The one that I cut didn't give off any smell or mucus or anything, but I kept moving it around his lips/feet etc and all he would do when the worm would touch him is back into his hole I really don't want to stress him out further by taking him out and putting him into a feeding box but that will be the next step to try.

the ones I am used to dealing with were pretty darn big fishing worms my dad used to get from a bait shop, it was ginormous lol and barely fit on the hooks .. ahh such memories