciated.

[Debbbear]

Howdy Ron,
I think that I will try the coco fiber,the water here is very,very soft and with using peat I have to use Equilibrum so that that pH doesn't go to low.
I will send you some bags with some eggs if the weather holds out. It is starting to get cold,was down to 26F last night.
I have had good luck with shipping killies in those bags, haven't lost a fish yet. I can only ship in the US for I don't have the paper work for out of the USA.
>How does the Scriptaphyosemion differ from the 'regular' Aphyosemion <
The eggs tend to hatch quicker on the cauveti than the striatums,but I keep them at the same tempature,72F.If the eggs are kept warm they can hatch in about 10 days.It is harder to ship their eggs long distances.I did send some to Siameng to see what happens.
I don't have pictures of the fish, yet. Hubby got a new camera that I don't know how to work very good.My camera doesn't do fish,for it is just a cheap digital,But when I learn I will post

[stormhawk]

hello people,

ah yes, talking about the sponge method. i've yet to try it out cos my worm population ain't booming right now. they seem to be growing in numbers kinda slowly. once i've got enough of these buggers crawlin around i'll attempt the sponge method.

by the way, how's the VEC ronnie? got enough worms for the babies? hope it helps. u can return me the culture when you're done or your main culture's up and running.

deb, is it possible for someone here in SG with a license for importing live tropical fish, import directly from like say, a home breeder in the states? (that is, the home breeder in question does not have a permit or paperwork to do so?)

[RonWill]

I think that I will try the coco fiber,the water here is very,very soft and with using peat I have to use Equilibrum so that that pH doesn't go to low.

I'll use the internet's favourite disclaimer; YMMV! :wink:, but alot of guys over at KillieTalk uses cocopeat as well, whether it's in pellet or brick form.

I will send you some bags with some eggs if the weather holds out. It is starting to get cold,was down to 26F last night.

Thanks a zil, Deb. I can wait till weather warms up and do let me know how much to remit for 'em eggs.

>How does the Scriptaphyosemion differ from the 'regular' Aphyosemion <
The eggs tend to hatch quicker on the cauveti than the striatums,but I keep them at the same tempature,72F.If the eggs are kept warm they can hatch in about 10 days.It is harder to ship their eggs long distances.I did send some to Siameng to see what happens.

Non-annual eggs can get critical with postal hiccups but let's hope Sia Meng did ok with his goodie bag. BTW, were the eggs packed in peat or water?

Alot of us are grappling with digital format, so take your time and we'll be looking forward to viewing them.

[RonWill]

by the way, how's the VEC ronnie? got enough worms for the babies? hope it helps. u can return me the culture when you're done or your main culture's up and running.

JianYang, I'm experimenting raising the 3rd badis spawn on a combo of VEC and paramecia which I'm culturing from starters in spaghnum moss. It's my first time with paramecia, so I hope that's what I'm feeding the frys!!

I've also revert back to the 'dirty tank' approach and will be done with VEC by week's end. Will SMS you regarding return arrangements.

For those who're curious about this paramecia/moss thingie, it's what I read up from here, while researching on paramecia and rotifers, as first foods for tiny tiny frys.

[Debbbear]

Stormhawk wrote:
<deb, is it possible for someone here in SG with a license for importing live tropical fish, import directly from like say, a home breeder in the states? (that is, the home breeder in question does not have a permit or paperwork to do so?)>

Here is a summary of importing fish here in the US. http://www.characin.com/carey/articl...ort_rules.html
There is some shipping to Canada without papers,but is done on the shady side,(what you don't know does't hurt theory ).But I can't bring myself to do that.I don't what to ruin the good service and friendship at the post office.They no longer ask what's in my packages.If I have live fish coming,they will not leave the package in the mailbox,if I am not home they just leave me a note saying that they have the package.
Ron,I put the eggs in peat for they say it slows the hatching process.
You owe nothing,just happy to share the beauty of killies. Lots of people have shared with me so I'm just passing it on

[stormhawk]

thanks for the info deb :wink:

anyway, regarding the grindals i got from ronnie, the starter culture is still full of worms and the main culture is really taking off now. i just checked on them last night and gosh, they were really swarming on the top of the peat in one big spreading white wriggling mass.

i guess in about a few days more i can harvest some to start with my sponge culture. :wink:

[RonWill]

Debra,
The bone-dry grindal culture is really really dead. I tried reviving it for the past 2 weeks (?)... no go. So I guess my 'theory' of resting worm egg-capsules isn't quite realistic.

Anyway, the last 2 cultures, both Jennifer's and yours, are going out 1st thing next week (wouldn't want the cultures sitting in the PO's holding room over the weekend!).

For the rest of you who've gotten the grindals, how are the wormies doing?? (JianYang, I know yours is already booming!)

The said grindal offer to AQ won't be posted.

[A.Rashid]

Ronnie... my culture seem to be "dead" no progress at all... no increase in population.

[Debbbear]

Ron,
The culture you sent to me is very dead, too.
I do have a culture started for I had order some Fp. nigerianus P82. The Fella that sold them to me added a starter of grindal worms!A nice add on
So there is no hurry for you to send, if someone else needs them. I still want to try those kordan breather bags to see to if they would keep grindals worms happy while being shipped where ever. I shipped out a shipment of kribensises to HI,after a five days journey,were in great shape.So that gives me hope for the grindal worms.It seems to take 8 days for things to go priority mail from here to you folks.
Enough rattling... and back to working on lunch.

[Debbbear]

Ron,
The culture you sent to me is very dead, too.
I do have a culture started for I had order some Fp. nigerianus P82. The Fella that sold them to me added a starter of grindal worms!A nice add on
So there is no hurry for you to send, if someone else needs them. I still want to try those kordan breather bags to see to if they would keep grindals worms happy while being shipped where ever. I shipped out a shipment of kribensises to HI,after a five days journey,were in great shape.So that gives me hope for the grindal worms.It seems to take 8 days for things to go priority mail from here to you folks.
Enough rattling... and back to working on lunch.

[RonWill]

The culture you sent to me is very dead, too.
I do have a culture started for I had order some Fp. nigerianus P82. The Fella that sold them to me added a starter of grindal worms!A nice add on

Deb, there's nothing moving in the media where you dumped the supposedly-dead grindals? Oh well... we'll see if round 2 gets better.

Cool seller, and very thoughtful too. How were the grindals packed?

Anyway, I have sufficient grubs to go around, so I'm packing yours Monday morning, but let's wait for the weather to warm up before we try those Kordan. Is 'Global Priority' the fastest option available from USPS?

Dear all,
I was feeling trigger-happy with the digi cam, so I thought the culture-newbies might wanna know what grindals look like and how large they are, compared to a fish fry.


This container of grindals was harvested from only one culture. BIG pic here


A closeup of grindals, waiting to be rinsed before using a turkey baster to suck 'em up.

Here's 8mm Ap BIT Lagos fry feasting on grindals, which are a very nice bite size.

[Debbbear]

Ron.
The grindals were in a plastic bag with dirt, but it only took three days for it to arrive.
Yes, there is a quicker way to ship out and that is Globel Express which starts out at $15.00.
Nice pictures, sure glad my killies and computer are in different rooms. Don't want my killies thinking that computers are made out of grindals
Well, I must go to work on this patience thing and get some pictures taken....

[RonWill]

The grindals were in a plastic bag with dirt, but it only took three days for it to arrive.

Deb and Jennifer, the cultures were sent out morning of Monday 10th, and I've done it slightly differently. Let me know the outcome.

Gimme time to upload some pics of what I did and hopefully you folks will see the logic of it.

Yes, there is a quicker way to ship out and that is Globel Express which starts out at $15.00.

Not cheap, but dead eggs and fishes ain't fun either!

Nice pictures, sure glad my killies and computer are in different rooms. Don't want my killies thinking that computers are made out of grindals

now... if only you can get those killies to work on the keyboard, I bet we'll know our fishes much better! :wink:

Well, I must go to work on this patience thing and get some pictures taken....

yes... please do. Practice makes perfect (and I promise I won't laugh!). Happy shooting!

[kennedy_ng]

Hi ronnie would like to have a culture of the grindals if you still have them, where and when can i collect.






Regards,
kennedy ng

[RonWill]

would like to have a culture of the grindals if you still have them, where and when can i collect.

Hi Kennedy, we're all gearing up for our 1st gathering and both cultures, grindals and microworms, will be made available FOC to members of this forum.

Just so you know, that these are starter cultures... which means there's only a small number of worms and are not immediately ready for harvesting. To get more of these worms, you'll have to do your part in maintaining and raising the cultures.

Come join us and I'll share with all of you, a couple of new things I've been trying out!

Be there or be square! :wink:

[gweesm1]

Hi all,

Since Ronnie had passed the culture to me, I feel responsible to pass it around. As such I will be preparing 5 starter cultures (or more if you guys express interest) to be distributed on the day of gathering.

Please do not call me at this moment as I am trying very hard to study for my examinations, drop me a PM or write to me at [email protected]

Ronnie,
The cultures are growing strong and the best part is my wife has not discovered it.
I started a new and larger culture last week and it seems to be growing well too! BTW I love that Turkey Baster, it is really additive!!
regards

[RonWill]

Please do not call me at this moment as I am trying very hard to study for my examinations

Sia Meng,
For now, forget about the sub-culturing. I've soaked enough cocopeat for about 20 starter cultures (I just hope I have that much worms!).

You have better things to do... like feed your killies and do well in that exam. I'll let you carry the grindal torch when I retire! :wink:

BTW I love that Turkey Baster, it is really additive!!

Glad you like it. Just don't get too kinky and use it on the Mrs., you hear?

Seriously tho, I find it indispensible and will feel pretty lost without it. Treat it well and it will give you many more years of service.

[RonWill]

Debra and Jennifer,

IIRC, both cultures were sent via Express on NOV 10th 2003 and it's easily 12 days now, with no news.

I'm beginning to worry for another "mush pack", so please busy your kids elsewhere when you DO recieve the parcel. Shoot me a note regardless of how it... urm... look or smell .

Sorry if it doesn't turn out as intended, but I did try...

Given such "express speed" within both postal systems, I'm beginning to think twice about sending off non-annual eggs, even if I had them in peat to delay the incubation.

[jkillis]

Hi Ron,

I'd received your culture on Friday. Thanks.
Emmm... The box in there looks dry. I saw some worms moving around on the cover. Ron, sorry for being "culture illiterate", what must I do to grow the culture with those stuff you send to me?