Raising your own nightcrawlers?

[Slyster]

I don't know anything about worms.. but my brother up in Moorhead is interested in saving some money raising his own nightcrawlers.

Can they be raised at home? Any tips or products?

[PerchJerker]

I have done it in the past. Either caught my own crawlers or just kept everyone I bought that I didn't use.

Most important thing when keeping them is to keep them cool and moist - heat will wipe them out quickly. Too much moisture is also no good. The worm food and worm bedding that you can buy at stores works fine and has good directions on the packaging.

Couple things you need to be prepared for is that crawlers are surprisingly good at escaping - not many of them get out, but it seems like you always find 1 or 2 in places where they shouldn't be. And because the bedding is damp it can get moldy. And between the mold and dead worms you can get some odors that aren't the most pleasant.

I have kept crawlers in big styrofoam coolers and in commercially available crawler-hauler type containers. Both work.

[carverfshrmn]

I Have raised my own in the past too, they like coffe grounds! Really, but I used compost from the yard, makes great bedding and can be reused for the yard, Put a couple dozen in and in a few months will have all you can use! Just keep them warm in winter with a small heating pad under the container! By spring you could be selling them,LOL.

[Guest]

I used to raise them. I had made a large bunk-bed looking contraption that I got plans for from a book. It had 2 bedas about the size of toddler beds (2 1/2x4). It was equipped with drains so the extra moisure would drain rather than cause mold. I kept it in my basement which was plenty cool (about 67 degrees). I had great results using commercial bedding like Buss and Magic worm bedding. Its best to mix up the bedding and let it sit for a day before using it.

I eventually killed my crawlers by using a new type of bedding. I followed the instructions I got for making it to a T, but many types of beddings including compost create heat for a period of time until they settle.. well .. about 10 flats of cooking crawlers doesnt smell too good!

There are several types of crawlers that can be raised. There is lots of information out there, you have to pay for some of it, but its well worth it if you are serious about raising crawlers. Most crawlers reproduce at a fast pace in a good environment and some varieties grow very quickly... other varieties grow to a few feet long(african nightcrawlers).

Lots of trial and error.. good luck!

[Slyster]

Do these actually reproduce and multiply? he doesn't just want to keep them but breed them... so he never needs to buy them again.

[carverfshrmn]

They sure do, if you do it right, I used to raise them and redworms all the time, may get back into it now that I have a place to do it. When you are turning the soil, be careful, because you will see these little brown balls, those are the eggs! If he starts now, could have them bredding in a month, I have my bother send me some from n/Ca

and use them to start, mix with the local strain out here, if you want e-mail me at terrychoppers1@yahoo,com