Storing earthworms

[Mix]

How do you recommend keeping/storing earthworms? I ordered some, which have now arrived, in a little pot of earth. The website I ordered from says to spread a layer of unsalted mashed potato on top... Is this ok? Seems a bit strange? Not sure my snake should be eating potato?

I would have thought they'd only need to be kept in earth, but wanted to check with all you knowledgeable ones

[guidofatherof5]

Do you have earthworms, night crawlers or red worms(not good for garters)? Are they a dark colored worm or a pale looking worm.
Night crawlers can be kept in a fridge. Earthworms don't tolerate the cold and should be kept at a cool temp.
I'm not familiar with the euro worms that are available.
Just my thoughts.

[kibakiba]

I keep night crawlers in a big plastic box with 2 holes drilled in the top. I use my carefresh for them and put left over veggies, crushed eggshells, bone meal, etc. in the container and (gently) mix it in with the rest of it.

[ConcinusMan]

Don't know what kind you have but the one's I find in my yard, and the one's I buy, are Canadian night crawlers collected or raised in the Willamette Valley. I just leave them in the mix they come in, and put them in the door of the regular refrigerator and they just go dormant and they keep for weeks.

[gregmonsta]

Short term you can just keep them dormant in the fridge for a few weeks. For the long term you can - 1) start a colony 2) freeze them and defrost in lukewarm water 3) dry them in the oven at 190C and turn them into a powder, which (when mixed with a little water) can be used for scenting.

[gregmonsta]

Ooops 90C for the powder maker

[guidofatherof5]

Ooops 90C for the powder maker

"When they're brown their cookin' when they're black their done"

[ssssnakeluvr]

keep them in a cool area, the fridge works.... they eat plant and vegatable matter.... they would eat the potato mash if you put it in there.

[Mix]

Thanks everyone, sorry I've been absent a while.

I have them in a cool spot, in the stuff they came in. I will pop bits of vegetables in there.
Steve - I ordered them from an exotic pet website, and they were classed as 'earthworms (Dendrobaena)'. Here's a link:
Earthworms - Dendrobaena
As it mentioned fishing use, I thought they were the right ones.


So far, Lily is showing all her usual signs of pickyness, and was scared of the teeny worms. She has not eaten any, but I am holding out hope.

[guidofatherof5]

I did some checking on those worms and found they are probably compost, red worms which are toxic to garter snakes.
This was just a quick check and I'm hoping another member will have more information about them. Until you know for sure I would not feed them to your snakes.
I did find this web discussion about them:
Dendrobaena earthworms - Caudata.org Newt and Salamander Forum
Just my thoughts.

See if you can locate any Lobworms (Lumbricus terrestris). They are safe.
Here's a link to a site that sells them in the UK.
Buy Worms for Fishing Bait and Composting | Worms Direct