Question about nightcrawlers.

[thedragonslapper]

I’d like to offer my large recently molted LP a nightcrawler when she gets ready to take prey again. I’ve never tried these as spood food before but I’ve done some reading and the general consensus is ‘crawlers are an acceptable prey item for any T large enough to handle them. I do remember reading elsewhere on a frog forum to not feed them off if the worms start coming to the surface in the container they’re stored in. To look for ones where most of the worms are lurking at the bottom. Didn’t say why though.

The ones I have came from a Petsmart in a styrofoam box in the fridge and a few of them seem to be indeed hanging out on the surface of the dirt. This mean anything? This may sound noobish but but I love and value my Ts too much to take unnecessary gambles with their lives.

 

[NMTs]

When a nightcrawler is handled or threatened, it starts to excrete copious amounts of mucus. If you have ever tried to put one on a fishing hook, you know what I'm talking about. Also, they aren't like a cricket or roach that can be dispatched relatively quickly with a well placed bite - you can stick one of them multiple times and they'll just keep squirming and wrapping themselves around whatever is attacking them in an effort to escape. Now, picture your T holding onto a large nightcrawler that is coating it in slime for a couple of hours while it tries to eat it. Not worth the mess or the hassle when there are so many other easy, cheap, and nutritious feeder options available in my opinion...

 

[viper69]

You can use them- messy though

 

[Olan]

Most of my Ts have accepted them. But my female G. iheringi would grab one, then almost immediately drop it and then spend at least the next hour cleaning herself.
Never heard of the top vs. bottom thing.

 

[coolnweird]

I've had better luck with red wigglers over nightcrawlers! Only a few of my Ts take them. I don't feed them very often, I feel like they're the spider equivalent to a steak dinner

 

[Pmurinushmacla]

In the wild Id guess burrowing species would eat worms quite often, as theyd probably make their way into the Ts burrow. But they dont know when their next meal will be, so they eat anything. Id use different feeders tbh.

 

[Liquifin]

I've used nightcrawlers before. They work fine for Theraphosa's, but that's about as much as what I use them for.

 

[vancwa]

Kind of like eating Okra.

 

[spideyspinneret78]

My larger tarantulas, especially my T. stirmi, LOVE nightcrawlers. They are definitely a good food option for larger spiders.

 

[Kibosh]

Fascinating.

I had not even considered Night Crawlers.

Probably avoid the ones you get from say a gas station fishing cooler though yeah?

 

[spideyspinneret78]

Fascinating.

I had not even considered Night Crawlers.

Probably avoid the ones you get from say a gas station fishing cooler though yeah?

Yeah I wouldn't get ones from bait shops or gas stations. Risk of parasites and toxins.

 

[darkness975]

I’d like to offer my large recently molted LP a nightcrawler when she gets ready to take prey again. I’ve never tried these as spood food before but I’ve done some reading and the general consensus is ‘crawlers are an acceptable prey item for any T large enough to handle them. I do remember reading elsewhere on a frog forum to not feed them off if the worms start coming to the surface in the container they’re stored in. To look for ones where most of the worms are lurking at the bottom. Didn’t say why though.

The ones I have came from a Petsmart in a styrofoam box in the fridge and a few of them seem to be indeed hanging out on the surface of the dirt. This mean anything? This may sound noobish but but I love and value my Ts too much to take unnecessary gambles with their lives.

I don't use night crawlers for feeders. Too messy and slimy.

 

[jc55]

I am curious if you raise the night crawlers or buy them from a store? Curious as i have never used them or really known anyone that has.