How to Raise Your Own Nightcrawlers

Night crawler is a common term used to refer to a certain kind of earthworm. Generally, night crawlers are larger worms used as bait for fishing; however, they can also be raised for their castings, or feces, which act as a great fertilizer. Whether you are raising night crawlers for personal use or to turn a profit, you will need to follow a few simple steps to ensure your night crawlers remain healthy.

Things You'll Need

  • Night crawler bed
  • Topsoil
  • Water
  • Night crawlers
  • Organic food
  • pH test
  • Limestone
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Instructions

    • 1

      Construct a bed for your night crawlers to live in. The bed should be between 16 inches and 24 inches in depth. The exact measurements are up to you, as are the materials; however, you should avoid pressure-treated woods, since these contain toxic chemicals. The size and materials depend on the number of night crawlers you intend to raise and for what purpose. If you prefer, you can make the bed in-ground or you can leave it above ground.

    • 2

      Loosely fill your bed with soil. Do not over pack the soil in. Night crawlers like to have loose soil to burrow in. You can use soil from around your home if it is not clay or sandy. Or you can purchase topsoil from a garden supply store. Be sure whatever type of soil you choose, it does not contain added fertilizers.

    • 3

      Check the moisture of your soil by squeezing some in your hand. Your soil is too dry if less than two drops of water escape. If this is the case, add more water. Do not drench the water. If your soil is too moist, avoid watering it for several days.

    • 4

      Place anywhere from 100 to 500 night crawlers into your prepared bed for every square foot of soil.

    • 5

      Provide your night crawlers with organic food. Place fruits and vegetables on top of the soil. You can also use paper that has no coloring. Place 1 inch of soil on top of the food. This will cause microorganisms to decompose the food and your night crawlers will begin to eat. Add additional food once the first serving is gone.

    • 6

      Keep the temperature between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Adjust heating or cooling of the bed as necessary to ensure worm survival. Also, use a pH test to check the acidity of the soil. Worms do best in a soil with a pH of 6 to 7. Every three weeks, add some limestone to the soil to help keep the pH right.

    • 7

      Add additional soil to the bed every three months. Two to 3 inches of additional soil should be enough, depending on your worms' development. Once a year, completely empty the bed and replace it with fresh soil.