New with Nightcrawlers!

[ProXimuS]

So I just got my first thing of nightcrawlers(from Walmart, DMF Bait Company), and now I've got some questions!

1. Do they have to be cut up? I just looked at one and it looks about 2 in. long, and my snake is about 21 in. long. He can down silversides just fine, and it seems about the same size.(I didn't look at all of them though, and not sure if any are bigger, because I thought they were alot bigger than that.)
2. Do I need to clean off all the dirt before I feed it to him?
3. How long do they last in the fridge?(Do they eat the dirt they are packed in?)
4. Hypothetically speaking, if I had to like cut one in half, and wanted to save the other half, can I just put it back in the container? Or is that uncool? I know they can live after being cut, but I don't know if that's mean, or if it's maybe unhealthy for the snake to eat it later, with dirt getting inside of the open wound on the worm.

Hmmm, I think that's it Sorry, I like to ask questions. You never know till you ask

[Steveo]

Feeding a whole one is fine, your snake will decide if it's too big. I get the same ones and they're typically about 3" when cold and contracted but can stretch out to nearly a foot when they want to.

I would clean off the dirt. I ususally just run a little water over them. Assuming they were freshly harvested, they'll last a few months in the fridge, but will probably only be 'lively' for 2 or 3 weeks. I had a WC vagrans female, about 3', that would eat 4 or 5 whole at a time. I'd put them in her big water dish and she'd always wait until they were dead (crawlers only last about 20 minutes in water).

I don't save partial worms.

[ProXimuS]

Oooh cool, so I can put those in his water too, then? Currently that's the only way he'll eat, and that was another thing I was concerned about, that he wouldn't eat it if it wasn't in his water. That's not mean to put it in the water?....Ok well I guess it's going to potentially be eaten anyways...

[guidofatherof5]

1-Your snake should be able to handle a worm that size. Probably more then one.
2-Cleaning them off is up to you. What's on the outside is what's on the inside.
3-Much depends on how long they've been in the container already. I've had them last weeks or as little as a few days.
If you cut the worm north of the band that end will die. It is storage, growth of the worm. The dark section and the band is the part that will live on.

[ProXimuS]

.
If you cut the worm north of the band that end will die. It is storage, growth of the worm. The dark section and the band is the part that will live on.

I didn't know that!

Thank you Steves

[Invisible Snake]

Let us know how the feeding goes, good luck!

[ProXimuS]

I think I may wait on trying them, beacause I just noticed today he is going into opaque phase. He's only shed once so far with me, but that time he wouldn't eat for about a week before. But, I'm really excited about him shedding again! But then again it sucks I have to wait to try them now...

[Light of Dae]

Try the 'back half' of the worm even in blue phase the new smell might make him want it more regardless of being in shed. If you end up wasting half a worm... meh its no big deal, it's half a worm. lol

What I would do if he is used to eating from his water dish is empty most of the water then put the worm in.
If a worm is fully submerged in water it drowns, but if you leave it with no water it will dry out. I put water half way up the worms side. Worm stays moist n lively for longer and won't drowned n get mushy.

[EasternGirl]

Now...something you can think about doing is starting a worm farm. I do this in the winter and am going to start another one here soon. Cabela's online is a good place to order the supplies. You get a container for the worms....worm bedding...and then you buy a bunch of worms and keep them in a cool place. Mine lasted all winter. You just have to moisten the bedding sometimes, remove any dead worms, and make sure the bedding doesn't mold. Here is an example:

Cabela's: Magic® Worm Ranch Kit

Now, that is a kit. You can make your own farm cheaply though. I just bought one of the styrofoam worm containers from Cabelas...and some of the Frabill worm bedding...and then went to my local marine store and bought a few dozen worms. Steve told me you can even use a cheap styrofoam cooler.

This is what I have: Cabela's: Frabill Habitat II Worm Container

Cabela's: Frabill Fat & Sassy™ Worm Bedding

[BLUESIRTALIS]

Emily don't forget that you may have to scent the worms with fish at first since you have a ribbon snake.