Raising Nightcrawlers

[tbone2374]

Anyone have any suggestions on starting a nightcrawler bed. Inside/outside, old fridge or styrafoam cooler... I've tried it all. I just can't seem to keep a consistent bed going. I'm just north of houston, so we have a tremendous weather swing in temps! Thanks, for any suggestions.

[funbun]

Do you know which species of worm you have?

I raised Eisenia hortensis, a.k.a. Eurpoean nightcrawlers, for fishing as well as for their worm poop. Their poop is the best fertilizer known to man, and it doesn't stink. It smells like dirt. I've used them in my garden. I plan to put my worm bins right out into the garden. That way they can fertilize and condition raised beds for me.

The European nightcrawler can withstand a variety of temperature extremes, whereas, say, African nightcrawlers tend to die off if it drops below 70 degrees.

Euros are good for fishing in that they are about as long as your standard red worm, but a whole lot thicker. They can survive in brackish water for a long time, and they move a lot.

There's a bunch of us over at Vermicomposting, worm bin, composting with worms community and forums. Check it out. We raise a variety of worms mostly for their poop and disposing of kitchen wastes to reduce garbage bills.