Second Spawn

My pinoy smokey paraiba and blue silver spawned again today, 7.weeks after their first. Here's a few pics:-

Very nice, lots of lovely eggs
Lisa

Congratulations, I'm sure you'll keep us informed of progress

Pterophyllum wrote:Congratulations, I'm sure you'll keep us informed of progress

Of course Rob

Bad day. Mum and dad have dined on caviar and there won't be any wrigglers today.

Shame, get some white worm in them for the next spawning & jkeep it coming when they lay!

Ghipsi wrote:Shame, get some white worm in them for the next spawning & jkeep it coming when they lay!

Why white worms Lisa?

Sorry to hear that, at least with angels you don't have to wait too long before they try again!

Why white worms Lisa?

White worm cultures are reletivley easy to keep (some soil, a cool place & some bread every few days or so), they are high in Protein & fish go nutts over them . They ate fantastic to feed 2 or 3 times a week when conditioning breeding fish (larger spawns in my experience) and are good to feed when fish are going to lay, after they have layed and while you are waiting for freeswimmers as they fill up the fish & add the extra energy that spawning fish need resulting in a reduced chance of egg/wriggler eating by parents. They definatly help, I have had a Ram produce over 600 fry using white worm as an etra feed
Lisa

Ghipsi wrote:

Why white worms Lisa?

White worm cultures are reletivley easy to keep (some soil, a cool place & some bread every few days or so), they are high in Protein & fish go nutts over them . They ate fantastic to feed 2 or 3 times a week when conditioning breeding fish (larger spawns in my experience) and are good to feed when fish are going to lay, after they have layed and while you are waiting for freeswimmers as they fill up the fish & add the extra energy that spawning fish need resulting in a reduced chance of egg/wriggler eating by parents. They definatly help, I have had a Ram produce over 600 fry using white worm as an etra feed
Lisa

Thanks. That's that question answered. Now for a couple more. Where do I get a white worm culture? Are they the same as Walter worms or banana worms, as I've seen these mentioned before somewhere?

Best to chat with dave (AKA Baldyman) or Tonys' Angels for more info on white worms as they are masters at keeping them
You can get starter cultures on ebay I think.
lisa

Posted a couple af pictures some of my cultures.
You will notice the worms are all on the top in mine.
I start with a mixture of coconut fiber and gritty soil
microwave it for a few mins to kill anything in it
Get a container that holds about a ltr when half full. (LIGHT PROOF)(if you have too big a container to start the worms cant find each other to reproduce)
If i use a wooden box i line it with plastic to stop the worms escaping
A loose fitting lid is suffisient i have found
after the media has cooled i dampen it just so the mix holds together if squeesed mix in a handfull of charcoal (keeps it sweet)
introduce a teaspoon of mature worms (about 3/4 inch long) onto the top of the media
place a small amount of soaked bread on the top of them and place a piece of glass (or perspex)on top of that.
This helps to stop the food going mouldy
Cover and leave for a few days.
Inspect and change any uneaten bread.
Re cover. Repeat the cycle as nessesary.
White worms are slow to reproduce and it could take a couple of months to be mature enough to take from it.
The only moisture my worms get is what is on the bread at feed time ,or if its obviously getting dry.
I have six cultures running and take worms from them on a rota but not every day.
OH and by the way white worms love the cold. they wont survive in a fishhouse i used to keep mine in an old fridge untill it broke.
now i find the coolest place i can . So long as they dont freeze they will be ok



Thanks Dave

And try not to copy me as I drowned the fist batch a had few years ago & keep forgetting to feed the present ones

Thanks Dave. That was very informative and the pics were great. You've told me all I need to know about white worms.

Ghipsi wrote:And try not to copy me as I drowned the fist batch a had few years ago & keep forgetting to feed the present ones

I won't be taking any tips from you then!