Storing earthworms

[gregmonsta]

Dendrobaena contain some of the toxic varieties and are almost always compost reared for wholesale.
Unless you know for sure lobworms are your best bet as Steve has said.

[gregmonsta]

Just checked your link - do not feed these worms ... I ordered from these guys before and these will 100% be the wrong type for feeding.

[guidofatherof5]

Just checked your link - do not feed these worms ... I ordered from these guys before and these will 100% be the wrong type for feeding.

Thanks Greg for checking into it.

[Mix]

Thanks guys! I'll re-post here what I just sent to Steve:

I will not feed any to Lily. Thank you!

I was told I needed worms you'd dig up in the garden (which do look like this); the worms used for fishing, which it mentioned on the description.

BUT, after looking at the worm store on the link you sent, it seems the dendro AND 'lobworms' are used - I thought 'lobworms' was a fishing term.

I then found this link on a fishing site, where the worms are actually imported from Canada:

http://www.willisworms.com/index.php...emart&Itemid=3

They list both types of worm seperately, so I'm deducing lobworms are a totally different worm.
I'm sure the worms in our garden look like the ones I got, and also fatter - but without that little smooth section. I will investigate more when the weather warms up!

There's an angling shop just down the road, which I never get around to visiting, so I'll check which types they stock and where from.

British worm classification just doesn't cut it!
I guess other reptiles have different tolerances to these worms.

[guidofatherof5]

I think a safe way to look at it is if it's a composting worm, it may not be safe to feed garter snakes.
As Stefan and I discussed, there may be a lesser amount of toxcity in some composting worms. With that in mind it's probably better to side on not feeding them. Then there is no risk to your snakes.

[kibakiba]

Those lobworms do look like the night crawlers that I feed my snakes and raise myself. Mine are a bit darker in colour, though. It might be what I'm feeding them and such, I only feed them to my snakes after I get them eating the stuff I keep them in. Moist carefresh, bonemeal, veggie scraps, coffee grounds that was left over and finely crushed eggshell. I'll also pour some of my old crickets food in there, it's high in protein.

[Mix]

I totally agree - I would not want to feed anything with a risk, however small.

On more digging (no pun intended), it seems you can get dendrobaena, redworms, and lobworms, and also Tiger worms, which are apparently the best composters. You learn something new every day.
My little dendros will have a lovely life in the back garden.

[snickersnake]

I have kept garden worms in my basement for three years to supplement my garter's diet because I live in Michigan and can't dig them up year round. I originally got them out of my garden and I have three boxes now. I use the Magic Worm Ranch and it doesn't cost much to keep them. I have had no trouble until recently, and it's probably my fault You can get started by getting a starter kit at Cabela's: Cabela's: Magic® Worm Ranch Kit .

I use the Magic worm food which you can get cheap at Walmart (after you run out). We can only get it during the summer here, so I stock up then, but you can buy it online pretty cheaply if you search for the best price. I also use the worm bedding that comes with it, then buy extra bedding at Walmart, too. It's not always the Magic bedding, but I like that the best. You can also buy that off the Internet.

I think someone has already mentioned to make sure that your worms are garden earthworms and not the red "wiggler" composting worms. It seems that almost all of the information on the Internet is about the red worms, so it's hard to get the information that you need. Garden worms are usually lighter in color and you find them in soil. Wigglers are found in garbage, dung, etc.

The instructions for preparing bedding in the Magic kit isn't exactly right. You want the bedding to be moist enough so that it doesn't stick to the worms, but you don't want it runny. I've figured out the right proportions of water to bedding so I will let you know if you are interested. Also, don't feed them as much as it says - just feed a little bit, in a few spots around the box. Don't feed them more than they can finish in 2 days.

Good luck and let me know if you want more info.

Lori

[guidofatherof5]

I have kept garden worms in my basement for three years to supplement my garter's diet because I live in Michigan and can't dig them up year round. I originally got them out of my garden and I have three boxes now. I use the Magic Worm Ranch and it doesn't cost much to keep them. I have had no trouble until recently, and it's probably my fault You can get started by getting a starter kit at Cabela's: Cabela's: Magic® Worm Ranch Kit .

I use the Magic worm food which you can get cheap at Walmart (after you run out). We can only get it during the summer here, so I stock up then, but you can buy it online pretty cheaply if you search for the best price. I also use the worm bedding that comes with it, then buy extra bedding at Walmart, too. It's not always the Magic bedding, but I like that the best. You can also buy that off the Internet.

I think someone has already mentioned to make sure that your worms are garden earthworms and not the red "wiggler" composting worms. It seems that almost all of the information on the Internet is about the red worms, so it's hard to get the information that you need. Garden worms are usually lighter in color and you find them in soil. Wigglers are found in garbage, dung, etc.

The instructions for preparing bedding in the Magic kit isn't exactly right. You want the bedding to be moist enough so that it doesn't stick to the worms, but you don't want it runny. I've figured out the right proportions of water to bedding so I will let you know if you are interested. Also, don't feed them as much as it says - just feed a little bit, in a few spots around the box. Don't feed them more than they can finish in 2 days.

Good luck and let me know if you want more info.

Lori

All good information.
Thanks for posting it, Lori.

[ConcinusMan]

I'm sure the worms in our garden look like the ones I got, and also fatter - but without that little smooth section.

Without the little smooth section? I don't know of any earthworm that lacks that. It's their reproductive organs. Although each worm is both male and female, night crawlers come out at night after or during heavy rains and I often find them "connected" by that "little smooth section" so even though they don't need another worm to reproduce, they do mate with other worms.

Lobworm: Lumbricus Terrestris. Britain's largest earthworm, also known as the common earthworm. Distribution Very common and widespread.

Why they would need to import them from Canada is beyond me. But anyway, never heard them called Lobworms before. They are the same worm that I find locally here in the NW. They are also known as Canadian Night Crawlers or just "Night Crawler"

They are excellent garter food.

Composting worms (Red wigglers) are also found here but they are unmistakable. They are very thin, very red, and are striped.