Night Crawler Shortage

[guidofatherof5]

I just tried to place an order for 500 night crawlers from DMF Bait Co. They couldn't fill the order at this time They said it was a had winter in Canada for the worms and the spring was also bad. They hope to have the problem resolved in the next week or so. It's the "or so" I'm concerned about. I may have to buy some worms from Walmart.
I also have a bait shop I do emergency business with. They have plenty of worm but are almost twice the price.:mad:

[bman]

Start growing your own. Last year I bought two boxes at the bait shop and dug a couple of holes in my yard and buried them. This year I have lots of night crawlers in my yard. They have even invaded the compost heap. I dug a few out of there when I went fishing last week.

[Shanty]

Google Uncle Jim's worm farm. They just filled my order. Quality night crawlers at reasonable prices.

[BLUESIRTALIS]

Wish i could help since you help me so much, but i'm almost out myself! Have you checked with the worm man to see what his prices are, or browsed kingsnake.com in the feeder section?

[guidofatherof5]

Wish i could help since you help me so much, but i'm almost out myself! Have you checked with the worm man to see what his prices are, or browsed kingsnake.com in the feeder section?

I haven't. I'm not in a crisis state yet. I have pinkies and some tilapia I can feed for awhile.
I'm spoiled by the whole sale price I get from DMF.:D

[BLUESIRTALIS]

Yep! They have a very good price!

i haven't. I'm not in a crisis state yet. I have pinkies and some tilapia i can feed for awhile.
I'm spoiled by the whole sale price i get from dmf.:d

[guidofatherof5]

I had to bite the bullet and purchase from the bait shop. Cost me an extra $20 but the snakes are happy and so are the baby Robins.:D

[BLUESIRTALIS]

Welcome to the forum Shannon!
Google Uncle Jim's worm farm. They just filled my order. Quality night crawlers at reasonable prices.

[guidofatherof5]

Google Uncle Jim's worm farm. They just filled my order. Quality night crawlers at reasonable prices.

Just checked this out. It doesn't look like this guy sells night crawlers only redworms(Eisenia foetida) Redworms are toxic to garters.

Odor When roughly handled, an eisenia fetida exudes a pungent (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pungent) liquid, thus the specific name foetida meaning foul-smelling (http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/fetid). This is presumably an antipredator adaptation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antipredator_adaptation).



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eisenia_fetida

[Shanty]

Glad to be here, Shawn, with all you REAL Thamnophis experts. This newbie is filing away good information from the posts I've read here. So I am off to read more.

And, no, Papa of five, he sells night crawlers, too. His site needs too much work to find things. Needs a revamp.

Shan

[Shanty]

Tried to attach a URL for Jim's NCs but was "denied." Feels kinda like getting to the checkout counter, after a 30 minute wait, only to discover the wife beat me to the last $5 on the credit card. But the NCs are there--buried among the red wigglers. I buy those ONLY for my raised beds.

Shan

[Shanty]

“One note on the species of worms--chopped nightcrawlers (Terrestris lumbricus) are a good choice (unless he's already big enough to eat whole ones, which is fine), but avoid the small worms known as red wigglers. The red worms used most often in vermicomposting, these worms have been known to cause toxic reactions in garter snakes. Their scientific name is Eisenia foetida. Another Eisenia species is sometimes sold as 'panfish worms'. Eisenia hortensis are not toxic, but do produce a yellow secretion which most animals find distasteful, so they're not the best choice for garter snake food, either.”

Thanks for the differentiation. See what good information I am getting from you folks. I agree, they are Hortensis, and are NOT THE BEST CHOICE, but I washed the few I fed the neonates, even the pieces, and haven't noticed any issues. They did work in a "pinch." Don't intend to do that for long. These were on order with red wirigglers to replenish the worms in my raised beds. The neonates are getting pinkie mouse parts and fish pieces now until I get some REAL NCs.