Earth Worms

Dani33 · 01-14-04, 12:41 PM

I want to get some earth worms for my turtle. I live in Newmarket, does anyone know where a good place to get them that's close to me? What is wrong w/ bait shop worms? If I get them from a bait shop, do I just buy organic soil and put them in that instead and wait a week to feed? What is this about coffee grounds, do they eat that? Thanx in advance.

Linds · 01-14-04, 12:59 PM

I don't know a great deal about earthworms, but I don know thye can be stored at 45 degrees or something along those lines for many months. I've never heard of them eating coffee grounds, but I wouldn't feed anything coffee grounds because that in turn is ingested by your herps. I don't know if bait shop worms are treated differently or anything so I won't comment on that. Your local pet store should be able to special order eartworms in for you.

Dani33 · 01-14-04, 01:13 PM

Hey Linds, I read the coffee grounds thing on this thread when I did a search - http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/showt...ht=earth+worms Any ideas as to why this is done?

Linds · 01-14-04, 01:18 PM

Wish I could remember why! LOL damn memory. I honestly have no idea. Hopefully someone else will have the answer your looking for

Dani33 · 01-14-04, 01:40 PM

Thanks Linds, I'll keep doing research while I wait for more answers.

Vengeance · 01-14-04, 01:44 PM

I was also curious about Earthworms, are they an acceptable food source? I mean are they nutritious enough that if fed regularly along with other fruits and vegetables that they would be a good staple, unlike meal worms that are quite fatty.

Dani33 · 01-14-04, 01:49 PM

From what I have been told they are. High in calcium and easily digested. I don't have scientific info about this though. My little girl had a hard time digesting mealies and supers so I am going to stick w/ crix and earth worms. I was also thinking about getting some Mazuri to supplement the diet. I just contacted Ren's feed about the Mazuri. I can pm you about it later if you like.

sapphire_moon · 01-14-04, 01:51 PM

I used to feed my W.C baby turtle (a late hatcher and it was REALLY cold outside) an exclusive diet of bait shop earth worms until it got warm enough to release it. it was active, basked, slept, pushed around leaves I put in there for it, chased little gold fish I put in there (never tried to eat them, just chased them) all in all seemed to be happy. I tried to provide the most natural eclosure possible so it wouldn't be a shock when I released it.

Vengeance · 01-14-04, 07:26 PM

Whats Mazuri?

Wu-Gwei · 01-14-04, 08:14 PM

Mazuri is one of the best turtle pellets.

I have tried calling the producers of bait shop worms, but get no reply from them. I wonder if they have additives to the worms for them to grow faster or stay alive longer.

Turtles should not be fed exclusively on insects or worms - not nutritionally balanced, even with sprinkles of Ca and D3. Off the top of my head, I believe it is high is phosphorus, whch inhibits Ca absorption. Variety is key and it always good to give the turtle some pellets like Mazuri (aquatic or tort pellets).

Anyone with answers to bait shop earthworms? I'd like to know too...

Cheers,
JJ

marisa · 01-14-04, 08:18 PM

I found this link...maybe you guys could buy "breeders" from bait shops, but raise the young in safer conditions for herps.

http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2133.html

Marisa

Dani33 · 01-14-04, 08:29 PM

Thanx for all the responses everyone! I talked to my Dad today who has an obsession with fishing. He is going to call a friend of his who owns a bait shop to ask about this stuff for me. I'll let everyone know about his findings. Unfortunately, they live in Windsor, so I'll have to find them elsewhere.

LISA127 · 01-14-04, 09:06 PM

I know that nightcrawlers are one of the best sources of food for any reptile willing to eat them. Very high in calcium. I don't know about the bait shop thing, but u can order them from Worm Man's Worm Farm.

Vengeance · 01-15-04, 10:45 AM

Nightcrawlers eh? Well there are quite a few biat shops in the Scarbrough area (allot more then I expected) so I'll have to pick some of them up tonight. Where can someone order a bag of Mazuri from?

Dani33 · 01-15-04, 10:54 AM

Here's a link for the Mazuri. They are located in Oakville, so I am trying to see if I can get it shipped. If not, I may go there on the weekend.http://www.rensfeed.com/
Last night I spoke to someone who has been keeping turtles for a long time and he thought that bait shop worms are ok, he said that that's what he feeds his. I have heard that it might be tough to get bait worms right now because minnows and such are generally used for icefishing. I'll be calling around to see if I can get them somewhere.