WalMart Worms?

[RedSidedSPR]

I can get get worms at REALLY good price at walmart. $1.50 - $2.00 for either 20 nightcrawlers or 30 earthworms.

But I don't know if they're safe or not... I don't know where they get them.

They're from: DMF Bait Company Waterford, MI

Do you recommend?

[indigoman]

I've used the DMF night crawlers Canadian never had a problem. Not sure about the earthworms.

[maverick]

I have used those. The ones I got were from Canada. I did not have any problems and those worms were huge.

[Didymus20X6]

I've used Wal-Mart nightcrawlers. They charge quite a bit more for them down here, though - $3.29 for 20.

I only buy nightcrawlers, though, as I know that they are a safe species to feed snakes.

[infernalis]

The "trout / Panfish" worms are red wigglers.. do not use those.

Red Wigglers can sometimes make snakes sick. Not always, but why risk it?

I buy night crawlers there all the time.

[charles parenteau]

I rather not feed my snake with worms from any one ,You do't know where they were pick up sometimes the worms are toxic at long terms!!I rather feed my garter with worms from my own place!!

[RedSidedSPR]

OK thanks! I was only thinking of my baby when I said earthworms.

I get 'em out of my yard too but there aren't many, I kinda have to buy them.

[d_virginiana]

Never used them for my garter, but I've used walmart nightcrawlers to feed frogs, and nothing has happened. From what I can gather, they're a lot more sensitive than snakes. Just stay away from red wigglers and they should be fine!

[guidofatherof5]

Been feeding DMF Bait Co. nightcrawlers for years without any problems.

[Mommy2many]

I use DMF from Walmart as well. Never any problems except always check the container to make sure they are still alive before you buy them. Learned that the hard way!

[mb90078]

Yeah, I've noticed they don't always get shipments that frequently, especially in the winter months, but aside from that, I highly recommend the WalMart nightcrawlers.

[BLUESIRTALIS]

The nightcrawlers are awesome to use i have never had any problems with them. Like Wayne stated don't never use the red worms because they can be toxic and they have a foul smell to them.

[Sonya610]

I have been digging up small earthworms in a little patch of the yard (the yard is 4 acres but I keep going to the easy little spot where the soil is turned). Seems like I am finding less and less, not good.

If i started to put out veggie scraps and a little paper to feed them I wonder if they would multiply faster, don't really want to go with the whole worm bin project as that seems like too much work and in this heat could result in a whole bin of dead worms if I forgot for a few days.

[BLUESIRTALIS]

I have been digging up small earthworms in a little patch of the yard (the yard is 4 acres but I keep going to the easy little spot where the soil is turned). Seems like I am finding less and less, not good.

If i started to put out veggie scraps and a little paper to feed them I wonder if they would multiply faster, don't really want to go with the whole worm bin project as that seems like too much work and in this heat could result in a whole bin of dead worms if I forgot for a few days.


Try putting a rug or piece of plywood over the spot and wet it and keep it over that spot and when you flip the rug over daily you should have worms as long as it stays damp and shady.:rolleyes:

[guidofatherof5]

Good suggestion;)

[Sonya610]

Try putting a rug or piece of plywood over the spot and wet it and keep it over that spot and when you flip the rug over daily you should have worms as long as it stays damp and shady.:rolleyes:

Good idea, plus I could also throw some kitchen scraps in there under the plywood without attracting the attention of the canines.

Really do need to figure out a way to keep it most and worm populated, once the summer gets here and the ground drives out this Georgia clay gets rock hard.

[d_virginiana]

Good idea, plus I could also throw some kitchen scraps in there under the plywood without attracting the attention of the canines.

Really do need to figure out a way to keep it most and worm populated, once the summer gets here and the ground drives out this Georgia clay gets rock hard.

If you have any leftover reptile calcium powder you could sprinkle on the ground under the plywood, they really love that! We've raised worms for awhile now and they LOVE any sort of powdered vitamin supplements.:)

[Sonya610]

If you have any leftover reptile calcium powder you could sprinkle on the ground under the plywood, they really love that! We've raised worms for awhile now and they LOVE any sort of powdered vitamin supplements.:)

Was thinking of grinding up some egg shells if that would work. I would have to order reptile calcium. If it ensures a lot more worms I may buy some, these little earthworms are skinny/tiny things (just used as appetizers to get the babies eating though).

[BLUESIRTALIS]

Cracked egg shells and leafy green scraps might work. I don't know if i would use like meat scraps, but fruit and veggies should be ok.

[RedSidedSPR]

Thanks, I'll get DMF. I know to stay away from red wrigglers.

Those worm tricks worked for a friend..

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

Worms are great for making extra lean "bacon". Squeeze the dirt out of them, wash them, drop them on a hot skillet and let them sizzle for a while! They will make their own grease just like real bacon.

[guidofatherof5]

Worms are great for making extra lean "bacon". Squeeze the dirt out of them, wash them, drop them on a hot skillet and let them sizzle for a while! They will make their own grease just like real bacon.


Well then.......... not sure what to say.:D

[ssssnakeluvr]

yea....not sure here either......

[Didymus20X6]

I probably won't be coming to your house for dinner.

[ssssnakeluvr]

nightcrawler bacon....whats next? roundworm spaghetti? =)

[Didymus20X6]

nightcrawler bacon....whats next? roundworm spaghetti? =)

See: "The Lost Boys".

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

I can't help but troll you guys occasionally :)

[BLUESIRTALIS]

I think nightcrawlers and cardboard are the main ingrediants in Mcdonalds patties. Sure do taste good though.

[Didymus20X6]

That was just an urban legend. As far as we know.

[guidofatherof5]

That was just an urban legend. As far as we know.

But a tasty one. :D

[NikkiSixx]

See: "The Lost Boys".


Actually in that movie they are eatin' Chinese food. :-)

[ssssnakeluvr]

Yea, maggot rice and worm noodles

[BLUESIRTALIS]

Sounds Good! So does teriyaki rat.

[RedSidedSPR]

Yeah I love that!!

[NikkiSixx]

Sounds good to me! Lets have it for dinner dad!!! :-)

[ConcinusMan]

Oh, so the real reason Don has rodents in the freezer has been revealed.:p

Looking out for his "little" girl, I see.;)

[charles parenteau]

this is where I pick up my worms....Leafs depot this is the best free from pesticide or what ever!!
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s152/parenteau/P1000631.jpg

[RedSidedSPR]

Looks like where i get mine (aka my backyard)

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

leaf depot! out in my backyard we have plywood depot.... aka one piece of wood laying on the ground in front of the shed that is home to about 395739 worms. I only take a few little ones now and then for my male ordinoes, little sucker will only eat worms!

[RedSidedSPR]

WHAT??! One plywood?! Most of us have to work to find worms

[d_virginiana]

We get ours from a bin in our basement... Only problem is that after about fifty generations of vermicompost-worms, the nice little nightcrawlers from our backyard have turned into giant mutants that give whatever they're being fed to a run for its money!

[RedSidedSPR]

Yikes... scary...

I just buy my nightcrawlers, i don't seem to have many. Walmart is now my source.

I've been trying to find earthworms for my baby, but no luck.

Doesn't help when a tornado covers your best spots with trees.:rolleyes:

[ssssnakeluvr]

We get ours from a bin in our basement... Only problem is that after about fifty generations of vermicompost-worms, the nice little nightcrawlers from our backyard have turned into giant mutants that give whatever they're being fed to a run for its money!
I have caught huge mutant nightcrawlers in Kansas... flip out when touched and huge! :eek:

[RedSidedSPR]

How big?

[ssssnakeluvr]

close to a foot long

[kibakiba]

That's how ours are. They're huge. After we feed them some coffee grounds, bone meal, calcium supp., aand old veggies, they become giant. My largest one was 6 inches, 13 when it was spread out. Its almost as if the food is steroids for them. Haha.

[RedSidedSPR]

Mine, are 6 inches... I thought that was normal...

[kibakiba]

It is normal. They get very large when you feed them a lot, some are short and stubby, long and thin, long and fat, etc. I keep mine until they've eaten what I give them, and have had a little time to grow before feeding them to my snakes. It makes it cheaper, because they get scraps (and I get the left over poop), saving a couple cents on the garbage bill, I don't have to buy so many, because they're so large that my snakes get (usually end up feeding only 2 to my whole 12). You don't have to do that though. There are downsides to keeping them for a long time. I hit 60 worms (breeding) and they all just randomly died. It was quite weird.

[Spankenstyne]

It is normal. They get very large when you feed them a lot, some are short and stubby, long and thin, long and fat, etc. I keep mine until they've eaten what I give them, and have had a little time to grow before feeding them to my snakes. It makes it cheaper, because they get scraps (and I get the left over poop), saving a couple cents on the garbage bill, I don't have to buy so many, because they're so large that my snakes get (usually end up feeding only 2 to my whole 12). You don't have to do that though. There are downsides to keeping them for a long time. I hit 60 worms (breeding) and they all just randomly died. It was quite weird.

Could possibly be a case of protein poisoning? I have been trying to read up on raising them as feeders & have seen a few warnings about it. I have no actual experience with them yet though so take that into consideration, but what I've read so far seems to point towards it being a case of excess food buildup in the substrate over time that can then suddenly wipe out an entire colony. There were a few recommendations to not harvest any worms while there is feed still on the surface to avoid mixing it in and being unable to monitor how much is uneaten.. Anyways just throwing that out there as a possible cause, but again with no basis of experience from me.

I'd love to hear some experiences others have had with raising feeder worms.

[RedSidedSPR]

I was thinking about breeding them too, although I can get them so cheap, it would probably be better to breed guppies... they AREN'T cheap. not to mention I have to drive 20mins to get them.

[kibakiba]

I'm not sure, I mix the bone meal into the soil, as directed from a worm breeder I know, it aerates the soil. As for food... Once a week I add a couple pieces of veggie scraps or coffee grounds if we have the luxury of even having coffee, and quite a bit of the calcium, they eat that so fast it's not funny.

What are the signs of protein poisoning?
A couple of my worms turned to mush with white pus-like stuff around them with big red bumps all over them. I had checked them the night before and made sure they were all okay and to see if their food was gone, none of them had that problem. It was completely gross and smelt like it had been rotting for a month.

[ConcinusMan]

Sounds to me like what happens if the substrate they're in is too wet. Worms should be stored barely moist, not wet.

[kibakiba]

Weird... I keep it just very slightly damp. Unless my mom is screwing with them... She likes to claim control of my "pets" too often.

[Sonya610]

Weird... I keep it just very slightly damp. Unless my mom is screwing with them... She likes to claim control of my "pets" too often.

I doubt if your mom is claiming control over your pets. If she were the babies would eat more often.

[RedSidedSPR]

Ouch

[Sonya610]

Ouch

You say "ouch" because many were thinking it.

A Thamnophis related forum implies an interest in the species and the keeping of the species as pets, the well being of those pets comes first and foremost.

[RedSidedSPR]

You say "ouch" because many were thinking it.

A Thamnophis related forum implies an interest in the species and the keeping of the species as pets, the well being of those pets comes first and foremost.

I agree. I was thinking it... but I didn't want to start anything. Again.

[kibakiba]

Its off Sonya I'm not going to go into detail about this on a public thread, but you do not know my mom. She's afraid of my snakes. With worms, she doesn't care. She's dumped a bunch of junk, meat scraps and moldy crap all over my worms before. She's thrown out my worms because the substrate was "dry". She's compulsive. Please, think before you say anything about people you don't know.

[brain]

Well then.......... not sure what to say.:D

Shes been hangin with her snakes to long ... ;)

[ConcinusMan]

I doubt if your mom is claiming control over your pets. If she were the babies would eat more often.

I'm going to have to come to Chantel's defense here. That really wasn't very nice. I know for a fact she takes very good care of her snakes and they get plenty to eat. Ember and Snap are a pair of baby 2010 concinnus' I produced and sent to her late last summer. They were about the same size as the one I sent to you. They're not even a year old yet, and they're huge. Impressive size for their age. That wouldn't have happened if they weren't getting good care and plenty of food. :cool:They look great. All of her snakes look like they are very well cared for and healthy.

I think what she was saying is that occasionally there are times when they don't get fed for a week or two. That's really no big deal for a snake that is otherwise well fed. They (snakes in general) are "built" to deal with long fasts and fluctuating food supply. A few weeks without food, in fact 3 or 4 weeks even, for an otherwise well fed snake does no harm. It's not like her snakes go without food for weeks as a routine.

[kibakiba]

There was only once that my snakes had ever gone more than a week without food, it was before I had my new babies, too. I got really sick with the flu and and it for two weeks. I doubt when you're that sick that you'd want to get out of bed to feed your snakes.

[Sonya610]

I doubt when you're that sick that you'd want to get out of bed to feed your snakes.

You're right, I would not want to get out of bed and feed them, nevertheless I WOULD get out of bed and feed them. Putting it off for a day or two maybe, but several days or a couple of weeks during which I COULD feed them but just didn't feel like bothering with it? Heck no!

Keeping animals in captivity means you put THEIR NEEDS before your own feelings and moods. If you are capable of getting out of bed to feed yourself you are capable of feeding your hungry pets.

[kibakiba]

I didn't eat very much at all, I spent the days laying around. They are 100% fine without having the luxury of being fed every couple days. Like Richard said, they're built to go long periods of time without food. It is not like I am killing them by not feeding them for a while. You don't have the problems I have, and if you did you would understand. Like I said. Think before you speak, you do not know me at all. My animals are well taken care of despite any ailments I have, money problems and other issues that could prevent proper care. I put off the orders I was going to make for my business, to put ALL of it towards my snakes. Do not speak to me as if you know anything about me.

[Sonya610]

I didn't eat very much at all, I spent the days laying around. They are 100% fine without having the luxury of being fed every couple days. Like Richard said, they're built to go long periods of time without food. It is not like I am killing them by not feeding them for a while. You don't have the problems I have, and if you did you would understand. Like I said. Think before you speak, you do not know me at all. My animals are well taken care of despite any ailments I have, money problems and other issues that could prevent proper care. I put off the orders I was going to make for my business, to put ALL of it towards my snakes. Do not speak to me as if you know anything about me.

Maybe my point is it is not all about you all of the time eh? Maybe it is about your animals. And caring for animals isn't just about "what doesn't kill them".

[kibakiba]

I care for my animals the best that I can. I don't focus on me. Like I said. You do not know me, or anything I do. I'm through with this. Your skull is is thicker than my 11 inch subwoofer.

[ConcinusMan]

C'mon, you guys don't bicker about this. I know for a fact that Chantel's snakes get very good care and they are healthy and grow fast. A week or two without food once in a while won't hurt them one bit if it isn't done too often and they are fed well the rest of the time.

[Didymus20X6]

First off, I'm going to take ConcinnusMan's word that Kiba's snakes are healthy and well-cared for. He knows Kiba, and just as importantly, he knows her snakes. As such, I think that any argument that essentially claims that Kiba simply is not doing enough to meet her snakes' needs is entirely pointless.

Second, when you are sick, then you're not talking about "moods" or "wants". It's about your Needs. And a human being caring for animals has just as much responsibility to care for their own health as they do for the health of the animals. After all, without a keeper, what happens to the animals?

[Sonya610]

C'mon, you guys don't bicker about this. I know for a fact that Chantel's snakes get very good care and they are healthy and grow fast. A week or two without food once in a while won't hurt them one bit if it isn't done too often and they are fed well the rest of the time.

Richard you know darn well it isn't just about not feeding for a week or two "every so often". It is a whole litany of things, not being able to afford food but having babies, then when food is plentiful not "feeling" like feeding for a week or two.

Everyone smiles and nods and condones the behavior through silence. This forum is devoted to the care and keeping of GARTER SNAKES; call me old school but I believe that should take precedent every once in a while.

I will drop it (of others do) as I have made my point.



Second, when you are sick, then you're not talking about "moods" or "wants". It's about your Needs. And a human being caring for animals has just as much responsibility to care for their own health as they do for the health of the animals. After all, without a keeper, what happens to the animals?

Yesterday she posted that she will miss a week of feeding if she is "depressed or busy" and it isn't a big deal, the babies just get extra frantic for food! That is what sparked this whole thing.

[ConcinusMan]

I hear what your saying and I get your point. What I'm trying to say is that the results, (the rate of growth and apparent health of her snakes) speaks for itself. In spite of perceived neglect, I just don't see that reflected (showing) in her snakes. I see no signs that they are the least bit neglected or underfed, no mysterious deaths or illnesses, and that's good enough for me.

[RedSidedSPR]

I agree with sonya, but I'm gonna start anything... again.

[infernalis]

C'mon, you guys don't bicker about this. I know for a fact that Chantel's snakes get very good care and they are healthy and grow fast. A week or two without food once in a while won't hurt them one bit if it isn't done too often and they are fed well the rest of the time.

Bingo... How many of us have run out of pinkies and had to wait until next Wednesday to receive your shipment??

However please keep in mind that water bowls must have fresh clean water in them 24/7 and it never hurts to sponge them out with some dish soap once a week.

[kibakiba]

I always keep the water clean, if that was directed to me. There are times I'm so down I cant do much, but I always try to make sure everyone has water, even if that's the only thing I can do.

[BLUESIRTALIS]

Can't we all just get along?

[ConcinusMan]

Now that would be boring

[guidofatherof5]

Now that would be boring

No it wouldn't. It would be normal.:)

[ConcinusMan]

Yeah, that's what I said. Boring.:p

[Sonya610]

It is kindov funny to see Richard, who has a reputation for being a teensy little bit provocative, suddenly put on the diplomatic "calm down let us all be reasonable" persona though!

Not only did he act the part but he is pretty darn good at it, doing the "I see your point and hear what you are saying" bit to de-escalate conflict.

[ConcinusMan]

No fun starting a fire if it's already roaring. Gotta let it cool down once in a while if you're going to fire it up again.;)