plastic storage tub

[Stefan-A]

Not sure that I'd have to throw away a box because one of the holes cracked. It's not like the plastic doesn't hold together perfectly fine. If you're using more brittle plastic it may be different.

The plastic doesn't hold together perfectly fine anymore. Sometimes the crack extends from one hole to another, or up to the edge of the box and you do lose structural integrity. Then, with a little warping from a load or heat, and an exceptionally tenacious little snake, you may well end up with one escaping or getting itself killed. And sometimes a piece of plastic goes flying and that 2 mm hole you were drilling suddenly becomes a 2 cm hole.

[infernalis]

That also brings up the risk of that little flying chunk of plastic landing in your eye.. Murphy's law.

[kimbosaur]

I think my fridge is too cold for my worms or something...the worms seem to be getting hard...I'm wondering if there is a way to preserve the worms better. Can't turn the fridge down. Someone mentioned coffee grinds for worms. I just have them in a little container with soil in there. I don't know if it is the fridge temp or the way I am keeping them but they seem to be drying out.

I'm pretty sure I've actually read somewhere that it's better to keep worms in room temperature. I wouldn't know because I've never really kept worms...

On another note, I think you should save up some of your energy to worry about them when they actually get here!

[kimbosaur]

Nevermind, I've just figured out where I read it from and it was a kijiji ad. Don't know if that's accurate but might be worth searching up on.

[brain]

I use the largest deepest Wal-Mart Tub I can get, drill 3/16”hole (many like 1 per sq inch.) You do need to place something solid under the drilling to help prevent the cracking. The soldering iron and I do not get along. Hot tip and hot plastic drippings.
The worms I raise are the leftovers (if there are any) DMF brand. I use ground Peat dirt as the medium. I feed the peat with chicken feed turned to dust in the blender. Slight damp and it sits outside as normal worms do anyway. As it gets colder, I placed the tub in my wood shop, a bit warmer.
If you leave this worm breeder in the house, you will have so many little nats it will drive you nuts.
Change the tub by putting it in your garden about every two month or so, by this time with the size of tub I use, is now mostly worm casings and good compost.

[EasternGirl]

Thank you. I'm just not sure where I can keep them that isn't too cold or too warm. I have a garage but it gets really cold. The only other option is in the house which is really warm.

[brain]

Yea they can die in freezing temperatures, which is why they move up and down in the soil, thier bodies have a great deal of water hence the snakes like them .

They will live and breed at temperatures upto about 85-90 degrees F. Ideal temperatures for growth and activity range from 60-80 degrees F. For reproduction and hatching, keep them around 60-70 degrees F.

[EasternGirl]

So do you think I could just keep them in a container at room temperature? You said I would probably get nats though right?

[snakehill]

I keep mine in the kitchen (in the dishwasher-weird I know but we don't use it) It's dark in there and we don't really heat the kitchen so it's a little cool. All I feed is coffee grinds. They are reproducing so I guess the conditions are good. Never had a gnat problem but I guess that's because they are enclosed.

[EasternGirl]

I'm just wondering since I have such a problem with worms...when Cee Cee has her babies...is it okay for me to start the babies feeding on something else...like fish pieces? I'm going to work on getting the worms and I don't have a problem with worms when it is warmer...I can get them outside. It is much easier for me to feed fish and pinkies though.