White Worms?

[debbyloo]

What are white worms and where do you get them? Are they live food or freeze-dried? I have read about these before but have not found a source. I can find fat white moth caterpillars (used as fish bait) called wax worms which none of my finches will touch but wild birds love, and various sizes of mealworms - but not familiar with "white worms."

[Sally]

White worms are little tiny worms that some of the waxbills just love. If you do a google search, most of the postings are by aquarium people, as they feed these worms to some of their fish. You can find cultures for sale from aquarists, but most of them are fairly small clumps of worms. Connie Gahman, of Wings Custom Mixes, sells really big clumps of white worms. They like to be kept cool, moist, and in the dark.

A lot of people keep them in shoe boxes. I am trying a three-drawer storage cart like you get at Wal-Mart for about $14. I spray-painted the outside of the drawers black to keep it dark. I use a mixture of 70% peat and 30% sand for bedding (Connie Gahman's mixture), and this bedding must be kept moist but not dripping wet. I feed them either white bread soaked in water, or cooked white rice, or eggfood. And I found out the hard way that they don't like to be disturbed, so no daily stirring looking for worms!

When it is time to feed the birds, just scoop out a small amount, dirt and all, and offer it in a shallow dish--the birds will pick thru the dirt looking for the worms. I think the birds also like searching for their food, as they would in the wild.

Connie's website: http://mysite.verizon.net/vze3ft62/wings/

[S. W. Houston]

Excuse me, I hit the wrong button !

Have a good Day !

[Hilary]

I also get my white worms from Connie. It's the perfect time to ship, and she usually drops off the package the same day you call (she doesn't do email).