Commercial Sources: CALIFORNIA BLACKWORMS
Lumbriculus variegates (updated May 2004)

 

LOCAL SOURCES:  First, try local tropical fish stores or pet shops that specialize in tropical fish.  Ask whether they sell living food for fish, specifically California blackworms. If so, find out when/if they receive regular shipments of blackworms and plan on buying worms the day they arrive so that their viability is optimized. A large number may cost about $2. The pet shops will usually store worms in sealed bags in the refrigerator for extended periods of time. This means that some could easily be dead and decaying when you buy them. NOTE: If a mixed quantity of live and dead worms are placed in a small, confined container of water and warmed to room temperature while in a confined space, all worms may quickly die-off. Therefore, it is imperative that worms be rapidly transferred to a large volume of clean spring water immediately after purchase. Avoid thermal shocks when transporting and transferring worms. After the worms are placed in spring water, view them against a light-colored background. Then, remove and discard any worms that appear damaged or necrotic. Gentle aeration is advised, at least until worms have adjusted to their new environment. For lab cultures, subdivide worms into several large-volume containers to create replicate cultures.
For questions, or for information about worm culture, biology, or student lab exercises contact:

Charlie Drewes, Rm 503 Sci II Bldg, EEOB

Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011 

(ph: 515-294-8061; email: cdrewes@iastate.edu)

For Lumbriculus biology information, see: 
http://www.eeob.iastate.edu/faculty/DrewesC/htdocs/

For laboratory rearing of worms, see:
http://www.eeob.iastate.edu/faculty/DrewesC/htdocs/Invertfood4.htm
http://www.eeob.iastate.edu/faculty/DrewesC/htdocs/LVCULT.htm [NEW]

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FOUR COMMERCIAL SOURCES
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FLINN SCIENTIFIC Inc.

P.O. Box 219

Batavia, IL 60510

[Fax (866452-1436] {Questions/Orders:1-800-452-1261} www.flinnsci.com

Catalog #: LM1220 (Lumbriculus variegatus for a class of 30)

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AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS [NEWLY LISTED HERE 05/04]

1767 Benbow Court
Apopka, FL 32703 USA
Worldwide: (407) 886-3939
24 Hour Fax:(407) 886-6787 [Business Hours: 8:00AM-5:00PM Mon- Fri]
Email aes@aquaticeco.com

http://aquaticeco.com

http://www.aquaticeco.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/product.detail/iid/6090
Cat #: 285120 Blackworms, Lumbriculus variegatus, $10/per gram

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AQUATIC RESEARCH ORGANISMS

P.O. Box 1271

One Lafayette Road

Hampton, NH 03842

ph:800-927-1650 (or 603-926-1650) Fax:603-926-5278
www.holidayjunction.com/aro/
This company specializes in selling live fish, freshwater invertebrates, marine invertebrates,
and toxicological test kits. They sell Lumbriculus in gram quantities (about $10/g)
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AQUATIC FOODS

3133 N. Argyle

Fresno, CA 93727 ph:(559)291-0623) Fax:(559)291-0601

http://aquaticfoods.com/farm.htm
http://www.aquaticfoods.com/worms.html

This company sells large quantities of living and frozen fish food, especially invertebrates.

They sell large quantities of living California blackworms (Lumbriculus).