Around us, there are many seemingly insignificant creatures, but in fact, they hide huge economic value. The protagonist we want to ** today is the "red worm", also known as the water earthworm. They are a type of aquatic oligochaete among annelids, with a bright red or flesh-red body color, and are a common aquatic organism.
First, the selection and setting of breeding facilities.
Nematodes prefer to live in dirty water with small streams, such as ponds, lakes, rivers, etc., in the surface layer of silt in shallow waters, especially where there is the most domestic sewage inflow. Therefore, when raising nematodes at home, we can use old plastic pots, jars and other containers to do so. Just make sure there is a certain depth inside the container to guarantee that there is enough space for the nematodes to reproduce and grow.
2. Preparation and use of culture materials.
The growth of nematodes requires adequate nutrients, which requires us to work the culture material. We can mix the river sludge with the fermented cow manure in a ratio of 7:3, add an appropriate amount of water to the paste, and expose it to the sun for 2-3 days before use. This not only kills harmful microorganisms, but also increases the fertility of the culture material.
3. Collection and screening of provenances.
The selection of provenance directly affects the growth rate and yield of nematodes. Nematodes can be dug up from river sludge as a provenance, or collected in gutters, septic tanks, kitchen sewers, etc. However, it should be noted that it is best to choose the nematode from old ponds where yellow eels, eels or soft-shelled turtles have been cultured as the provenance, because this nematode is domesticated and prone to high yields.
Fourth, the grasp of stocking density.
Stocking density has a direct effect on the growth of nematodes. We need to spread the provenance evenly on the prepared culture material, and then cover it with a layer of wet soil about 1 cm thick, to maintain a certain humidity and aeration, and to avoid direct sunlight. If large-scale farming, about 400,000 are stocked per square meter, that is, 5-6 kg per cubic meter.
Fifth, the importance of feeding management.
During the breeding process, we need to check the growth of nematodes regularly, at the beginning, we should check once a day, and then gradually reduce the number of inspections, and it is advisable to check twice a week. The specific method is to dig up the surface of the culture material with a shovel and observe the growth of the nematodes below. If a small insect the size of a white pinpoint is found, it is indicating that it has begun to reproduce;If the number of nematodes is found to be significantly increased and the color is light, it means that the density of the worm population is too large, and a part of it should be properly removed and nutrients should be supplemented. In addition, the humidity is regulated by regular spraying of clean river water throughout the farming period.
6. Timely harvesting.
When the cultivation time reaches 40-50 days, it can be harvested. Prepare a plastic bucket for the redworms, then flush it into the breeding bed with a water gun, let it flow into the bucket, and finally filter out the water. In addition, if some nematodes are found to be mature during daily inspection, they can also be harvested in time.
In general, the cultivation of red nematodes is not complicated, and only the above key points need to be mastered to achieve efficient and environmentally friendly breeding. This not only provides us with a new income**, but also contributes to the protection of the environment.