bbfeckawitts

Got some earthworms today in my backyard. Now that the ground has FINALLY unthawed from the winter. fed some to my fish, it was soooo funny how they slurped them up like "wormy spahghetti"!

Anyway, my question is; are they very nutritional, like should I just feed a tiny bit as a treat once a week? Or can I give them a little peice daily? Thanks! Brianna

COBettaCouple

I'd guess they'd have the same benefits/risks as any live food if cleaned well. I've not thought of earthworms with our fish, but if you serve some to yours, might be good to serve veggies like peas the next meal after worms.. any worm experts to weigh in on this?

zeddy

I give earthworms to my fish all the time and they love them.

Tom

Or you should let the worms sit in some veggies for a little while first so they can get the dirt out of their system and get some veggies in there. So in a way, the fish will be getting their veggies with their steak.
Tom

zeddy

thats a really good idea. i always just rinsed the dirt off the outside and tossed them in

Tom

But since they burrow through and eat dirt, they will definatly have it in their body.
Tom

zeddy

i also do allot of fishing as well, i knew they had dirt in them i just thought i would keep then natural. i didn't know a little dirt would hurt them

COBettaCouple

let us know how they work as a food source.

Tom

They are a great source of protein and the only thing you would really clean them out for is to get rid of any chemicals that have leaked into the soil around those worms. It's not the dirt that would hurt them, it would be the chemicals in the soil that could kill them.
Tom

zeddy

i never thought of that thanks for the tip

Tom

Your welcome.
Tom

gmann21193

hmm i might try earthworms for my Dwarf Frogs... So you catch an earthworm in dirt.. pull it out.. and then what? How do you prepare it? Do you have to squeeze it it get the dirt OUT and then rinse it to get the dirt OFF?

COBettaCouple

check Tom's post (#3) in this thread.. that sounds like a good plan to me.

Tom

I don't remember where I heard that, but htat is even the best way to use worms for fishing. That way if you keep and eat the fish, the worms 'dirt' won't be in your system over time.
Tom

COBettaCouple

this is also a good plan if you get the worms near a cemetery.

nicole

Yuuuk!If you squeeze it there will be all sorts of stuff comming out, I buy live worms from LFS and dont have to worry about all the dirt.

COBettaCouple

now THAT is a GUMMY WORM! :P

Tom

Do you buy mealworms or regular earthworms?
Tom

gmann21193

but sometimes the earthworms come in dirt. Do you think dwarf frogs like mealworms? didnt think of that. i just think they are getting tired of frozen bloodworms haha.

griffin

i've heard that mealworms aren't a great idea because of their fat content and their hard "skin."

is that just a rumor or does it have some basis?