(Stupid) food question

[mark]

This has probably been discussed before, and it may be well known info to most of you.
I am wondering if the "red wigglers" (sold at Petsmart, etc.) are the same as small earthworms (aka. leafworms). Years ago, I used to feed salamanders small earthworms sold at bait shops. Now, however, I am nowhere near a bait shop with these, and I have been buying the red wigglers. These things either seem unhealthy or a different species. Often times they seem to have a striped orangish reddish pattern, and it makes me think they are malnurished.
I occassionally get worms outside, but only at locations that I am VERY confident are safe. I wont take them from any area that might be near a parking lot, driveway, mowed lawn, etc. for fear of any gasoline or other chemical contamination. (everyone sees worms at night going through parking lots, the same ones with puddles of oil/gas...)
Anyhow, just wondering if I should avoid those red wigglers altogether...
Thanks

 

[mark]

OH,
And another thing. Ive noticed that my fire salamander will eat collected earthworms, but usually rejects the red wigglers after getting a sniff of them. I think I have noticed a different smell aslo...

 

[kaysie]

Most people feel that red wigglers are distasteful to caudates. However, my animals are shameless and will eat pretty much anything. Usually I stick with collected earthworms or leafworms.

 

[pin-pin]

Hi Marks,

If your Petsmart sells red wigglers, it is likely that they will sell "Canadian nightcrawlers" or "Canadian minicrawlers." Try cutting those up into smaller edible chunks (as they are huge). My newts (and even my lizards) seem to enjoy this type of worm better.

 

[paris]

i often special ordered -by mail -red wigglers since they were good sizes and would live for a month or more underwater (as opposed to the others that drown just by touching it....). some of my newts would eat them fine -and my pipa pipas too-but now i have bitten the bullet and done what i find very unnerving-i have bought the bigger stuff and chopped them with razor blades into smaller bits -believe it or not this disgusts me to no end-mostly because i know i am hurting another animal..alot!- the difference though is night and day-the 'picky' ones will actively search out those 'chunks-o-wormz'-so yes wigglers are an ok food-but just that, if you want good feeding responce-do the slasher routine with the bigger stuff.

 

[edward]

The red wrigglers are usually Eisenia foetida and secrete a bad tasting fluid that most animals will reject.

Ed