Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

John, let nature take its course

I was thinking that when the larvae is harvested, instead of using all for fish feed, let a handful escape some nights (100) gotta be a mix in that lot and the colony will be sustained - don't forget that in the cold climate article, the larvae remained in the food source for up to 6 months until temp improved, so would imagine a slow down period until spring.

Good point Ell, Ill be covered with shade cloth after the snow melts, wonder if I should place a small tree in the green house so they can do the speed dating.

hehehe - I've already got a small palm growing in mine and marked out a space strategically placed underneath for Gary's BSF garbage disposal MkIII

Seen that Ell, I've been reading to much. Now I'm wondering if I'll have to worry about introducing e-coli or sal into my system since I'll be using chicken crap.

I was wondering if anyone has tried to raise Waxworm as a food source? The research that I have been doing on the web makes it look simple.

JohnKofi, please tell us more. Where are waxworms native? What have you heard they are used for now? What do they eat? Do you have a web site where we can learn more?

Thanks for bringing up another idea John.

Hi John, welcome to the forum.

I think the waxworm falls into the meal and silk worm category in that more attention is required to the feeding and cultivating of the larvae. (compared to BSF)

Meal & silk worms are being used as food sources by some of the members but the BSF seem to be able to fend for themselves and even self harvest so that there is little input needed from us. (except possibly freezing excess)

This does not mean that they are not a good food source, just that BSF are plentiful in most of our compost heaps and thus are cheap

Good idea tho , have you any more information on them

Hey Guys,

Here are are a couple of sites that I have been looking at:

http://www.aqualandpetsplus.com/Live%20 ... 0Worms.htm

http://www.wormman.com/cat_wax.cfm

The best part about these is that there is no SMELL of anything rotten!!

John

We have a beekeeper who has hives on our farm, I think he would throttle me if I grew wax moths.

Nova

I also have a ready supply of BSF - which I recognised when Dave originally provided a description all that time ago. Variation of diet being an important thing - I also grow mealworms, having been given some a few months ago my forum member Nick. Although my mealworms are not as plentifull as the BSF - I also put no effort into growing these. Just chuck a few bits of sweet potatoe (which I grow) into the container now and again and some old chook food or grains. I then have the mealworms congregate under a piece of cardboard and give a handfull to the fish now and again. They love them.

As I said - variation is a key factor to me (spice of life and all that).

I give mealworms to my goldies, they love them. Had a look in the compost pile a few weeks ago when I turned it but didn't find anything other than millipedes and slaters.

Nova

Would slaters be no good ? i dont remember hearing bout them being Poison

Cheers
Pete

Kinda hard and crunchy for the fish... Might try some one day and see.

Nova

and on that note how about useing common garden snails ?? maybe mush em up a bit ? if size is an issue

Cheers
Pete

considering that silver perch eat yabbies, I dare say a little slater won't be a problem for them