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Packaging worms for sale as bait in cups - 2008/02/29 13:00I'm about to beging selling some of my worms in cups to be used as bait. Some of the worms will be sold out of local stores, and will be sitting on the shelf for a few days in room temp. Im wandering what I should package the worms in. I know alot of people use peatmoss when mailing worms, but I want to make sure that whatever i do use, is going to ensure the worms also stay at their pre-packaged size. I dont want them shrinking after a couple days, do to loss of fluid or anything.
Was thinking using moist peatmoss, with a little finely ground corn meal mixed in.
Any suggestions?
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squirminwormfarm
User A Protected Species Earthworm
Posts: 103
Re:Packaging worms for sale as bait in cups - 2008/02/29 13:19I package in the same bedding as in my bins, and feed them right before we head out to their new home. No trouble with migration.Dave Wallace Squirmin' Worm Farm Plymouth, WI www.squirminwormfarm.com
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RITLV
User A Juvenile Earthworm
Posts: 48
Re:Packaging worms for sale as bait in cups - 2008/02/29 14:43squirminwormfarm wrote: I package in the same bedding as in my bins, and feed them right before we head out to their new home. No trouble with migration.
Well, I use Horse/Rabbit manure as bedding, and not sure if it is safe to have people buying the worms, and having to dig through the manure in the cups.
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slim7309
User A Juvenile Earthworm
Posts: 74
Re:Packaging worms for sale as bait in cups - 2008/02/29 17:53Excuse me, if we have to stick our fingers in the manure taking care of our worm bins & to us it's second nature.. but now your worried about other folks sticking their fingers in your bait cups with manure?? What are you afraid of them folks sucking their fingers??..or somtin worse.. Slim
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RITLV
User A Juvenile Earthworm
Posts: 48
Re:Packaging worms for sale as bait in cups - 2008/02/29 18:25slim7309 wrote: Excuse me, if we have to stick our fingers in the manure taking care of our worm bins & to us it's second nature.. but now your worried about other folks sticking their fingers in your bait cups with manure?? What are you afraid of them folks sucking their fingers??..or somtin worse.. Slim
ya never know lol..I do live in the country, and in Texas lol.
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gnosnhoj
User A Protected Species Earthworm
Posts: 544
Re:Packaging worms for sale as bait in cups - 2008/02/29 18:52For selling in bait cups, I suggest something like finished thermal compost mixed with shred newspaper. Retains moisture, neutral scent (minimal microherd activity) and easy to get the worms out of. Whenever I get fishing 'crawlers, if a cup smells 'off' it ain't the one I'm gonna buy. Just a view from the consumer side.Y'all have fun, whatever you're doing. Gary Hopkinsville, KY
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lkittle
User A Juvenile Earthworm
Posts: 39
Re:Packaging worms for sale as bait in cups - 2008/03/01 07:37Hi All! The best thing to sell worms in is peat moss dampened. The reason is the peat moss toughens and conditions the worms skin to be put on a hook. It should be done two to three days prior to offering for sale. Thus the worms are clean and ready for use. C. Morgans "Selling Guide" and R. Edwards "The Nightcrawler Manual". For fishing both suggested damp as bedding for selling. In cup containers, Peat moss should be presoaked 24-48 hours and pressed dry until a drop or two forms when hand squized. It is also suggested for the shipping median for red worms shipped via the mail. It is light holds lots of water and can be adjusted water wise for time and temp conditions. This information is for 1-2 weeks of keeping and storing the worms. Longer term keeping requires some different type of bedding and prep.larry Holley,New York
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Miss D
User A Juvenile Earthworm
Posts: 60
Re:Packaging worms for sale as bait in cups - 2008/03/01 09:26Damp bagged cow manure keeps them nice n' fat for 5 days in the cups, as long as they are kept cool.
Miss D
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slim7309
User A Juvenile Earthworm
Posts: 74
Re:Packaging worms for sale as bait in cups - 2008/03/01 13:03lkittle,I was reading the Garden Forums where you said that you had two Wigwams & you used shreded paper & you watered every 3 days to keep the paper wet.. I thought the paper would bunch up and get stuck in the grate.. I use leaves & coir but not at same time & when I harvest I get the castings, twigs & everything else too.. did you ever have any problem with the paper?? Thanks, Slim
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lkittle
User A Juvenile Earthworm
Posts: 39
Re:Packaging worms for sale as bait in cups - 2008/03/01 15:15s7309: No I have not had any problems with the newspaper. I shred it in .25 inch strips in a regular paper shredder. It is a little slower to decompose than other material because you can see the unbroken down particals longer. The manufacturer no longer advises the use of paper and cardboard. They suggest precomposted animal manure and chopped leaves and sawdust mixtures along with grass clippings and hay/straw chopped up. Thoes turn dark under composting conditions and if they are not finished it doesn't matter to them they will also ammend the soil. I layer in .5 layers than the suggested 1 inch food and 3-4 inches of bedding. I water more in the summer than the winter because the heater dries the paper out in winter and the airflow does the same in summer. I also keep paper in the harvest area and it is dampened for the worms that do get down to that level.larry Holley,New York
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