Best Bedding for European Nightcrawlers (Composting Guide)

If you want European Nightcrawlers to stay alive, grow big, and reproduce, bedding matters more than food.

I see more worms lost from bad bedding than from anything else.

European Nightcrawlers need special care, and if you’re new to this worm, start with my complete European Nightcrawlers composting guide before setting up bedding.

Short answer:
The best bedding for European Nightcrawlers is deep, loose, moist bedding made from shredded cardboard, aged leaves, and a small amount of peat or coco coir, with grit added for digestion.

Why Bedding Is So Important for European Nightcrawlers

European Nightcrawlers are not Red Wigglers.

They are:

• Bigger worms
• Slower breeders
• Deep burrowers

Because of this, they need different bedding.

If bedding is too tight, too wet, or too shallow, European Nightcrawlers get stressed. When worms get stressed, they stop eating, stop breeding, and try to escape.

What Makes European Nightcrawler Bedding Different?

European nightcrawler bedding is different from red wiggler bedding because these composting worms live deeper in the bin and need more airflow and structure.

This is why bedding that works for Red Wigglers often fails with European Nightcrawlers.

If you are deciding between species, see my full comparison of European Nightcrawlers vs Red Wigglers to understand bedding, feeding, and growth differences

Must Read : What to Feed European Nightcrawlers (Composting Guide)

 

Best Bedding Materials for European Nightcrawlers

Shredded Cardboard (Main Bedding)

Shredded cardboard is the best base bedding for European Nightcrawlers.

Why it works:

• Holds moisture
• Creates air pockets
• Breaks down slowly
• Easy to replace

Shred it thin, soak it, then squeeze it out before adding it to the worm bin.

Aged Leaves or Leaf Mold

Leaves help bedding act more like nature.

Best leaves:

• Oak
• Maple
• Sweet gum

Leaves improve airflow and help keep bedding loose. Avoid fresh green leaves or shiny leaves.

Peat Moss or Coco Coir (Small Amounts)

Peat moss or coco coir helps hold moisture evenly.

Use light amounts only. Too much can pack down and remove airflow. Always mix it with shredded cardboard.

Grit and Minerals (Do Not Skip This)

European Nightcrawlers need grit to digest food.

Good grit options:

• Crushed eggshells
• Oyster shell flour (I recommend)
• Calcium carbonate

Grit also helps control acidity and supports strong, healthy worms.

How Deep Should Bedding Be?

European Nightcrawlers need deep bedding.

• Minimum depth: 8 inches
• Best depth: 10 to 12 inches

Deep bedding helps reduce stress, control temperature, and support reproduction.

Bedding Moisture: The Squeeze Test

Bedding should feel like a wrung-out sponge.

To test:

1. Grab a handful of bedding
   
2. Squeeze hard
   
3. Only one or two drops should come out
   

If water runs out, bedding is too wet.
If it feels dry and crunchy, add moisture.

Can European Nightcrawlers Live in Shallow Bedding?

No.

European Nightcrawlers do not do well in shallow worm bin bedding. Shallow bedding limits airflow, traps moisture, and causes worms to crawl or slow down.

Deep bedding always works better.

Common Bedding Mistakes to Avoid

• ❌ Packed or muddy bedding
• ❌ No grit added
• ❌ Fresh manure
• ❌ Too much peat or coir
• ❌ Bedding that is never fluffed

If bedding smells bad, it needs to be fixed right away.

How Often Should Bedding Be Refreshed?

Add fresh bedding:

• Every 1–2 weeks
• Anytime bedding looks flat

Always fluff old bedding before adding new material.

European Nightcrawlers vs Red Wigglers (Bedding)

European Nightcrawlers:

• Need deeper bedding
• Need more airflow
• Move slower

Red Wigglers:

• Can live in shallow systems
• Handle wetter bins

This is why bedding built for Red Wigglers does not always work for European Nightcrawlers.

What Comes After Bedding?

Once your bedding is set up correctly, the next step is learning what to feed European Nightcrawlers and how often to feed them.

Final Bedding Tip from Me

If you remember one thing, remember this:

Build the bedding first. Worms come second.

Healthy bedding makes healthy worms.

 

Must Read : Why European Nightcrawlers Are the Best Worms for Fishing?

 

📌 A Quick Note Before You Go

This guide is only for using European Nightcrawlers as composting worms.
It does not cover raising or feeding European Nightcrawlers for fishing bait, which requires a different setup and care routine.

If you want step-by-step help beyond this article, I also cover European Nightcrawlers in my Euro Master Course, where I walk through bedding, feeding, and care the way I do it on my own worm farm.