Note: When most people discuss red worms, they are using the name interchangeably with that of “red wigglers.” Have no worries, this is the same worm, and the name “red wiggler” was earned simply because of the species’ secondary use as fishing bait.
What are red wiggler worms?
Red wigglers are the most common type of worm. They can be found in many different environments, including gardens and compost piles. Red wigglers are about an inch in length and have a reddish-brown color. One of the most important things to know about red wiggler worms is their diet, which consists primarily of decaying organic matter.
Are nightcrawlers and red wigglers the same?
Earthworms, AKA nightcrawlers, and red worms – known to many as “red wigglers” – are two of the most common species of worms for gardeners to increase the health of garden soil and producing compost, respectively. Both offer their own unique advantages for garden health, so it is natural to want to have both of their benefits at hand.
Do red wigglers live in the Earth?
Unlike other earthworms, red wigglers don’t live in earth and prefer to be underneath damp plant litter and decomposing organic matter. There have been a lot of names given to the red wiggler, Some of them are accurate, and some of them are completely wrong for the species. This is because red wigglers look a lot like other types of worms.
How do you know when a red wiggler is ready to mate?
Much like humans and other species, the younger worms will eat more food than the older worms. If you are ever trying to min/max your composting pile, this is a good thing to keep in mind. When a red wiggler is sexually ready, its clitellum will turn a dark orange to indicate its intent to mate.
How do you tell if a worm is a red wiggler?
The Red wiggler is a topsoil worm, with a deep reddish-brown color. They often have a yellowish looking tint at their tail. Red wigglers will have several stripes or rings down the entire length of the worm's body. The red wiggler has a clitellum that bulges.
Can red worms and wigglers live together?
Can earthworms and red worms live together? It is possible to house both earthworms and red worms together, however, it is not ideal. This is because the two species are adapted for different population densities, temperatures, and soil depths. Worms are an invaluable addition to your garden or compost bin.
Are big red worms red wigglers?
Get a bigger bang for your buck with our Big Red Worms. These big guys can be used just about anywhere you want to drop a line at. Also known as Red Wigglers, they attract fish due to their lively movement. As an added bonus, Big Red Worms can also help you go green, as they are great for composting.
Are red worms the same as compost worms?
Compost worms are the red wiggler worms that are a species of earthworms. The scientific name for red wiggler worms is Eisenia fetida while the other names for red wiggler worms are redworm, brandling worm, panfish worm, trout worm, tiger worm, red Californian earthworm, etc.
Should I put red wigglers in my garden?
Red wiggler worms offer great benefits to the organic gardener, producing both a natural fertilizer and an effective pesticide. And they eat your kitchen scraps. The value of red wigglers, a.k.a. Eisenia fetida, lies in their excrement, known as worm castings.
What are the best worms for composting?
The best types of worms for vermicomposting are red wigglers (Eisenia fetida) and redworms (Lumbricus rubellus). These two species make great worms for the compost bin because they prefer a compost environment to plain soil, and they are very easy to keep.
Can you put nightcrawlers and red wigglers together?
Red wigglers and nightcrawlers are two worm species you can use on your farm to maintain and/or increase the fertility of plants' soil. But, the question you'd like answered is, “can you mix red wigglers and nightcrawlers?” Yes, you can.
Can I put earthworms in my worm farm?
These worms are great in a worm farm, but you can't use ordinary earth worms that you dig up out of the soil. They are good for soil improvement - not for farming. Then you just pour the worms in and they'll settle themselves into the bedding. Worms eat a variety of foods.
Will red wigglers eat dog poop?
The short answer is that, YES, dog poop can certainly be processed by composting worms. My brother-in-law tosses most of his dop poop (during warmer times of the year) in a basic backyard composter containing Red Worms, and they readily convert it into rich compost.
Can I use red fishing worms for composting?
Red worms, or Red Wiggler Mix, are ideal composting worms. They voraciously eat up organic matter. Red worms produce prized humus (poop) that provides essential fertilizer and earth-friendly bacteria to plant bedding. However, they are a bit small for fishing.
Can I find red wigglers in my yard?
Red Wigglers can be found in nature in leaf litter or under logs but gathering your own to start a worm composting bin is very difficult.
What are the red worms in my compost bin?
It's then time to bring on the workers: orangey-red, pale-striped and thrashing compost worms - often called brandlings or tiger worms – that live among decaying organic matter. Add them to the mix in your bin, and relax. They'll quickly get to work, eating their way through anything that rots.
Red worms versus red wigglers? escapes? (newbie)
Hi folks, I am new to vermiculture and am giving it a try, mainly because I covet the castings for my garden. Sorry if this question has been asked a hundred times before - I did a search but couldn't find the answer.
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Red Wigglers are a type of red worm, but most of the time they get used interchangeably. There are really a couple different types of red worms used for vermicomposting: Eisenia foetida (red wigglers) and Eisenia hortensis (European Nightcrawler).
What is a red wiggler?
Red Wiggler Facts You Should Know. The red wiggler is one of the most popular worms for use in composting. Unlike other earthworms, red wigglers don’t live in earth and prefer to be underneath damp plant litter and decomposing organic matter.
Why are red wigglers considered nocturnal?
This is because of their photosensitivity which causes them pain and potentially death if they are in the sunlight for too long.
Why is my red wiggler's clitellum orange?
When a red wiggler is sexually ready, its clitellum will turn a dark orange to indicate its intent to mate. Just like most earthworm species, red wigglers are also hermaphrodites. Although they have both sexual organs, they cannot reproduce with themselves and do require other worms.
Is a red wiggler a worm?
There have been a lot of names given to the red wiggler, Some of them are accurate, and some of them are completely wrong for the species. This is because red wigglers look a lot like other types of worms. Regardless of the misconceptions, red wigglers are very fascinating in their own right, here are some cool facts you should know.
Can you find a red wiggler in soil?
Regardless of the misconceptions, red wigglers are very fascinating in their own right, here are some cool facts you should know. Your unlikely to find a red wiggler in soil, At least of their own free will. It’s just not for them and they prefer the damp underside of decomposing organic matter.
Why are red worms called red wigglers?
Have no worries, this is the same worm, and the name “red wiggler” was earned simply because of the species’ secondary use as fishing bait. There are both advantages and disadvantages to keeping red worms and nightcrawlers together in ...
What are red wigglers?
Red wigglers are excellent consumers of organic kitchen waste and provide incredibly nutrient-rich worm castings which you can use in your garden or potted plants. Now that you know how beneficial both earthworms and red worms can be, let’s talk about their cohabitation.
What is the name of the worm that eats the soil?
The type recognized by most gardeners as the earthworm, however, is the nightcrawler ( Lumbricus terrestris ). These worms get all the nutrition they need from the soil, and as they travel through the substrate feeding and defecating, their extremely fertile “castings” (waste) is the perfect nutritional supplement.
Why shouldn't you keep red worms in the same bin?
This is because of the differences in the environment that the two species are suited for.
Where to put nightcrawlers in compost?
If you are going to add nightcrawlers, add them to the bottom half or third of the pile before adding more organic matter, then as the pile grows you can begin to introduce your red worms into the compost. This will ensure that the worms inhabit every level of the compost and that all are housed at their optimal depths.
What are red worms?
Written by Paul Brown in Composting, Vermicomposting. Earthworms, AKA nightcrawlers, and red worms – known to many as “red wigglers” – are two of the most common species of worms for gardeners to increase the health of garden soil and producing compost, respectively. Both offer their own unique advantages for garden health, ...
How do earthworms affect plants?
In fact, earthworm populations have been shown to increase plant growth and health in independent studies ( source ). The tunnels that they form through the soil serve to oxygenate the plants’ root structure and creates habitat for microorganisms to contribute to plant health.
Can red worms and nightcrawlers live together?
Yes, they can. They have similar food preferences, and can live together but be sure to have food buried in different depths of your bedding.
Will night crawlers eat red wigglers?
No. The similarities – and differences – in these two types of worm actually make them great vermicompost buddies, if you are willing to take the time to look after these fishing worms.
Are red worms better than night crawlers for composting?
The cop-out answer is, it depends. Red worms or red wigglers are considered by many better or “easier” for your compost bin.
Are European Nightcrawlers the same as red wigglers?
No, but it’s really easy to get confused. The size and girth of these worms at their maximum length can be similar (though healthy nightcrawlers are generally bigger) – and in terms of weight and power to shift soil and burrow, there is not a great difference.
Conclusion
If you’re starting with vermicomposting, it can sometimes be hard to tell the difference between a variety of worms.
Red Wigglers' Diet
One of the most important things to know about red wiggler worms is their diet, which consists primarily of decaying organic matter. They do not eat plant roots or any other living plants but instead feed off debris that bacteria and fungi have broken down over time.
Red Wigglers and Plant Health
Red wigglers do indeed consume some plant roots, but only when they have access to nothing else! Studies have shown that worms will prefer herbaceous plants (such as dandelions) over woody ones (like oak or maple trees).
Red Wiggler Lifespan
The red wiggler has been documented to live for approximately two years.
Physical Appearance
Habitat
- When differentiating the two worms, another important point to consider is their habitat. They thrive in different environments. For instance, red wigglers are often found in warmer environments with the average temperature being 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Meanwhile, earthworms like it to be a bit cooler. The average temperature at which they sur...
Lifespan
- If you are looking for compositing worms, it is also important to consider lifespan. If the worms die easily, then composting can be a frustrating experience. They might die even before you can harvest their castings. Red wigglers have a bit longer lifespan than the other earthworms. However, this will depend on their environment, so make sure of the ideal conditions to make th…
Feeding Habits
- One more thing that makes red wigglers good for composting is their food consumption. They eat all kinds of organic scraps, especially kitchen waste. They will eat organic materialthat is on the top of the soil. On the other hand, the earthworms will be eating soil that is already underground, and they will have to burrow to do this. You can simply add food on the top of the compost, and …
Reproduction Rate
- From the two worms, red wigglers are known for their high reproduction rate, making it a better option if you are breeding for composting, even for fishing bait. In a matter of months, red wigglers can form a massive population. Despite this, take note that the reproduction rate is dependent not only on the type of the worm in the bin but also on the environment, especially th…