can you mix red wigglers and african nightcrawlers

by Rosie Cummings Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago

Can you mix red wigglers and African Nightcrawlers? If on the other hand we are talking about 'European Nightcrawlers' (Eisenia hortensis), then the answer is yes – Euros and Reds can be combined in the same bin.

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.Sep 16, 2020

Full Answer

Can Nightcrawlers and red wigglers be kept together?

Jan 31, 2020 · Can you mix red wigglers and African Nightcrawlers? If on the other hand we are talking about 'European Nightcrawlers' (Eisenia hortensis), then the answer is yes – Euros and Reds can be combined in the same bin. Red Worms do tend to be a more prolific and active worm however, so mixing the two might not always be the best idea if you want your Euros to really …

Can you mix red wigglers?

The ‘European Nightcrawler’ is in fact a similar worm to the Red Wiggler (they are closely related) and they can technically be kept in the same system. For a fun school project you might try setting up a large bin and putting in 1 lb of each species then observing what happens.

Can you mix different species of Night Crawlers?

Dec 11, 2020 · The conditions under which a red worm may thrive can be a bit different from that under which nightcrawlers adapt. When couriered worms and common earthworms together, you might want to expect a more efficient vermicomposting system on your farm with each species contributing differently to the growth of your plants.

Can you mix red worms and Nightcrawlers in a worm bin?

Apr 27, 2020 · Having said this, Red wigglers (Eisenia Feotidas) and European Crawlers (Dendrobaenas) are both not native to North America, but the point is they can live happily side by side together. Although they can both co-exist, if you are looking to breed worms, I will suggest you separate them and not breed them together. Click to see full answer. Accordingly, can red …

Can you mix different types of worms in a worm farm?

Yes you can mix different composting worm species with each other. However there is one caveat to this! Over time one specie can begin to dominate and even out populate any other type of specie you have in the worm bin. This is very typical due to certain conditions within the worm bin.

Can you mix red wigglers and earthworms?

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 African nightcrawlers good for composting?

African nightcrawlers, also known as Eudrilus Eugeniae, is a very common commercial worm. It can be used as bait for fish, and also for composting. These African worms can be found in composting bins and worm farms; and can also produce its own batch of rich worm castings, just like Red Wiggler worms.Oct 10, 2010

Are nightcrawlers and red wigglers the same?

The European nightcrawler worm is actually the worm cousin of red wrigglers. But they only differ in the size (European's are larger). You can find them burrowing and thriving in most compost heaps or piles of animal manure.Oct 8, 2010

Can nightcrawlers and earthworms live together?

Mixing Worm Species Sacrifices Reproduction Potential

Contrary to some wives's tales, worms cannot interbreed or hybridize. But this does not mean that worms are unaffected by the population around them.Apr 12, 2019

Can nightcrawlers live in potting soil?

Gritty soil particles also aids the worms' digestive process. Potting soil, or soil from outdoors is fine.

Can you raise nightcrawlers and red wigglers together?

What do you feed African nightcrawlers?

African night crawlers literally gobble up decaying matter. Watching a few hundred ANCs feed on some fruit or vegetable scraps is an amazing thing, we have simply not seen any composting worm pounce on food in this way.

What is the best thing to feed nightcrawlers?

If you don't care what happens to the night crawlers once they're fully grown (for people who raise night crawlers to catch fish), feed them fruit and vegetable skins, molded bread, and finely shredded paper-based trash. Make sure the food is damp, or they won't be able to consume it.Oct 19, 2017

Are red wiggler worms good for fishing?

Meal worms work especially well for ice fishing for trout or perch. Red worms are known to work particularly well for smaller fish like bluegills, crappie and perch because these fish have smaller mouths and are either afraid or unable to eat big night crawlers consistently.Jun 26, 2012

How fast do African night crawlers reproduce?

approximately 2-3 cocoons per week

Very Fast Reproduction Rate

African Nightcrawlers produce approximately 2-3 cocoons per week with 2-3 babies per cocoon averaging out to about 6-7 worms per week.Jun 26, 2018

What's better red worms or nightcrawlers?

African Nightcrawlers are some of the best and fastest composters around, in fact, they eat/process 2 to 3 times as much food as Red Wigglers.Mar 20, 2018

What is a Canadian Nightcrawler?

The Canadian Nightcrawler is a soil dwelling worm that is very popular for fishing due to its large size and the relative ease with which it can be collected (especially at night, during or after a heavy summer rain shower). Naturally there are a LOT of people who want to raise them for their own personal fishing needs, or to be sold as bait.

Can you raise red worms in captivity?

If you WERE to try and raise them in captivity, the ideal system for them would definitely not be ideal for raising Red Wigglers (aka Red Worms). This species of worm is adapted for a crowded life in very rich organic matter, such as that found in a manure pile (pretty well their ideal habitat). They do not create burrows, and while they CAN be found in and on top of soil – typically there needs to be a significant source of organic matter nearby in order for them to want to stick around.

Is the European Nightcrawler the same as the Red Wiggler?

The ‘European Nightcrawler’ is in fact a similar worm to the Red Wiggler (they are closely related) and they can technically be kept in the same system. For a fun school project you might try setting up a large bin and putting in 1 lb of each species then observing what happens.

Can you put red worms in a compost bin?

If you have an outdoor worm composting bin with an open bottom, you could technically have a system containing both Red Worms (assuming you add them) and Canadian Nightcrawlers – which would venture in from the surrounding soil. You likely wouldn’t see the nightcrawlers though since they would be hanging out down in the lower regions where the soil meets the organic matter.

What is the name of the worm that mixes with the worm bin?

Worm bin owners may be surprised to know that what they thought were purely red wigglers in their worm bin were actually a different species called the Indian Blue. Although similar in form and function to a red wiggler, the Indian Blue mixes its voracious composting ability with an annoying tendency to attempt a mass escape from the bin for seemingly no reason.

Do Africans need warmer temperatures than red wigglers?

And Africans and Indian blues need warmer temperatures than the red wiggler. So it might make sense to include a variety of species so if you have weather patterns like Philadelphia which goes from well digger's ass cold to Satan's armpit-level hot and muggy in an instant.

Can you have multiple species in a worm bin?

There is absolutely nothing wrong with multiple species in a worm bin, but I can't find a compelling reason to say you should. Of the arguments for intentionally introducing mixed breeds in your bin, the depth issue is the most convincing.

Do European Nightcrawlers burrow deeper than European Nightcrawlers?

In general, European nightcrawlers are believed to burrow a little deeper than red wigglers and Indian blues and African nightcrawlers are believed to burrow a little deeper than Euros, so the thinking is that a more uniform processing of waste is more likely with more species.

Knowledge Builders