Canadian Nightcrawlers vs. European Nightcrawlers

[yoshimi]

I heard the European ones produce a bad and possibly toxic substance. I have a friend who's trying to raise African night crawlers. They don't get very big though.

Ahh! The European worms could be toxic? First i've heard of this, tho I did read about some worms giving off a foul something or other. I just bought a cup of 30 (Eisenia hortensis) from walmart Saturday afternoon, and my toad has eaten THREE already. I can't find any other information or warnings about these, and when I google it, my own post pops up. Neat-o. But I hope these are ok. He seems to like them and 18 of the Canadian were the same price as 30 of the European. Not that I think going cheap is always good, but I'd only heard to make sure no dyes were used, along with pesticide, fertilizer. It says on their website that these can be fed to frogs and such. I just panicked when I read the above.

Why are Canadian better? Fatter maybe? The cup of dirt they were in when I opened them in store had the look of being passed through the worms a few times. But if they're worth it for a reasonable reason, I'll get those instead.

[GrifTheGreat]

Ahh! The European worms could be toxic? First i've heard of this, tho I did read about some worms giving off a foul something or other. I just bought a cup of 30 (Eisenia hortensis) from walmart Saturday afternoon, and my toad has eaten THREE already. I can't find any other information or warnings about these, and when I google it, my own post pops up. Neat-o. But I hope these are ok. He seems to like them and 18 of the Canadian were the same price as 30 of the European. Not that I think going cheap is always good, but I'd only heard to make sure no dyes were used, along with pesticide, fertilizer. It says on their website that these can be fed to frogs and such. I just panicked when I read the above.

Why are Canadian better? Fatter maybe? The cup of dirt they were in when I opened them in store had the look of being passed through the worms a few times. But if they're worth it for a reasonable reason, I'll get those instead.

Canadian Night Crawlers are much larger and do not secrete foul mucus. Just a slime coat. Some earthworms do secrete defensive slimes that smell and taste bad. This so they are not eaten and they are toxic to some animals, but I do not believe frogs are one of thise such animaks. Frogs can eat Red Wigglers which secrete a foul slime, but it doesn't affect them. Although some frogs will not eat them because of the taste from the secretion.

[yoshimi]

Canadian Night Crawlers are much larger and do not secrete foul mucus. Just a slime coat. Some earthworms do secrete defensive slimes that smell and taste bad. This so they are not eaten and they are toxic to some animals, but I do not believe frogs are one of thise such animaks. Frogs can eat Red Wigglers which secrete a foul slime, but it doesn't affect them. Although some frogs will not eat them because of the taste from the secretion.

Phew. Well I'm glad. He's a toad and is better at that little game of foul tasting toxic secretions than any worm. Go Banjo!

[aGreenCup]

I learned my lesson with red wigglers. Europeans all the way, I use them as my stable.