Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Am starting to think that I might want some 4mm and some 6mm. If anybody wants to go halves and get 12.5kg of 6mm and 12.5kg of 4mm, let me know. You would have to pick it up from my place - North of Brisbane. Also I may not have it for another week or 2, have to get out to Mt Gravatt to pick it up.

Last year my kids had silk worms, and they grew like crazy and there were absolutely millions of them. We have access to a Mulberyy tree to feed the little critters which mostly made it to 5 or so centimetres before spinning their cuccoon. My question:

Has anyone ever fed silk worms to fish, and 2) does anyone know their protein content?

Ta

Don't see any reason why not Stu. Don't know protein content but most meaty insects have a good protein content - so I reckon its a good idea. I have 1 mulberry tree and it is not a bad size now, so I should search for some silk worms at the pet shops. I have also struck a couple of cuttings in the grow bed which I will plant soon. A great tree to shade the greenhouse in summer as all the leaves drop in winter.

The mulberry cuttings Monya sent me have sprouted bright green leaves - when they have a good root system going I will plant them out (have an area picked out already!)... yet another food source (berries for me and the kids - worms for the fish)!... just have to get the worms now, have not seen them in over 4 years! Kids used to bring them to school, but not any more
*thinks to self that they would be interesting to have in the classroom, next to the 2 fishtanks and the aquaponics system *

Hey, AM, how did you propogate them?

Monya hooked me up with some too, i just popped then straight into my floating raft on the indoor tank

How long did yours take to root?

Steve

Mine were in the gravel bed Steve. 2 of the five I put in got roots and I first noticed them about a month in (but they may have got them earlier).

Black soldier fly larvae are a good possibility for fish food. They can eat anything including meat so fast that it won't have time to go rancid, and they keep houseflies away with their pheromones. If any maggots get in there they will be eaten by the BSF larvae long before they can become house flies. Self-harvesting, they leae the pile when they are ready to pupate, and can easily be redirected into a collection bucket. They are native to Australia, too.

http://nespal.cpes.peachnet.edu/sustain/fly.asp

where could we get a "starter batch" i have only ever noticed "normal" flys.

They seem like a real trooper, i saw a powerpoint presentation by a guy who suggested their use in desposing of refuse. I think it may have been linked to from here

Yes, I posted that awhile ago. I think the thread was something like alternative fish foods or something...

Supposedly if you just leave some fruit or something out in a covered area with room for the Mommy flies to get in, they will lay eggs. If I had any I would allow some of the harvested ones a safe place to pupate and make more flies.

This is really taking it to a new level, isn't it

My perch demolish worms faster than my worm farm will ever be able to produce

I'm pretty sure I get them in my worm farm. They are the ones that the maggots are actually quite tuff, a bit dark and hairy. Does that sound right Dave.

Yep, happy eating!

Must look in the worm farm tomorrow. I know I have bugger all worms and a heap of some sort of spider that has made its home there in the last year or two, but not sure about the soldier fly at present. I used to have a huge problem with them so coverred all the entrances with fly screen. Should take that off now I guess. Who needs worms when you have a maggot farm. Besides which my permaculture pricipals tell me that the best way to farm worms is from a well kept garden. Chuck the scraps straight into the garden to compost. Collect the worms at will.

is your worm farm covered well VB?

All i get in mine when i put heaps of fruit in are TINY little flying insects that come up in swarm when i open the lid. The only gaps in mine are 1mm ventilation grids

I mihgt have to leave some fruit out.

I think I answerred your question while you were still writing it Steve. The soldier fly find the gaps pretty well as they walk around looking for them. They step past those ventilation grids, which is why I glued on the fly wire.