A Pesky Tiger Worm

[aerliss]

Last night I cleaned out my GALS tank and all the tiger worms were wriggling about on the surface, confused and angry (poor guys), despite me putting them under some loose coir. I left them too it and watched a movie.

When I came back I found Avery, my big old fuli retracted right back into his shell! I nearly had a heart attack. He's not been well lately and has lost a bit of weight (managed to get him eating again so he's improving). I got him out and gave him a bath as he'd smothered himself in limestone, which I find can dry them out a bit if it's all over their body.

I put him back down between his food bowl and the water bowl. Fortunately he started poking his head out... and between his eyestalks was a little stripy red worm tail! The poor thing had got itself trapped up with him. No wonder he had retracted so far.

I spent ten, fifteen minutes trying to coax both of them out. It took some patience but I managed to get Avery's body turned a bit so I could poke the now utterly slime coated worm out.

Avery instantly cheered up and mooched off for a nibble while said wormy finally decided it was a good idea to go under ground.

Phew!

Well, there you go... just a little story about a pesky tiger worm.

[lee2211]

That made me LOL, sorry but it's quite funny

[101100101111]

lol, also, are tiger worms very effective? as i was thinking of getting some (i would get tropical woodlice but my dad keeps saying they'll escape and eat the house or something)

[crossless]

I had once worms in terrarion they disturbed too much snails I took them away. They tryied to go inside of snail and spend time next to snails in more moisture. :/

[cherryblossom]

I am new to all of this. Would you mind at all if I asked what the tiger worms are and what they are used for? Sorry to be a pain. Thank you

[aerliss]

Aug 25, 2010 13:54:14 GMT 101100101111 said:

lol, also, are tiger worms very effective? as i was thinking of getting some

If you have enough of them they are. I started with only two

Aug 25, 2010 14:13:06 GMT crossless said:

I had once worms in terrarion they disturbed too much snails I took them away. They tryied to go inside of snail and spend time next to snails in more moisture. :/

This is the first time I've had a problem with one. I don't usually even see them except when I clean the water bowl as they like to hide under it.

Aug 25, 2010 14:34:25 GMT cherryblossom said:

I am new to all of this. Would you mind at all if I asked what the tiger worms are and what they are used for? Sorry to be a pain. Thank you

Not a pain at all. Tiger worms (red wrigglers if you're an angler) are a species of earth worm that can survive well in the warm, damp conditions that GALS do. Get a good colony set up and they'll convert food left overs and snail poo into good, clean worm poo... also known as compost XD

You might also find Dendrobaenas (European night crawlers) for sale as tank clean up crews (and in compost bins). They do the same job but are a bit chunkier.

To be honest I'm not entirely sure which ones I have!

[raven]

oh what a good idea. Must admit i have found the odd squirmy things in my tank with my snails but i don't know what they are and panic incase they hurt my snails. Might have to find some of these wormy's because my snails poo sooo much haha.

[lee2211]

I've been trying to get some off Dusk for aaggeeesss but I haven't heard anything back.

I really need some, it's taking forever to try and clean out all 11 tanks!

[johnmcc]

Aug 26, 2010 11:58:03 GMT lee2211 said:

I've been trying to get some off Dusk for aaggeeesss but I haven't heard anything back.

I really need some, it's taking forever to try and clean out all 11 tanks!

Don't know if it will help but I just went to my local fishing shop and bought a tub of Dendrobaena Worms for £1.20 doing well in the tank and keep the waste down a treat. Take a look at this link www.bucketofworms.co.uk/worms.html got some info about them.

[lee2211]

Aug 26, 2010 14:53:11 GMT johnmcc said:

Aug 26, 2010 11:58:03 GMT lee2211 said:

I've been trying to get some off Dusk for aaggeeesss but I haven't heard anything back.

I really need some, it's taking forever to try and clean out all 11 tanks!

Don't know if it will help but I just went to my local fishing shop and bought a tub of Dendrobaena Worms for £1.20 doing well in the tank and keep the waste down a treat. Take a look at this link www.bucketofworms.co.uk/worms.html got some info about them.

Thanks much, I'll give it a look

[cherryblossom]

aaah thank you for explaining =] i have a worm bin on the go already... but its for feeding my newts. And its bog standard earth worms in there