How to Raise Canadian Nightcrawlers

A tub of Canadian nightcrawlers.

Though potentially more difficult to care for than some worms, many fisherman still enjoy using the Canadian nightcrawler. With sizes that reach up to 14 inches, the worm can easily be attached to fish hooks and used as bait for many varieties of fish. Despite their more finicky living conditions, Canadian nightcrawlers can still be fairly easy to care for with practice.

Things You'll Need

• Small bucket or tub
• Gravel and sand
• Potting soil
• Fish tank thermometer
• Refrigerator
• Canadian nightcrawlers
• Organic food matter
• Bottled water

Instructions

1. Obtain a container that will fit in your refrigerator, such as a small plastic bucket or tub. Fill the bottom of the container with gravel and sand for drainage. Then fill the container with potting soil or other bedding, such as peat moss or decaying plant matter. Bedding should be at least 6- to 8-inches deep.

2. Put a fish tank thermometer in the container, then store the container in your fridge. Keep the temperature in the bucket at 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Make sure to keep temperature below 65 degrees.

3. Purchase Canadian nightcrawlers and pour them into your refrigerated container at home. The worms can be found at bait shops or even at Walmart. You may store up to 1 lb. of nightcrawlers for every square foot of bedding in your container.

4. Feed your nightcrawlers by sprinkling food over the top of the dirt. Canadian nightcrawlers eat greens such as leaf and grass clippings, as well as other organic material, including fruit and vegetable peelings or coffee and tea grounds. Do not worry about overfeeding the nightcrawlers.

5. Check your nightcrawlers every two to three days. Remove any old or rotting food. Moisten bedding by sprinkling bottled water over the top. Keep bedding damp but not too watery.

6. Aerate the nightcrawlers' bedding by flipping or turning the dirt every two to four weeks. Ten percent of the bedding should be removed and replaced with new bedding every four to six months.

Tips & Warnings

• You may place a lid on your nightcrawler container, but poke air holes in it. Nightcrawlers do need to breathe. Remove and replace the lid every other day to freshen air.

• 1. Minimize the time the nightcrawlers spend out of refrigeration. Do not leave the container out for longer than five minutes. 2. Make sure none of the materials used in your bedding have been treated with pesticides or chemical fertilizers. 3. Do not allow rotten or molding food to sit with the nightcrawlers.

References

• Raising Canadian Nightcrawlers
• Canadian Nightcrawler Information and Care