How to Raise Earthworms & Nightcrawlers
There are thousands of species of earthworms but only a few you can raise economically. Worms generally fall into two types, worms that live in soil and worms that live in decaying matter such as compost. Soil-dwelling worms rely on a large network of tunnels and they don't do well when their burrows are being dug up or disturbed. Compost dwelling worms are much easier to raise. A nightcrawler is just a large worm and there are a few species that do well in compost. Compost-dwelling worms do best in a raised bin, which you can buy or make yourself.
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Things You'll Need
- 2 plastic storage bins
- Electric drill or soldering iron
- 4 to 6 blocks of Styrofoam at least 2 inches tall
- Shredded newspaper or cardboard
- Water
- Handful of crushed egg shells or fine sand
Instructions
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Obtain two equal-sized plastic storage bins. Choose a size appropriate to the area where you will be keeping the bin. You can buy them at most home improvement stores.
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2
Drill or melt holes in one of the bins with an electric drill or soldering iron, spaced about 2 inches apart. This is so water will drain out of the bin if the bedding gets too wet, preventing the worms from drowning.
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Place the blocks of styrofoam in the bottom of the other bin. The second bin acts as a reservoir for the drained water. The styrofoam keeps the drilled bin from sitting in the water.
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4
Shred newspaper or cardboard into small pieces and place it in the drilled bin. Fill the bin about halfway. You can always add more later.
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Place the drilled bin into the undrilled bin and wet down the shredded paper with water. The material should be moist, but no excess water should come out when you squeeze it in your hand.
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Drill or melt air holes in the lid of one of the bins for air exchange.
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Crumble some egg shells on top of the paper, or add fine sand. The worms need grit in their gizzard to digest their food.
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Add your worms to the top of the bedding. Remove and discard any that do not disappear into the bedding within an hour.
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Place the bins in an area where they will not receive full sun. Too much heat can cook the worms.
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Feed the worms scraps such as coffee grounds, yard waste, and food scraps.
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Tips & Warnings
If your bin will be outside and you live in an area where there is a lot of rain, you can put the holes in the side of the bin instead. This will prevent too much water from getting in, but you will need to water the bin more frequently.
Red worms and European nightcrawlers are good choices. They do well in bins and reach sizes large enough to be used for fishing bait.
Avoid feeding worms meat and dairy products, or feces. They will stink and draw pests.
References
- Photo Credit worm image by Ksenija Djurica from Fotolia.com
