r/Vermiculture • u/GlossyBear • 12h ago

Advice wanted What’s wrong with this worm?

Post image

I know I’m a little bit out of the norm for the sub, but I could not think of anywhere else to ask.

But I’m an undergraduate researcher doing a Vermiremediation project, and I recently got a new shipment of worms. I went through my usually process of counting them and placing them in temporary pots.

And during a check this morning I found this guy sitting not completely buried under the soil. He’s still alive and moving but it seems to be more lethargic than a usual worm. The white segmented bit seems to wriggle and move, but it doesn’t seem to actually aid in its movement.

I guess really want to know if this a genetic deformity of it really did just mutilate one of my babies in the transfer :(

I know these smaller subs tend to not pop off as much in responses but hopefully the Reddit warriors come to my aid today

4 Upvotes

76% Upvoted

5 comments sorted by

1

u/BarracudaOver9245 10h ago

I think its a coccon sliding off the worm

4

u/Ladybug966 12h ago

The worm looks healthy but something happened to the butt. Maybe something got wrapped around it like a hair.

I thought at first it might be protein poisoning, but no. It is some kind of trauma.

1

u/Far_Radish7752 11h ago

Coloration in the head also appears abnormal. Very pale and swollen. Wouldn’t rule out beginning stages of protein poisoning.

0

u/hungryworms 10h ago

I do think it could be protein poisoning just in the beginning before the intestine totally ruptures

0

u/TriteEscapism 11h ago

It's a numbers game. You can't work with them and be too upset about hurting one. As a biologist you need to understand that something like burning prairie kills animals but actually makes the habitat in the holistic macro.