I got worms. Started my ranch and still have questions

[shipahoy41]

By the way....Retired RR posted these thoughte many years ago on the forum. I still refer to his thoughts. They might help someone else so I am quoting him here again. He was answering someone who want to raise red wigglers in an aquairium.


"Raised worms commercially, and sold worms starting other commercial worm farmers. Also sold boxed worms to bait stands to sell.
Your idea will work, but I have always used a simple light bulb to provide heat and the light bulb serves another purpose. The light
keeps the worms from escaping. That being said, if the lights go out, the worms will escape. Now, start the bedding shallow to begin
with. Only takes about 3" of bedding consisting of dried cow manure or horse manure. Cut the manure with 1/2 compost or peat.
If you use 2" of manure, finish with 1" of peat or compost. This will get you started. Yes, the light bulb will dry the bedding, so......
since you have a heating element, use it and fill the pvc with water and keep the bedding wet enough to keep the worms from
dehydrating. If you pick up a handful of bedding and can barely squeeze water from it, it is just about the right amount of moisture.
Start with only one container of worms. Worm of choice was the Hybrid Red Wiggler. The most hardy of all fishing worms. Never change
your bedding because you want the eggs to mature and hatch. Worm eggs look like okra seed and about the same size. There will be
@ 15 to 20 worms per egg, so they multiply rapidly. Feed all worms lettuce, cornbread scraps, green/wet horse or cow manure, and
due to ph factors, never place too many coffee grounds on the bedding. Never mix the food into the bed, always feed on top.
Soaked cardboard will sustain worms easier than any other type of food products, but..........it must be soaked until it is a mush.
Worms thrive on the glue product in cardboard (corrugated only) Solid cardboard will not serve any purpose. Moisture is the most
important issue you will face. In time you will notice the bedding will settle and the worms will actually eat the bedding. Add more
bedding to the top only, mixture as mentioned above. Anything you feed that is green will generate heat in your worm bed. It may
not seem like much, but it does provide some heat. You can have too hot of bed, so regulate as close as possible to 60-80 degrees.
Start small and by the end of the winter, you will have a full aquarium and many, many worms to last you all spring. Worms will work
the bedding from top (while feeding) all the way to the bottom. The moisture will stay on the bottom, and the bedding will always
be cooler on the bottom. That is why it is best not to mix the food into the bedding. Allow the worms to adjust to the temps they
like best. If you ever find worms on the sides of the glass, the bedding is too hot or too wet. If too wet, add dry material to the top
but do not mix into the bedding. Any questions, feel free to ask.
Oh, btw..........never separate two worm knotted together. they tie themselves in a knot to reproduce. All worms have bands around
the neck and this is where the egg comes from. All worms are bi, meaning all worms reproduce, therefore they multiply rapidly.
If anyone can dispute this info, please tell me how many hearts worms have............and I will believe you. No fair looking back to
previous posts."

[shipahoy41]

By the way....Retired RR posted these thoughte many years ago on the forum. I still refer to his thoughts. They might help someone else so I am quoting him here again. He was answering someone who want to raise red wigglers in an aquairium.


"Raised worms commercially, and sold worms starting other commercial worm farmers. Also sold boxed worms to bait stands to sell.
Your idea will work, but I have always used a simple light bulb to provide heat and the light bulb serves another purpose. The light
keeps the worms from escaping. That being said, if the lights go out, the worms will escape. Now, start the bedding shallow to begin
with. Only takes about 3" of bedding consisting of dried cow manure or horse manure. Cut the manure with 1/2 compost or peat.
If you use 2" of manure, finish with 1" of peat or compost. This will get you started. Yes, the light bulb will dry the bedding, so......
since you have a heating element, use it and fill the pvc with water and keep the bedding wet enough to keep the worms from
dehydrating. If you pick up a handful of bedding and can barely squeeze water from it, it is just about the right amount of moisture.
Start with only one container of worms. Worm of choice was the Hybrid Red Wiggler. The most hardy of all fishing worms. Never change
your bedding because you want the eggs to mature and hatch. Worm eggs look like okra seed and about the same size. There will be
@ 15 to 20 worms per egg, so they multiply rapidly. Feed all worms lettuce, cornbread scraps, green/wet horse or cow manure, and
due to ph factors, never place too many coffee grounds on the bedding. Never mix the food into the bed, always feed on top.
Soaked cardboard will sustain worms easier than any other type of food products, but..........it must be soaked until it is a mush.
Worms thrive on the glue product in cardboard (corrugated only) Solid cardboard will not serve any purpose. Moisture is the most
important issue you will face. In time you will notice the bedding will settle and the worms will actually eat the bedding. Add more
bedding to the top only, mixture as mentioned above. Anything you feed that is green will generate heat in your worm bed. It may
not seem like much, but it does provide some heat. You can have too hot of bed, so regulate as close as possible to 60-80 degrees.
Start small and by the end of the winter, you will have a full aquarium and many, many worms to last you all spring. Worms will work
the bedding from top (while feeding) all the way to the bottom. The moisture will stay on the bottom, and the bedding will always
be cooler on the bottom. That is why it is best not to mix the food into the bedding. Allow the worms to adjust to the temps they
like best. If you ever find worms on the sides of the glass, the bedding is too hot or too wet. If too wet, add dry material to the top
but do not mix into the bedding. Any questions, feel free to ask.
Oh, btw..........never separate two worm knotted together. they tie themselves in a knot to reproduce. All worms have bands around
the neck and this is where the egg comes from. All worms are bi, meaning all worms reproduce, therefore they multiply rapidly.
If anyone can dispute this info, please tell me how many hearts worms have............and I will believe you. No fair looking back to
previous posts."