If you want to keep axolotls, can they eat earthworms? This article will discuss earthworm nutrition, health benefits, risks, and other pet food options.
Earthworms provide vitamins, minerals, and protein for your axolotl.
Yes, axolotls can eat earthworms. I’ve kept axolotls as pets for years, and they always seem to love eating earthworms. They’ll eagerly snap them up when I put them in the tank. When I used to feed my axolotls live earthworms, they’d grab onto them with their gills and never let go until the worm was gone!
I also found that chopped-up pieces of earthworm were a great way to get my axolotl to eat frozen or freeze-dried foods. If I mixed some chopped-up worms into the food, my axolotl would come out from hiding and start chowing down on the meal. It was a great way to make sure he got enough nutrition in his diet.
Overall, axolotls enjoy eating earthworms, which is a great food source for them.
Can Axolotls Eat Earthworms?
Axolotls are carnivores and must eat meat to get energy. They only eat prey that meets their nutritional needs and avoid plants.
They eat insects and worms in the wild. Bloodworms, red worms, and brine shrimp are fed to them in captivity.
Tiger, trout, composting, and manure worms (red wrigglers) are all names for these worms.
However, red worms are bitter and should not be fed to captive axolotls, especially juveniles.
Nutritional Content of Earthworms
Decomposers like earthworms release soil nutrients by breaking down organic matter. Worm casts, squiggly clumps of mud at the surface, contain minerals and nutrients from their digestion.
Due to their high amino acids and crude protein content, earthworms have been suggested as a poultry feed protein source. Earthworms have less methionine, glycine, valine, and proline than fish meal.
They also contain essential vitamins and minerals like iron, copper, manganese, and zinc. These elements help humans digest and repair tissue.
Health Benefits and Risks of Earthworms
Earthworms are a superfood because they contain protein, iron, and amino acids that convert food into energy for body repair. Copper, manganese, and zinc provide additional nutrition.
They burrow into the soil to recycle nutrients for plants. They also reduce soil nematode concentrations by decomposing crop residue.
Worms are harmless to humans, contrary to popular belief. They may carry parasites or bacteria that could make humans sick.
Earthworms have been eaten globally for centuries. They can be cooked and seasoned to your liking, making them a nutritious addition to salads and stir-fries.
Other Alternatives to Earthworms
Axolotls that do not like earthworms can eat brine shrimp, bloodworms, or daphnia.
Due to their high protein and low-fat content, brine shrimp are a good substitute for red worms. Live brine shrimp may have parasites or other diseases, so buy them from a reliable source.
Earthworms are good food for axolotls and can be bought online. Red wigglers and European nightcrawlers from Texas Worm Farm are ideal axolotl food.
Conclusion about Eating Earthworms
Axolotls love earthworms because of their high protein and nutritional content. Feeding them to your pet axolotl requires caution.
Cutworms into smaller pieces when feeding juvenile axolotls to avoid choking and impaction.
Pellet food is another option for your axolotl. These promote healthy pet gill filament growth and are less messy than worms.
