Worms gone AWOL

[christina]

After following the great advice on this site, I've started feeding my newts earthworms. Today one 'got away' and went down into the gravel on the island in their tank. There's no chance of me finding it. I assume it's going to drown or be caught by a newt. My question is, if it does die beneath the gravel, will it be very bad for the water quality? I monitor nitrates, etc, so I can keep an eye, but I'm still a little concerned.

 

[jennifer]

What kind of worm is it? If it is a redworm (the compost type of worms, usually red with noticable rings), it can live for days, even weeks, under water. Other kinds of worms will drown quickly, and when they do, yes, it could foul the water. I suppose even a redworm would die eventually too, with the same result. How much it will affect the water will depend on how big the worm was, and the volume of water in the tank.

I'd really recommend digging the worm out. In the future it might be helpful to use a thinner layer of gravel, or cut up the worms before feeding.

 

[christina]

It was a very small earthworm (not even an inch long). I cut up the other worms and things went much better...guess I learned my lesson!

 

[billie]

My cut up worms still wiggle off. I must have loads in the humus?!