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

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

lots of vids on youtube


I chose not to use food scraps/compost; cleaner easier, no bugs

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Originally Posted by gbin

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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https://www.crappie.com/crappie/live...ds-bait-worms/

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!

Jesse goes by THEPERCHKILLER.

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Originally Posted by gbin

I'll be raising them for both fishing bait and aquarium fish food.

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FWIW, I’d rather have meal worms for both.

Better bait and easier to raise.

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Originally Posted by Techno2000

https://www.crappie.com/crappie/live...ds-bait-worms/

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

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Originally Posted by cricket george

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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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!

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Originally Posted by deathb4disco

FWIW, I’d rather have meal worms for both.

Better bait and easier to raise.

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

Gerry

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Originally Posted by gbin

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

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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! :crazy:

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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Originally Posted by cricket george

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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You're very welcome. If I was gonna raise bait, it would be soldier fly larvae.

Don’t buy from uncle Jim’s

No Luck - You are learning a lesson that many people have learned the hard way. Myself included. MANY people have been burned by Uncle Jim's. Go join "raising worms for bait" on FACEBOOK and you will find helpful people and reputable worm breeders.