| Large and Small Worm farmers alike have the | | | | bed. Do not add more pellets than you think the |
| potential to tap into the fishing bait market. I | | | | worms will get to within a week or it will build up |
| would be surprised to hear there was a more | | | | and begin to smell. |
| popular recreational fishing bait anywhere in the | | | | Blood and Bone |
| world. Fish are naturally attracted to worms | | | | I tested this myself some years ago and the |
| through both their wriggling action on the hook as | | | | result was promising. I would occasionally sprinkle |
| well as the odour worms emit. | | | | a handful of blood and bone on top of the |
| The 2 commercial worms best suited to the fish | | | | growing bed and at the end of 3 months the bed |
| bait market are Reds and Blues. Reds are | | | | I added the blood and bone in had worms |
| approximately 3 to 4 inches (75 to 100mm) long | | | | approximately one third larger than a second bed |
| when mature. Blues mature at around 6 inches | | | | I set at the same time. You will want to run your |
| (150mm). | | | | own experiments and test for yourself. Be sure |
| In addition to their regular diet worms bred for | | | | to use plain blood and bone (available from a plant |
| fishing will have a supplemented diet higher in | | | | nursery) as some brands have other ingredients |
| protein to encourage faster growth and maturing. | | | | that may not be suitable to your worms diet. |
| There are several high protein supplementary | | | | Cardboard |
| food sources available. Some breeders will | | | | Cardboard (the corrugated type) is an ideal high |
| purchase high protein diets while others will use | | | | carbon meal replacement which can be added to |
| whatever waste is available to them in their local | | | | a worm farm after soaking in water for a week |
| area. | | | | or so. Worms will consume the paper and any |
| The following is an introduction to the types of | | | | organic glues included with it. I have heard of |
| protein based feeds to give your worms in | | | | breeders using cardboard as the sole feed supply |
| addition to their regular diet. | | | | for worms but my advice is to avoid this due to |
| Racing Horse Pellets | | | | the potential for toxic build up from synthetics |
| Pellets can be purchased from local grain and | | | | which may be present in the cardboard. |
| farming supplies store or from a large pet supplies | | | | Tip: Choose one or two days per week (Friday is |
| retailer. Pellets usually come in 20kg bags which will | | | | usually best) to pick your bait worms out ready |
| cost you from AU$15 to AU$45 depending on the | | | | for weekend sales. Advertise in your local paper |
| brand and your location. Pellets should be | | | | and advise the days your customers can visit you |
| scattered on top of a growing bed as a bi-weekly | | | | to purchase supplies. Worms can not be packed |
| addition to your worms regular food supply. Pellets | | | | for sale on the expectation they will sell. It is best |
| should be moistened before adding to the growing | | | | to pack to your customers orders and enquiries. |