I am going to build a worm bed and was curious if anyone had suggestions on bedding materials and what a good depth to have the bedding would be? Any other tips would also be appreciated.
Thanks
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I am going to build a worm bed and was curious if anyone had suggestions on bedding materials and what a good depth to have the bedding would be? Any other tips would also be appreciated.
Thanks
Hey EJones1961,
Happy New Year. Check out this thread. It has been discussed here a few times. http://www.crappie.com/gr8vb3/showth...light=redworms
http://www.crappie.com/gr8vb3/showth...light=redworms
Hope this helps a little.
Thanks Ship I had read one of those threads but not the other. Last week I had visited my dad in south Georgia and someone had built him a bed out of one of the 250 gallon totes it was cut in half, his bedding was about 1 foot deep. His bedding was peat moss and peanut shells mixed together. He feeds them layer crumbles chicken feed and sprinkles it on top just a little at a time. He had drain holes cut in the bottom with several layers of wire screen over them keeping the worms in. he keeps a 15 watt light over the top and that keeps the worms from leaving. He wets it down once a week. He probably had at least 25000 worms in it a mixture of red and black wigglers. He started the bed in February with 3000.
I have some peat moss but no peanut shells and was curious what would be something good to mix in the bedding. I thought about trying rice hulls or something like that. Having his bedding 1 foot deep worked good for him , I do not have enough room for a 250 gallon tote for a worm bed and was considering using the top half of a 55 gallon drum and was trying to get an idea of how deep other people keep the bedding in their beds.
Sorry for being so long winded but this might give a better idea of what I am doing. I brought back a 1 gallon ice cream bucket full of worms and bedding probably at least 750 worms if not more to start a bed with.
Thanks.
My worm bed(s) were made out of two large plastic laundry totes from Walmart. Cut some drainage holes in them and cover and seal the holes with really fine wire screening to keep the worms in. I had not heard of p-nut shells. I suppose they do they same job as shredded cardboard giving the worms something to eat. I usually just feed mine vegetable (lettuce) or fruit scraps (bananas, pears or grapes) and they are happy as a lark. I put a little in the corners so they can find it and cover the food back up with soil. They need the soil moist to help with the reproduction process, but not overly wet. I guess these containers are about 2.5 feet deep, 3.0 feet across and 4.0 feet long.
When I get ready to go fishing, I put some in my bucket http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/d...dwigglers2.jpg http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/d...dwigglers1.jpg and I am off Bluegill fishing.
half spargum peatmoss and half processed cow manure
My nightcrawler bed is about a foot deep. I purchased some kind of bedding that looks like insulation but mixed with water it beads into black looking dirt. Its a pain in the neck to mix, because it floats and it must be squeezed and worked to soak it, but once you have it its great - stays damp a long time. I feed the crwlers once a week with food that stuff comes with - they come up and really eat the stuff. I use only nightcrawlers for wormharness fishing for summer walleye. Another trick to toughen your worms 24 hours b4 using wash them and put them in the frig overnite in water, they live in water (not mud) and change water during the day from the lake when using - the worms leftover can be put back in the beds. No messy hands and it really toughens them and they do live in water.
Just an idea...If your really wanted peanut shells...you probally could talk to a manager at certain restaraunts (Logans Roadhouse) they probally would give you all you want...you might have to soak them in water and dry them....to remove the salt from hulls. Depending what part of the country your in...it might be another restaraunt where they feed you peanuts and you throw the hulls on the floor.
i actually just save the darn things worms come in at bait shops then fill them after a good rain and stick in fridge
I hope they are well labeled. They could end up in soup or gumbo :D :D if you're not careful and fully awake while cooking.Quote:
Originally Posted by john h
Man, everytime I log in I get a new "project" idea - now I think I need a worm set up...my little ones love to bluegill fish - keeps so active all summer - 2.50 or more for a dozen night crawlers gets a little pricey...
I like the idea of just gatering them up after rains, but we don't have very thick/big ones here...plus, do you all find if they are in the fridge too long they go bad...
I have raised worms before ,all i did was go out in cow pasture with shovel fill wash tub with manure.Put washtub under shed,kept manure moist,threw in a can of worms and that was it.I guess they fed on what was in cow manure,as long as i remembered to keep tub damp i had red worms
What they come shipped in has no food source for them ... so they'll starve to death in a few weeks. They need something to feed on, and they need cool conditions ... not cold. You can read these, too - - - http://www.google.com/search?q=feedi...e7&rlz=1I7DKUSQuote:
Originally Posted by wannagofishin
... cp :cool:
Quote:
Originally Posted by wannagofishin
I'm not sure what kind of small worms you find after your rains Wanngo, but if they look like small nightcrawlers, they are excellent bait. In fact, I prefer them to cutting/breaking nightcrawlers into pieces.
For keeping them in the refrigerator, I use newspaper torn into strips and moistened. Check them occasionally (every week or so) and change paper if it smells sour. Also remove any dead or sickly worms you see. You'll find that eventually they actually eat the paper.
I'll go out later and see if I can find some and post a pic to see if this is what you find.
i have keep them in fridge a few months at a tme and they havent gone bad, after bout 3-4 months you can tell thye need something to eat tho they get a little less plumpQuote:
Originally Posted by wannagofishin
Worms love shredded paper. Any kind. They will eat leftoves you don't eat. Just don't put any meat in there. They are voracious little feeders.
Several years ago and friend and I started a worm bed. We went to a corn meal milling plant nearby and bought 20 lb bags of cornmeal which we used to feed with. After ever watering we would dust the top of he bed with the meal. Worms grew great and would double in numbers about every month or so.
I think I may start one up -
So, can I just 'build the bed' and then buy a dozen worms at the bait shop and put them in, feed/water them, and expect to have more and more in there???
Probably do it if that's the case, my kiddo can go through a lot of worms on a trip!
Might see about getting some small styrofoam cups and lids so I can load up a couple dozen each time I head to the lake (it's 3 hours away for me - not a short trip)
Guys, forget the worms. Although I'm a dyed-in-the-wool maggot fan now, my #2 bait is the mealworm. They last for months with MINIMAL care. They're clean, dry, and the perfect size. And gills love 'em.
I haven't been much of a worm fisher for a while. Just wanted to see if I could raise them as easy as my dad was. Plus my 6 year old son is fascinated by them.
[QUOTE=wannagofishin]I think I may start one up -
So, can I just 'build the bed' and then buy a dozen worms at the bait shop and put them in, feed/water them, and expect to have more and more in there??
Yes, thats what I did.
Putting moist/wet burlap on top of the soil will help keep the soil moist. You can also buy your son a rabbit and build a pit under the hutch. The worms will thrive in the rabbit droppings. Pop