Where to get worms for food?

[drumcrush]

Hey, I'm new to garter snakes, never owned one before so I'm just reading up on care. I read that they can eat earthworms, somefish, and mice. but what I would like to know is where to get the earthworms. do I just find some from my yard or do I have to buy some somewhere?? can they carry parasites?? thanks to anyone who can help me out

[mb90078]

You can get them at Wal-mart. If you do make sure to get nightcrawlers (or baby nightcrawlers). You can get them from your yard as well, provided you don't use pesticides or other chemicals. Worms don't tend to carry parasites that do damage to garters to the same extent that other food sources do.

[chris-uk]

You don't say where you are from, so if you are in the UK you won't find worms in supermarkets. Best bet in the UK are fishing shops, or mail order - worms direct is one mail order company.

[NickB]

You don't say where you are from, so if you are in the UK you won't find worms in supermarkets. Best bet in the UK are fishing shops, or mail order - worms direct is one mail order company.

How do you store the worms if you order from a mail order company? Thanks Chris

[-MARWOLAETH-]

An area where you're sure chemicals haven't been used

[chris-uk]

I get them from a local fishing shop as their prices are about the same as mail order, but I don't think it matters where they come from you just need to store them in a cool dark place.

[Foxrun402]

Refrigerator...they will live forever in there.... You can take them out and let them sit at room temp every once in a while for a few hours to let them get active and eat and move around to grow... or keep them dormant in the fridge until feeding time...

[NickB]

I get them from a local fishing shop as their prices are about the same as mail order, but I don't think it matters where they come from you just need to store them in a cool dark place.

Refrigerator...they will live forever in there.... You can take them out and let them sit at room temp every once in a while for a few hours to let them get active and eat and move around to grow... or keep them dormant in the fridge until feeding time...

I'm thinking I could shove them in the garage. I meant how big a container do they require, does it have to be very deep? Do you have to add water at all? What kind of substrate mix does it have to be, can it be normal compost or is that too pure. Thanks.

[chris-uk]

I'm thinking I could shove them in the garage. I meant how big a container do they require, does it have to be very deep? Do you have to add water at all? What kind of substrate mix does it have to be, can it be normal compost or is that too pure. Thanks.

I buy a couple of pots of 10 at a time... They don't survive long enough for me to worry about keeping them alive for more than a day or two.

[Sonya610]

I'm thinking I could shove them in the garage. I meant how big a container do they require, does it have to be very deep? Do you have to add water at all? What kind of substrate mix does it have to be, can it be normal compost or is that too pure. Thanks.

Heat/warmth will kill them. Add some wilted lettuce or other old veggies, or even damp newspaper for food if you plan to keep them a while (in a cool place). They are living beings, remember that.

I bought some nightcrawlers at the local bait shop for the first time 3 weeks ago. I will NEVER do that again. They bleed when you cut them and they suffer/squirm.

My little angels are on pinkies/safe fish from now on. No more nightcrawler nightmares for me!