#stringy

Inktober Day 24-25: Stringy, Crystal

Monty gifting Carmin with a beautiful crystal necklace ❤️

I recently joined a string worm owners discord server and I realized the sheer amount of miss conceptions about owning worms so I am here to help give some info regarding the proper care and ownership of a string worm to help set the record straight in the form of a little Q and A with questions I've gotten from the server.

Q: Can my worm be happy without a proper enclosure?

A: While it is possible to care for a worm even if it doesn't have an enclosure, it is better for it to have its own safe space. Here are some tips for setting up a proper home for your stringy.

• A shoe box should be large enough to care for a standard size string worm.

• String worms are actually super sensitive to temperature so I suggest getting it proper bedding. Propper bedding can be many things but the most common and cheapest to find would be either confetti or shredded papper. Bedding should be colorfull, thats why I recommend confettii but you can also buy shredded papper from your local dollar store.

• I would suggest to adding a solo cup as a little space it can retreat into when it feels threatened.

Q: Do string worms need to eat?

A: The answer to this is, No. While yes they can eat, they actually don't require any nutritional supplements. If you do want to give your worm a treat I suggest feeding it sprinkles. Make sure that if you do feed it sprinkles though that they are the small spherical kind, not the long kind as they can get stuck in your worm and cause it much discomfort and distress. Also put it in a low rimmed dish.

Q: Can I put multiple worms in the same enclosure or do I need to separate them?

A: If you do decide to adopt more then one worm you can put them in the same enclosure. They are perfectly together fine aslong as they where well socialized as a youngling. I dont recomend putting more then 5 in a single enclosure though, because then it gets a little crouded for them. There are some exceptions to this though with some breeds being more territorial then others.

Q: Are there different breeds of worm?

A: There are multiple different types of stringys out there. Here are a few breeds that are most common.

• Dallery

Dalleries are probably more of the most common and sadly most often mistreated type of worm. The reason why they are so widely mistreated is due to the fact that they can be bought at the dollar store fairly cheaply. Because of this often times children will buy them and then throw them away when they get bored. They can make awesome pets though if they are properly trained.

• Strike

The strike is a less common but pretty breed. They have a very distinctive striped coat.They can have some behavioral problems and are more difficult to train but are very pretty and are often show animals. The reason for their behavioral problems is because they are usually more aggressive and territorial and if they feel threatened, they will attack your other worms. When you first adopt them I suggest keeping them separate from others, if you have any, and slowly introducing them to the others. If they are slowly introduced they are less likely to feel threatened and will eventually get along with them.

• Giganrie

Giganries are the largest breed of string worms often stretching upto 3 to 6 feet in length. I personally don't have any of my own but I have a friend who is a seasoned Giganrie owner and has shaired some of their experiences with me. Giganries are a specialty species that have to be carefully bred by seasoned professionals. While normal stringies are very simple to care for once you know the ropes, giganries are often filled with surprises. They are a far more affectionate breed and often prefer to sleep with their owners at night. They often take up alot of space so if you are living in a small house or apartment I don't suggest getting one. They are far more likely to get injured amd may require medical attention but its normal nothing that can't be handled with alittle TLC. If you are considering getting one I would look around and find a responsible breeder.

Q: Do worms require attention?

A: Just like any pet worms require attention. Depending on the breed they can either require alot or alittle attention. It also depends on their personality. If they are an outgoing worm they require alot of attention and vice versa. In the end I recommend forming a close bond with your worm and getting to know them or their habits.