Thiaminase & red worms

[Cazador]

Hi Ryan,
Have a look at Eisenia fetida and Eisenia andrei. They're both commonly referred to as "red wigglers," and they're used for composting. Here's a Wikipedia link to the first species. Cheers,
Rick

Eisenia fetida - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[ClosedCasket88]

niow these just lok like small nightcrawlers according to that pic .

ive seen very bright small redworms b4 in various mulch/organic stuff while out in the wild and they are very bright and almost look fake, i was assuming these are them red wigglers .
so red worms are the red wigglers they sell at fishing shops ?

[Stefan-A]

What's the deal with the name? Is it fetida or foetida?

[Cazador]

Stefan,
I suspect it's probably foetida, but I was also a bit thrown off when Wikipedia had them listed as fedida. I don't really know, for sure, though.

Ryan,
A good test to tell between red wigglers and nightcrawlers is that red wigglers aren't very mobile. If you put them in a flower pot, they'll stay there until they die. Nightcrawlers, on the other hand, are able to crawl out of the flower pot, or quickly across the flower pot. That's one reason red wigglers are great for composting... because they stay where you put them.
Rick

[Gyre]

@ Suzoo,

I thought 'bullheads' are a type of catfish.

[drache]

I understand that red wigglers are repulsive to garters and possibly somewhat toxic too

[microsnake]

About redworms,
it is my understanding that they are non-native worms used in vermiculture (worm composting, which is a special form of composting usually done indoors). The most common species is Eisenia foetida, and is small, red and requires higher temperatures and organic content than is found in gardens (at least in BC). I think the problem with them is they tend to have high bacterial content, and possibly some toxins as well. They are sometimes sold as bait for fishing, but are MUCH smaller than the nightcrawlers often sold as bait. I was reading about vermicomposting a while ago because I was wondering if the worms could be a good food source for herps and was disappointed to find out this might not be such a good idea.

[KITKAT]

About redworms,
it is my understanding that they are non-native worms used in vermiculture (worm composting, which is a special form of composting usually done indoors). The most common species is Eisenia foetida, and is small, red and requires higher temperatures and organic content than is found in gardens (at least in BC). I think the problem with them is they tend to have high bacterial content, and possibly some toxins as well. They are sometimes sold as bait for fishing, but are MUCH smaller than the nightcrawlers often sold as bait. I was reading about vermicomposting a while ago because I was wondering if the worms could be a good food source for herps and was disappointed to find out this might not be such a good idea.

Yes, well... there IS a reason they are called E. foetida (latin for fetid)!