Any tips to feeding terrestrial setups worms

[merk199]

I am looking for a way to feed my animals quicker. I tend to hand feed all my animals so that the worm doesn't escape into the dirt. Are there bowls people here use that are worm escape proof?

I don't mind hand feeding some of the collection. But it has grown so large it is impossible for everyone to be hand fed. Aquatic no issues...

I have newts as small as terrestrial Cynops orientalis to as large a S.s.gallaica

 

[Azhael]

You could chop them into 1cm pieces and offer them on paper towels. This way they can´t scape but will still wriggle enough.

 

[Greatwtehunter]

I use petri dish lids to put the worms in. Is it worm proof? No, but it usually delays them long enough for the salamanders to find them. Of course for the sals that get worms chunks this isn't a problem.

 

[SludgeMunkey]

I tend to free feed my critters, but with worms I find a short stint in the fridge slows them down enough that they do not get time to escape. This is not fool proof, but I find that they rarely last long in the substrate. Most of the species I have snap them up sooner or later.

Another trick you can use if you are certain you have escaped earth worms is to wet the substrate right before you turn the lights out for the night. This brings the worms to the surface when the caudates are most active. Again, not fool proof, but it works.

One trick I have always wanted to try is using worms as cricket gut load. I read years ago that you can feed the worms damp cornmeal and the like for a few days, then freeze them. Once frozen you chop and dehydrate them. Supposedly this makes a darn good cricket gutload.