Nightcrawlers: Guide to Raising Powerful Composting and Fishing Worms

What Are Nightcrawlers?

Nightcrawlers are large, vigorous earthworms ideal for composting, soil enrichment, and fishing bait. Their powerful tunneling helps aerate soil while producing nutrient-rich castings.

The most popular type for farming is the European Nightcrawler (Eisenia hortensis)—resilient, fast-reproducing, and perfect for indoor or outdoor setups.

Why Raise Nightcrawlers?

• Steady demand for bait and composting
• Low setup cost
• Environmentally friendly
• Profitable with the right system
• Easy to scale using Meme’s proven bedding/feed method

Types of Nightcrawlers

European Nightcrawlers (Eisenia hortensis)

• Size: 3–5 inches
• Strong, thick-bodied
• Excellent for composting and bait
• Easy to breed with Meme’s system

Canadian Nightcrawlers (Lumbricus terrestris)

• Larger, but harder to breed in captivity
• Cold storage only—not ideal for farming

 If you're building a worm farm or bait business, go with European Nightcrawlers.

Don't know about difference between nightcrawlers, red wigglers or blue worms? Checkout our video for a full quick guide:

 

Ideal Conditions for Raising Nightcrawlers

 Temperature

• Best range: 60°F–75°F
• Below 50°F = slower metabolism
• Above 85°F = risk of heat stress or death

 Moisture

• Maintain 70–80% moisture content
• Bedding should feel like a wrung-out sponge

 Airflow

• Good airflow prevents anaerobic conditions
• Stir gently once a week to avoid compaction

How to Set Up a Nightcrawler Bin?

Use Meme’s European Nightcrawler Bedding/Feed System

Ingredients:

• 1 bale of organic peat moss
• 32 oz of chicken crumbles
• 8 oz of oyster shell flour

Instructions:

1. Mix dry ingredients thoroughly.
2. Add water slowly while mixing until texture feels like a wrung-out sponge.
3. Let it sit for 24 hours, then re-check the moisture. Add more water if needed.
4. Once moisture is stable, let it cure for 1 week.
5. Use it as both bedding and feed for your European Nightcrawlers.

Why we suggest it: This formula provides structure, balanced protein, and calcium—perfect for fattening worms and encouraging reproduction.

Feeding Nightcrawlers the Meme’s Way!

Forget kitchen scraps and guesswork. Meme’s recipe is the feed.

 Once your initial mix is in the bin, continue using small amounts of the same recipe every 3–5 days based on worm density.

This system eliminates pests, smells, and protein poisoning issues common in DIY setups.

Checkout our guide to feed your worms:

Breeding and Reproduction

• European Nightcrawlers are hermaphroditic—every worm can reproduce
• Under optimal conditions, worms begin mating at 8–10 weeks old
• Cocoons hatch in 21–28 days

To encourage breeding:

• Maintain stable moisture and temperature
• Keep bedding fresh using Meme’s method
• Avoid overharvesting your breeders

Harvesting Nightcrawlers?

Purpose:

• Bait sales: Size-sort and cup 12–18 large worms
• Farm expansion: Use breeders to seed new bins
• Castings harvest: Gently sift and screen to separate worms from castings

For larger setups, wedge-style bins or flow-through systems make harvest efficient.

Common Issues and Fixes

Problem	Cause	Solution
Worms escaping	Overheating or bedding too wet	Use fans, adjust bedding with dry peat moss
Bad smells	Anaerobic bedding	Stir, reduce water, stop feeding for 2–3 days
Protein poisoning	Overfeeding	Smaller, consistent feeding; use Meme’s bedding only
Poor reproduction	Wrong bedding or bad airflow	Use Meme’s bedding, stir weekly, maintain temp & moisture

Where to Buy Nightcrawlers?

Looking for healthy, thick-bodied European Nightcrawlers raised on the same foolproof system described above?

Order Nightcrawlers from Meme’s Worms

• ✔️ Grown in Meme’s proprietary bedding/feed
• ✔️ Perfect for bait, composting, or breeding
• ✔️ Shipped fresh and lively
• ✔️ Available in bulk or bait cups

Final Thoughts by Meme

Raising nightcrawlers doesn’t have to be complicated. With Meme’s proven bedding and feeding recipe, you’ll avoid the common problems and build a thriving worm population in no time.

Whether you’re a fisherman, gardener, homesteader, or entrepreneur—this system sets you up for success.