African Nightcrawlers are one of the best composting worms as well as make an excellent fishing. These worms are also highly prolific however take longer to mature as well as reach full size. This is why most websites prefer to sell the red wigglers as they mature faster; hence the turnaround time on them is quicker.
African Nightcrawlers are raised by some just for the castings. The African Nightcrawlers worm castings are darker in color and fluffier than other composting worms. There is no difference in the microbes or quality of the worm castings other than the looks and feel.
The macro photograph below does not really do the worm castings justice; however you can make out the African Nightcrawlers castings on the left, which are darker. The worm castings on the right are red wiggler worm castings.
Both worms were fed the same diet and were raised in the same bedding materials.
Some worm farms and brokers sell African Nightcrawlers in counts of 600 to 1,200 per pound. These are bed run, usually very small African Nightcrawlers which are still good for composting; however do not make a very good fishing worm as many are the same size as red wigglers at these counts.
Many others offer a 200 to 300 count per pound African Nightcrawlers. These are approximately eight month old worms which run about 6 to 7 inches in length without being stretched out. These make an excellent fishing worm in the warmer weather as African Nightcrawlers are a more heat tolerant worm.
Organic Worm Farm offers the latter, 200 to 300 count per pound as well as the super large African Nightcrawlers, 180 to 225 count per pound! These monsters are approximately 10 months old and run up to 10 inches before being stretched out. If you are looking for the largest, active worm to fish with, these are the worms you want. The Canadian Nightcrawler will run larger, however is not nearly as active as the African Nightcrawlers.
The below photo shows an average 200 to 300 count African Nightcrawler on top with the super large African Nightcrawler, 180 to 225 count per pound below it.
The monster, super large African Nightcrawlers were raised by feeding them Purina Worm Chow. It is a food formulated especially for worms which is fortified not only with grains but minerals and vitamins as well. To raise the largest, fattest worms as well as the most prolific worms, there is nothing that beats using Purina Worm Chow as either a diet supplement or as a sole diet for worms.
Bruce “The Worm Expert” Galle
I have an aluminum pot on my deck with soil earth worms and seedlings from sweet peppers. We will be getting colder temperatures and I want to bring the pot in my home for the winter. I’m afraid I’ll wake up one morning and find earthworms on my walls and ceiling. This happened to me with escargot many years ago. I realized even snails have a will to live and have never killed anything for food since. I am a vegetarian for life because of the snails. I am against the slaughter of any animals….so that brings me to the earthworms. I don’t want any harm to come to them. If I bring the pot into the house for a warmer climate will the little guys escape? Thank-you
Joanna
If the earthworms are in a happy environment, they should not try to escape. You can always try it as unlike the escargot if the worms did escape they would not get very far. Reason being they require moisture to survive and would most likely dry out and die within several feet of your container.
Hope this helps.
Bruce