How to get terrestrial juvies to eat worms?

[Molch]

Okay - I got Eisenia hortensis worms and they've been a big hit with my newts, the frog and heck, even my dog ate one (an escapee off the floor)

except...the terrestrial juvies, marmoratus and L. vulgaris. I tried to get them interested by putting worms in front of them, holding worm w. tweezers, putting them in a separate tub w. worms (a la Jen's mass-feeding method) - but no one bites.

I'm not worried about the newts, because they are fat enough. They are in forest-floor setups seeded w. white worms, isos and fruit flies. But I would like them to eat worms so they can grow fast and get big and strong.

So how do I best accustom them to the new food?

 

[ed_moyer]

Ok, I'm sure I'll be cut down for this too!! But I'm a new comer I've only been raising newt an sals for 30 some years!! But I use a food dish for them,doubles for water dish!! I start with blackworms in it an then start to add worms mixed in after awhile they just sit in the dish waiting to be feed!!!

 

[Molch]

but..but..I tried that too and they never caught on. Maybe they simply have too many other options in their setups? Should I remove all other food and see if they find the worms when hungry enough?

 

[Azhael]

They probably smell them and decide they are not worth the trouble. I´d say, let them get a bit hungry then try tweezer-feeding them a small chunk. Getting them used to the taste and smell works for me. With patience* they should eventually accept them without problems.

*Quite a bit of it can be required...

 

[kay]

I love it when you guys start threads like this. I just purchased a juvie T. marmoratus yesterday, and was pondering to myself..... How on earth am I going to feed it?!?! Let's just say I wasn't expecting it to be a juvie... And the side on my pink. Anyone have any luck with earthworms being cut up REALLY small??