Alternatives to vermiculite

[solehunter]

Hi, i`m going to be digging some rag later and i wondered how the best way to keep them for a few days was?
Anyone have any alternatives to vermiculite? Maybe just a bit of seaweed and paper?

[sailorboyrob]

Ive never seen rag sold in vermiculite till I came down south. Its sold in normal garden peat in most of the country so I guess that will work for you.

[solehunter]

Oh i thought it was just farm rag sold in peat. Dont suppose it makes any difference. Cheers.

[AdamG]

my dad usually keeps his rag spread out in a tray with just enough water to cover their backs, although at this time of the year youll need to keep then cool in the fridge.
or you can keep them on paper with some damp seaweed.
both ways obviously remember to check the worms every day, get rid of dead worms, change the seawater once a day or when it starts to go yellow. or with the paper change it once a day should be fine.

generally, ive found keeping them in the seawater is the best, as personally, ive found they keep much longer, my dad has kept rag like that for over a month, ive managed about 3 weeks- 1 month myself. they keep really good condition too if you do it right
ive found seaweed is good for shorter term storage, helps toughen then up a bit, but i can never keep rag in seaweed for long as they start biting each other. either that or flies/ants get at them
dont use seaweed in the winter my dads had loads of rag die when theres been a frost. seawater is good in the winter as the freezing point is a bit less than normal so unless theres a bad frost the worms will be fine ;D

oh and also take the bits of worm crap out as well as if left too long the worms get entangled in it and go manky. dont worry about about the worms all piling on top of each other , they like to do that to keep warm or whatever. just once every so often spread them around with your hand just to check if any are dead, dying, broken or entangles in crap

[solehunter]

Cool, cheers. :cheers:

[wayner]

AdamG has it right. Just a drink of sea water over them is by far the best way iv kept them alive & in good nick. The rest of his advice is spot on to.

[basskingfifteen]

unless you can fridge worm DONT keep in water this time of year

keep on WET newspaper in weed but make sure there are no broken ones in amongst them,dont keep too many together.......about a pound in weight to a cat litter tray or mushroom box

ordinary garden peat is crap unless its been washed through with seawater the same as wood moulch and bark

always if possible dig early mornin or evening time when its cooler and the sun is lower PAY attention when digging to keep worm out the sun...........a bit of care on the beach goes a long way to keepin worm in good nick .......start as you mean to go on ;D


if all else fails buy them off me :win:

[solehunter]

Good points, cheers !

[basskingfifteen]

one last thing

i do rate FRESH dug rag as crap i rekon its always better when its a day old and toughened up, doesnt break up and just seems to fish better , just my opinion ;D

[sailorboyrob]

Good advice there BK16. Im too lazy to dig my own worms so just get them as they come from the shop!

[lighty]

mmm, so whats wrong with Vermiculite?

lighty

[solehunter]

Jun 25, 2009 20:33:54 GMT lighty said:

mmm, so whats wrong with Vermiculite?

lighty

Nothing, i just wanted to go digging and didnt have any in the cupboard

[lighty]

Oh; right dave

lighty

[basskingfifteen]

Jun 25, 2009 20:33:54 GMT lighty said:

mmm, so whats wrong with Vermiculite?

lighty

ok all the shops use it but its crap,cant keep worm very long in it just drys it right out , its ok for a day or two but after that its junk ;D

[thebigman]

And the rag digest it which is why they float if you try to return them to water.