Posted by:
FroggieB
at Fri Mar 19 18:42:31 2004 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by FroggieB ]
There have been two different people in the last couple of weeks who have asked about gutloading earthworms/nightcrawlers. These posts either get no response, or the latest, you don't gutload them they filter organic materials from the soil. I guess you could just as easily say that you don’t gutload mealworms, they just eat what you give them, or roaches can eat anything including wallpaper paste. I don’t know about the nightcrawlers, but these aren’t true statements about mealworms or roaches! 
So, I think what is being missed here is that we all want to make sure our animals are eating the best they can and that they are getting all the nutrients they need. Of course earthworms filter the organic matter from the soil, but there are numerous different types of organic matter and I am betting they all contain different elements. For instance: lettuce, eggshells, and bone meal should all contain some calcium but grains, tea leaves, and coffee grounds would probably contain different minerals/vitamins just as different veggies provide different things. You know, orange and yellow veggies have carotene, tomatoes have vitamin C, spinach contains iron, etc. So, if we are feeding an animal that eats mainly nightcrawlers/earthworms then can we manipulate the nutritional values of the worms based on what we feed them, or by what we mix into the soil?
I do know that it is recommended that if you are raising red wigglers you add lime as that not only keeps the soil sweet but it also helps them break down the organic matter. It is also recommended that you add other organisms that also assist in breaking the matter down to the point where the worms can utilize it. I don’t, however, know if you can manipulate the nutritional values of the worm itself.
If this isn't the case, if no matter what an earthworm is fed it will always provide the same nutrients, then what should a person raising an animal who's mainstay is earthworms do to make sure that their animals are getting all of the nutrients they need. Obviously you can't be dusting the worms, trust me I've tried it. It causes them to dehydrate and die if they don't slime it all off first. My animals won't even look at a worm that is covered with pasty white dust.
I don't know where else to take this question and it is one I am asked all the time since I am raising animals that do prefer worms to any other insect/feeder.
I’d really like to hear some other opinions on this. There have to be more of us who are dealing with this type of animals!
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Marcia - FroggieB Dragons
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 Nightcrawlers/earthworms - maybe we've been asking the wrong q's...................... - FroggieB, Fri Mar 19 18:42:31 2004
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