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Thread: Do you raise your own European nightcrawlers for bait?

  1. #1
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    Default Do you raise your own European nightcrawlers for bait?


    If so, do you have any suggestions on how I should pick from among the various folks selling them online for my starters? There are quite a few more vendors than I anticipated, and I'm a bit bewildered.

    And do you know of any particularly good online primer for raising this worm species? I've seen bits of information offered here and there, but unfortunately when I piece them together they don't always agree.

    Finally, have you learned any tips/tricks you can pass on from your experience raising them that I might not find in any primer?

    Not interested in other worm species, nor in artificials that could take the place of worms in fishing. (I'll be raising them for both fishing bait and aquarium fish food.)

    Thanks!

    Gerry

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    5 gal bin from container store

    dirt + shredded bills + water

    I feed them chicken pellets, ground fine with coffee grinder, wetted, couple time a week ($10 dollar bag tractor supply last forever)

    uncle jim's for worms


    easy af
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    lots of vids on youtube


    I chose not to use food scraps/compost; cleaner easier, no bugs
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    Quote Originally Posted by gbin View Post
    If so, do you have any suggestions on how I should pick from among the various folks selling them online for my starters? There are quite a few more vendors than I anticipated, and I'm a bit bewildered.

    And do you know of any particularly good online primer for raising this worm species? I've seen bits of information offered here and there, but unfortunately when I piece them together they don't always agree.

    Finally, have you learned any tips/tricks you can pass on from your experience raising them that I might not find in any primer?

    Not interested in other worm species, nor in artificials that could take the place of worms in fishing. (I'll be raising them for both fishing bait and aquarium fish food.)

    Thanks!

    Gerry
    https://www.crappie.com/crappie/live...ds-bait-worms/
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    Gerry - If you are interested in raising worms for bait then join the private group "Raising Worms for Bait". It's free and there are reputable people there that can help you. I am raising red wigglers and European nightcrawlers (enc) and some native nightcrawlers. The best worm food that you can use is rabbit manure, horse manure/hay, cow manure/hay in that order. I am raising my worms in and outside bed that is 3' X 7' x 3' made of concrete blocks. You can raise them indoors to keep them warm during the winter but it would be best that you put a light on them so they don't escape. Jesse Tolliver started the group this Spring and he is very reputable and he has also recommended other reputable companies that sell worms. I speak from experience DO NOT buy worms from Uncle Jim's. 3 years ago I bought my start of red wigglers from Uncle Jim's and 2 weeks ago I realized that they had sold me blue worms instead which is a skinny and brittle invasive worm. I have to now start over. I have also heard of other horror stories from people that have bought from Uncle Jim's. Join the " Raising Worms for Bait" group and you will be happy and will learn alot, as I did. Most importantly, you won't get taken advantage of because you are new at this. Good Luck!
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    Jesse goes by THEPERCHKILLER.

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    Quote Originally Posted by gbin View Post
    I'll be raising them for both fishing bait and aquarium fish food.
    FWIW, I’d rather have meal worms for both.

    Better bait and easier to raise.

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    Huh, I can't imagine why I hadn't yet found that. Thanks, Techno!

    Quote Originally Posted by cricket george View Post
    Gerry - If you are interested in raising worms for bait then join the private group "Raising Worms for Bait". It's free and there are reputable people there that can help you. I am raising red wigglers and European nightcrawlers (enc) and some native nightcrawlers. The best worm food that you can use is rabbit manure, horse manure/hay, cow manure/hay in that order. I am raising my worms in and outside bed that is 3' X 7' x 3' made of concrete blocks. You can raise them indoors to keep them warm during the winter but it would be best that you put a light on them so they don't escape. Jesse Tolliver started the group this Spring and he is very reputable and he has also recommended other reputable companies that sell worms. I speak from experience DO NOT buy worms from Uncle Jim's. 3 years ago I bought my start of red wigglers from Uncle Jim's and 2 weeks ago I realized that they had sold me blue worms instead which is a skinny and brittle invasive worm. I have to now start over. I have also heard of other horror stories from people that have bought from Uncle Jim's. Join the " Raising Worms for Bait" group and you will be happy and will learn alot, as I did. Most importantly, you won't get taken advantage of because you are new at this. Good Luck!
    That's the Facebook group mentioned in another thread, right? I'll join it.

    Thanks for the tips (including the warning about Uncle Jim's - that's just the kind of thing I want to avoid, to be sure), George!

    Quote Originally Posted by deathb4disco View Post
    FWIW, I’d rather have meal worms for both.

    Better bait and easier to raise.
    I guess my original post should have said "Not interested in other worm species OR BEETLE LARVAE," db4d. ;^]

    Gerry

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    Quote Originally Posted by gbin View Post
    I guess my original post should have said "Not interested in other worm species OR BEETLE LARVAE," db4d. ;^]
    I figured. I just thought I’d throw it out there.

    I’m just not a worm fan. Haven’t used them in decades.

    OTOH, I love larva!
    Likes gbin LIKED above post

  10. #10
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    DB4D - i' ve got solder fly larvae in my worm bed also. Thanks to you mentioning them awhile back I have several bluegills on them.

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