- Fruit Waste - Non Citrus (Apples, grapes, bananas, plums, peaches, pumpkin)
- Vegetable Waste (carrots, lettuce, beans, peas, limited amounts of potatoes, leaf vegetables)
- Egg shells - In moderation and best when crushed up a bit.
- Coffee Grounds (Filters too) - An excellent worm food, but again in moderation
- Tree leaves - Yes in moderation, stick to common species, avoid exotic tree leaves
- Cardboard - Yes, shredded cardboard doubles as food and bedding.
- Garden Waste - Bean stalks, pea vines, beet tops,
- Starchy- Yes in moderations (Pasta, potatoes, rice, grains)
- Aged animal manure - Yes, it's best to stick with horse manure in the beginning.
- Commercial worm food, (Worm Chow etc...) Just start sparingly to supplement
What is the best thing to feed Nightcrawlers?
Therefore, they can digest food faster if it is:
- Soft
- Cut into small pieces, with a knife or food processor
- Somewhat moist
- Buried in the bin – just below the surface for Red composting worms
Can you feed cornmeal to Night Crawler worms?
You can also feed night crawlers a mixture of ground corn, cornmeal and commercially sold worm food. The New York Chamber of Commerce advises residents to feed night crawlers cornmeal or bits of cracker crumbs to maintain the colony.
What will fish eat Nightcrawlers?
Worms are a part of the natural diet of carnivorous fish. They find and gobble earthworms more often than you might think. Hence, when worms are presented to them in the form of bait, they most often result in a catch. Nightcrawler, being healthy and chunky, does manage to attract a wide variety of fish.
How to catch Nightcrawlers easy?
- Wait for the Sun to go down
- Hose down the front yard
- Use a flashlight to spot them
- When you see them don’t hold the light directly on the worm or the worm will take off back into the hole he came out of.
- Brush the light over them to see his holes location
- Before he gets down the hole again grab him
What do you feed African nightcrawlers?
African night crawlers literally gobble up decaying matter. Watching a few hundred ANCs feed on some fruit or vegetable scraps is an amazing thing, we have simply not seen any composting worm pounce on food in this way.
How do you take care of an African Nightcrawler?
African Nightcrawlers must stay warm, and will die if kept below 60°F for long periods of time. All worms need air circulation. All worms need a moist, but not overly wet, environment. Worms need bedding and food.
How much do African nightcrawlers eat?
They have huge appetites, they will eat up to 150% of their own body weight each day if given the proper environment and proper amount of food. They eat more food per day than any other composting worm.
What are the five basic things that worms African Nightcrawler needed?
The Five EssentialsBedding. Worms need a place to live. ... Food. Though bedding is already a source of food, it lacks nutrients needed for your worms to thrive. ... Air/Oxygen. Worms breathe through their moist skin and live on dissolved oxygen. ... Moisture. Worms breathe through their moist skin. ... Container.
How do you keep nightcrawlers healthy?
5:478:15Keeping Nightcrawlers Alive in a Worm Farm - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIf you don't have an aquarium. Go ahead and just let a glass water sit out for 24 hours so theMoreIf you don't have an aquarium. Go ahead and just let a glass water sit out for 24 hours so the chlorine comes out of it used to chlorinate water and add it to the mix.
Do nightcrawlers need air?
Worms do not have lungs. So long as they have access to enough air and moist skins, they will breathe easily. Worms make tunnels by eating their way through organic matter and soil.
What is the best thing to feed nightcrawlers?
Combine 1 pound of cornmeal with 1/2 pound of lard, mixed into the first 3 inches of worm bedding. You can also feed night crawlers a mixture of ground corn, cornmeal and commercially sold worm food.
What is the best food for worms?
The Best Worm Foods for Your SoilFruit peels (not citrus)Melon rinds.Carrots.Coffee grounds.Teabags (check if biodegradable)Bread.Cereal (unsweetened)Pasta (plain)More items...•
Do nightcrawlers eat coffee grounds?
Yes they do 🙂 But it can be difficult to work with in the bin. Coffee grounds are organic in matter, which makes it a perfect food source for worms. Yet, too much of a good thing always has the risk of throwing the conditions in your worm bin off kilter.
How long does it take nightcrawlers to multiply?
Night crawlers mature in 350 days and produce 38 cocoons per year per worm.
How often do nightcrawlers reproduce?
It's thought that night crawlers mate and lay eggs mainly in the spring and fall, when soil moisture levels tend to be higher. Each worm may mate and lay eggs several times each year, but they produce relatively few offspring per year, perhaps only 10-15 for each adult worm.
How many babies do nightcrawlers have?
Each cocoon may produce from 2 to 20 baby earthworms, which typically emerge about 3 weeks after the cocoon is shed. Egg hatch may be considerably extended if conditions are unfavorable. The young nightcrawlers form their own burrows, extending it as they grow.
How do you raise Nightcrawlers?
Set up a bin in which to house your nightcrawlers. A good starter size is 2 feet by 3 feet and at least 10 inches deep. ... Add worms to the bin. ... Top the bedding with soil. ... Feed the worms. ... Test the pH in your bin once a week. ... Check the temperature of your worm bins. ... Turn the bedding once every three weeks.
How fast do Nightcrawlers grow?
Night crawlers mature in 350 days and produce 38 cocoons per year per worm. These large worms are typically 8-10 inches in length. Earthworms can be grown in any container with adequate organic matter and drainage. Bedding materials must be deep enough to keep the earthworms cool and moist.
Are African Nightcrawlers invasive?
Damage caused by nightcrawlers Nightcrawlers and other earthworms are considered invasive species and damage forest floors. Never release an earthworm in a natural forest. If you use them for fishing bait, throw away any unused worms in the trash.
How many African night crawlers are in a pound?
250 wormsThe African Nightcrawlers are shipped in breathable bags and are breeder size. There are approximately 250 worms per pound.
What is an African Nightcrawler?
The African Nightcrawler, Eudrilus Eugeniae (Scientific Name), is truly an amazing composting worm. African Nightcrawlers have a unique coloring, being a mix of grey and purple. They have huge appetites, they will eat up to 150% of their own body weight each day if given the proper environment and proper amount of food. They eat more food per day than any other composting worm. I cannot say that I am familiar with all the operations in the United States that produce and sell large volumes of Worm Castings as their primary product, but out of all the ones that I know, I believe that the majority of them are using African Nightcrawlers to produce their Worm Castings. And, of course, this makes sense because they produce Worm Castings 2-3 times faster than the other composting worms.
What is worm casting?
Worm Castings are simply the best substance for gardens of any kind. Nothing will help your plants grow better, nothing will cause your plants to produce the best tasting, most nutritious produce, and nothing will help you produce more of that high-quality produce than anything else.
How many babies do red wigglers have?
If you look at the numbers it may appear that Red Wigglers reproduce faster, producing an average of 3 cocoons per week with 3 babies in each cocoon, in ideal conditions, of course, resulting in approximately 9 worms per week increase once hatched. African Nightcrawlers produce approximately 2-3 cocoons per week with 2-3 babies per cocoon averaging ...
Do African Nightcrawlers reproduce faster than European Nightcrawlers?
African Nightcrawlers possibly out reproduc e Red Wigglers and definitely reproduce faster than European Nightcrawlers . The only composting worm that I know of that reproduces faster than African Nightcrawlers is “Blue Worms” (Perionyx Excavatus), also a tropical worm. If you look at the numbers it may appear that Red Wigglers reproduce faster, producing an average of 3 cocoons per week with 3 babies in each cocoon, in ideal conditions, of course, resulting in approximately 9 worms per week increase once hatched. African Nightcrawlers produce approximately 2-3 cocoons per week with 2-3 babies per cocoon averaging out to about 6-7 worms per week. Now looking at these numbers would say that the Red Wiggler reproduces faster, but because the African Nightcrawler reaches breeding age faster, approximately 1-2 weeks sooner, there is the possibility that they may reproduce faster than Red Wigglers.
What is the best food for worms?
Egg shells - In moderation and best when crushed up a bit. Coffee Grounds (Filters too) - An excellent worm food, but again in moderation. Tree leaves - Yes in moderation, stick to common species, avoid exotic tree leaves. Cardboard - Yes, shredded cardboard doubles as food and bedding.
Where do African Night Crawlers live?
The ANC (Eudrilus Eugeniae) African Night Crawlers are native the warm regions of West Africa, but now vermicomposters in tropic and sub tropic climates all over the world are using them as composting and bait worms. Due to their voracious appetites and ability to quickly reproduce African night crawlers are quickly gaining popularity ...
How cold can an ANC survive?
While the ANC may not be very cold tolerant it does have the advantage of being able to withstand high temperatures. African night crawlers will thrive in beds that are 70F to 85F (21C - 29C). Researchers report that ANCs can tolerate temperatures of 90 F.
How long does it take for African Night Crawlers to mature?
Newly hatched Africans reach sexual maturity blindly fast, as worms go. In ideal conditions they become mature breeders in as little as 5 weeks. African night crawlers produce an average of up to 3.5 cocoons in a week. From each cocoon typically 2 hatchlings will emerge.
How to keep ANCs out of bin?
Then have a good tight lid on your bins and place a light above it to keep them under the bedding. Typical of all composting, or vermicomposting, worms ANCs come up to the surface of their bedding to eat decomposing matter.
What are the advantages of African Night Crawlers?
Advantages of African Night Crawlers. Some worm farmers feel ANCs are a high maintenance breed. However lots of folks report that ANCs are a joy to work with and are really very happy with them. Of course the most important thing to keep in mind is their vulnerability to the cold, which is explained in detail in coming paragraphs.
Do ANC worms need refrigeration?
Perhaps the greatest advantage for using the ANC as a bait worm is the fact they need no refrigeration. Most bait night crawlers must be refrigerated to be kept alive for any period of time; not the ANC. Africans reproduce and grow quickly. Scientific research revealed that ANCs grow more quickly than red worms.
Will worms eat worms that have died?
That’s a taboo subject among worms; they prefer not to discuss it. But, really, they seem to disintegrate quite quickly. Much quicker than the majority of the food leftovers in the garbage can. As a result, we don’t “see” worms eating dead worms (at least not in my experience), since the latter are already unidentifiable as worms.
How long do Nightcrawlers last in the refrigerator?
Do not keep them in the fridge! Nightcrawlers from Canada should be kept in the refrigerator. If there are any worms remaining after three weeks, they may be placed in new bedding for another three weeks.
If you cut a worm in half, would it grow back?
When an earthworm is split in half, it does not divide into two new worms. If the animal is severed behind the clitellum, the worm’s head may live and regrow its tail. However, the worm’s original tail will be unable to develop a new head (or the rest of its essential organs) and will perish.
What should worms not be fed?
Meat, citrus, onions, and dairy items should not be fed to the worms in excessive amounts. Your worms will not be harmed by these meals, but they will avoid them, and the leftovers will decay in the bin. The worms will consume their favorite meal first, but they also like diversity.
What is the best way to encourage worms to come to the surface?
Fill a bucket halfway with water and add some mild dish soap. Mix it up and apply it to a specific region. This is similar to the mustard concoction from before. Apparently, the soap irritates them and makes it difficult for them to breathe in the soil, causing them to burst to the surface and be dragged away by you.
How quickly do Nightcrawlers reproduce?
African Nightcrawlers create two to three cocoons each week, with two to three babies per cocoon, for a total of 6-7 worms per week.
Is it possible for worms to consume potato peels?
Potatoes are rich in solanine since they belong to the nightshade family. Solanine is a poisonous toxin that also serves as a pesticide. It’s no wonder, however, that compost worms shun the potato peels that are given to them. Potatoes, like all biological stuff, will break down and be changed over time.
How long should I feed worms?
The best way to feed your worms is to add small amounts and do not add more until it is gone. I typically recommend that you feed, then check in 3 days, if it is not all gone, then you fed too much, leave it, but don't feed again until it is gone. For your next feeding reduce the amount.
Why is it important to have good bedding for worms?
If you do not use the right bedding or enough of the right bedding your worms will struggle, not thrive, and they may even die. It really is that important. Good bedding helps provide the proper moisture level and oxygen level in the bin. It helps with their freedom of movement and it makes managing their environment easier on you, the worm farmer. Because bedding is high in carbon and low in nitrogen, it helps absorb any offensive odors that may bother you, even if it doesn't bother the worms. Also, certain kinds of bedding even act as a mild buffer for the worm's environment if the food you feed them increases the acidity level more than they like. Bedding is also a food source for them, they eat the richer foods than they eat some bedding, kind of like our meat and potatoes. They need both. So don’t be skimpy on the bedding. I have often heard that you cannot have too much bedding, and the longer I work with these amazing composting worms, the more I believe it.
What foods have nitrogen?
Foods that typically have higher quantities of nitrogen. Fruits and Vegetables, especially banana peels and zucchini. Used Coffee grounds and tea bags (make sure and get any staples out of the tea bag strings) Farm (herbivore) manures - after all, they are called manure worms.
Do worms need bedding?
Also, certain kinds of bedding even act as a mild buffer for the worm's environment if the food you feed them increases the acidity level more than they like. Bedding is also a food source for them, they eat the richer foods than they eat some bedding, kind of like our meat and potatoes. They need both.
How to feed night crawlers worm food?
Combine 1 pound of cornmeal with 1/2 pound of lard, mixed into the first 3 inches of worm bedding. You can also feed night crawlers a mixture of ground corn, cornmeal and commercially sold worm food. The New York Chamber of Commerce advises residents to feed night crawlers cornmeal or bits of cracker crumbs to maintain the colony.
What to feed worms?
Langston University School of Agriculture recommends feeding large worms such as night crawlers with a mixture of poultry or hog mash mixed with shortening or lard, with cornmeal a suggested substitute for the livestock food s. Combine 1 pound of cornmeal with 1/2 pound of lard, mixed into the first 3 inches of worm bedding .
What temperature do night crawlers die?
Night Crawler Biology. Night crawlers do best at temperatures around 68 degrees Fahrenheit, and soil moisture conditions of about 30 percent. If soil temperatures rise to or above 86 degrees for two weeks, the worms die. Temperatures below freezing also kill them.
How much can worms eat?
Worms maintained in cultures need frequent supplies of organic material -- they can eat up to one-third of their body weight each day. If you have captive worms, cornmeal has the advantage of being inexpensive and readily available.
Where did night crawlers come from?
Native to Europe, night crawlers were introduced to North America and western Asia, and the worms can reach 8 to 10 inches long. Captured worms kept for composting or bait need organic material for food, such as kitchen vegetable waste or animal manure, and you can feed them cornmeal if you choose.
What is a night crawler?
They can be home to a bounty of night crawlers (Lumbricus terrestris), which make good fishing bait. Native to Europe, night crawlers were introduced to North America and western Asia, and the worms can reach 8 to 10 inches long.
Do night crawlers die in freezing weather?
Temperatures below freezing also kill them . Night crawlers are most active after soaking rains or in drizzly weather when there are moderate temperatures. Worms are hermaphrodites, so each worm has both male and female reproductive systems. However, two different worms need to exchange eggs and sperm for reproduction to occur.
Physical Characteristics
- For the untrained eye, it is difficult to identify an African nightcrawler. It looks like almost all earthworms. On average, the length of African nightcrawlers is 6 to 12 inches when they are mature. They can even be larger! The length is comparable to European and Canadian nightcrawlers. The main difference, however, is that the African nightcrawler is smaller in terms …
How to Feed African Nightcrawlers
- Being voracious eaters, make sure that African nightcrawlers receive enough food. The amount of food to provide these worms will depend on how many pounds you have in a bin.
Reproduction
- With the quick reproduction rate of nightcrawlers, you do not need to wait a long time before they are ready for harvest. You can use it as a fishing bait shortly after starting the breeding process. With their very fast reproduction rate, you can expect two to three cocoons every week. Meanwhile, in every cocoon, there are two to three babies. Eac...
Raising African Night Crawlers
- If you intend to raise African nightcrawlers, one of the first things that you need to do is to create a worm bin. If that’s the case, then take note of the steps briefly mentioned below: 1. The first thing to do is to find a suitable container. Make sure that it is deep enough to accommodate soil and worm. The size will depend on how many worms you wish to raise. 2. Once the containers a…
Breeding
- African nightcrawlers are notable because they breed quickly. The breeding is faster compared to European and African nightcrawlers. It is best to keep them indoors when breeding, especially during the cold season. While they can tolerate near-freezing temperatures, the breeding stops at about 50 degrees Fahrenheit.