Identifying Red Wrigglers?

[RedSidedSPR]

Crap, i just caught tons of worms, many of them pale and small. I thought those were the ones Steve likes, but now i'm looking at them and i'm thinking they're not.. i'm thinking the may be (cue the evil music) RED WRIGGLERS (sorry)

Anyway, how do i tell the difference? I thought i knew, but...

[guidofatherof5]

Can you post a photo of the worms in questions?

[RdubSnider]

I always go off of that nasty smell they have after being handled. I'm sure there's a more sure bet way of identifying them though

[RedSidedSPR]

Argh... no. I need to be home. I'm up in VA, this is not my CPU...

Actually I may be able too.. i'll work on it. BUT it'll have to be taken with my iPod touch... not gonna be all that clear. Will you be able to recognize it?

[RedSidedSPR]

I always go off of that nasty smell they have after being handled. I'm sure there's a more sure bet way of identifying them though

I didn't smell anything through all the dirt and berries:rolleyes: What kind of smell? Kind of musky?

[RdubSnider]

Hard to explain but to me its Just a fowl smell. Not unbearable Just nasty

[RedSidedSPR]

ok.. thanks.

Working on pics. They're uploading. They're not all that great, i don't have access to a camera at the moment. Not for a few days. (i have the camera, just can't put them on cpu)

[RedSidedSPR]

Here ya go. Sorry bad quality. Although they're a lot better than i thought.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b283/chucknkelly/100_6389.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b283/chucknkelly/100_6388.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b283/chucknkelly/100_6387.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b283/chucknkelly/100_6385-1.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b283/chucknkelly/100_6384-1.jpg

[RedSidedSPR]

They have those horizontal stripey things, like red wrigglers, but so do all worms. I just can't tell. But they don't look normal

[ConcinusMan]

Those photos ^^^are earthworms (non-night crawler). Those are fine snake food found in rich dirt.


They have those horizontal stripey things, like red wrigglers, but so do all worms.

Not really. Red wigglers look so much different, if you saw them, you wouldn't say they look anything like other worms. They are blood red and the stripes are very dark and distinct. They are also very thread-thin.

Red wigglers live in nasty rotting compost for the most part, where other worms can't live. They smell like rotten dead worms and put off a sticky, thick, yellowish slime. These can kill young garters, or make any garter very ill.

http://mypeoplepc.com/members/arbra//sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/ef12.jpg

http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/vermicomposting-2.jpg

[RedSidedSPR]

Really? Thats;s what i first thought, but than, they were less squishy, had those obvious horizontal lines, i figured I'd better make sure first. COOL!! That was most what i found glad to know it's safe.

How do i identify Reds though? Just to make sure when i DO find them

[guidofatherof5]

Those are great looking earthworms and aren't red wiggles. Wish I had a couple thousand of those.

[RedSidedSPR]

Wish i had a couple thousand too!! But i only found about 10 (lots other kinds though)... i'm going out again to get more.

I think they like the mulberries. There's this big mulberry tree, and lots on the ground, and under that tree i find lots of worms. Only a few of those pale ones.

I'd still like to know how to identify red wrigglers, just for when i DO find them

[kibakiba]

Richard put it best, blood red with very, very visible stripes and they smell gross.

[RedSidedSPR]

OH thanks!! Richard, i didn't see your pics and stuff. You went back and edited the post, put those in after i read it.

The thing is, i've seen some pics of red wrigglers, that look alot like these, and nothing like those. But i guess i'd know, Thanks!!

[Mommy2many]

I've got lots of the kind that RedSidedSPR showed earier. Perfect snakey food for my Connor Snake. Just his size:D

[drache]

I have that same problem - I'm not really sure that I have ever seen a red wiggler, or whether that baby that died a few years back had one
some worms are clearly not, but I err on the side of caution - anything that's a bit redder than usual, or has too many stripes, I pass by - makes it really hard
then there are other worms I'm not sure about, such as those that have a sort of flattened end
I totally hate it when I have a baby that only eats worms, because I find the decisions stressful, and I have to feed them more often to boot, so that stress comes more frequently

[RedSidedSPR]

Sorry i've been busy.

Yeah, he loves these. Thanks guys. I needed to make sure.

[ConcinusMan]

I have that same problem - I'm not really sure that I have ever seen a red wiggler, or whether that baby that died a few years back had one

Well, before I knew any better (you know, back in the dinosaur ages- the 80's lol) I fed red wigglers to concinnus babies from time to time. It didn't usually kill them. Most of the time, they will vomit and not get fatally poisoned.



some worms are clearly not, but I err on the side of caution - anything that's a bit redder than usual, or has too many stripes, I pass by -

I think that's the best policy.