Keeping Earth Worms

[Phil Beaudoin]

Can anyone tell me how to keep earthworms alive in captivity for long periods of time, as well, how to breed them? Just planning ahead for the cooler months.

--------------------Thanks,
--------------------------------Phil Beaudoin

[beth wallbank]

I caught and sold dew worms for fishermen as a kid, and from what I can remember, it was a pretty simple set up.
Large wooden box aobut 3x2x2, 1/2 filled with soil. Top the soil with a few layers of news paper, ontop of that ground coffee that has been seeped in the purculator already, spread thin. On top of the coffee grounds, a nice layer of spagmum moss. Moisten it daily. We had thousands of worms in this set up and they stayed fresh all the time. The only thing that needed replacing was the news paper every month or so, and new coffee grounds as often as needed. Hope this helps.

[Linds]

I was watching a documentary on an worm breeding facility and they kept them in the same setup Beth described. I recall they also kept them refrigerated to last months longer.

[CyberGhost]

Thanx alot evryone I was thinking of breeding earthworms and youve help alot. Excrpt I was thinking of using a deep rubbermaid instead of a wooden box.

[Phil Beaudoin]

Thanks alot, I'l try this.

----------------Thanks,
------------------------------Phil Beaudoin

[tai_pan1]

I have mine in a RubberMaid container, just put some holes in the lid. Worms need oxygen or they will suffocate. I used no soil at all in my bin, just shredded newspaper that was soaked first. I let the excess water drip off then put it in ny bin. To this I added the coffee (and filter) and my worms have been doing great. I do have to move the container outside because of the gnats. I spray the container with a mister daily and add used coffee grounds 2 to 3 times a week.