I have received a number of emails asking why I state the African nightcrawlers must be raised in temperatures of 70 degrees to 85 degrees Fahrenheit when other sites state that they can live in temperatures of 60 degrees, some 45 degrees and others state they can survive freezing temperatures during the overnight hours.
Let me begin that many websites offering information, not just African nightcrawlers but other worms as well, do not even raise worms. Rather, they simply use a drop ship company or companies to fill and ship all of their customer orders. That being said, I personally raise red wigglers, African nightcrawlers, European nightcrawlers, Alabama Jumpers and Mealworms. I also have two dogs 
Why would some websites state that you can raise African nightcrawlers in colder temperatures? Your guess is as good as mine however many probably due to lack of knowledge and experience. I have seen a number of websites which have literally copied and pasted, word for word from other websites.
Rather than me simply restating what I have before, which is in direct conflict with some other websites, I figured I would prove it to you so as there would be no question in your mind. I decided to run an experiment which by the way I had informed a friend would only last 24 hours due to my experience in raising worms. After all, as the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words.
Now before I proceed, let me inform you that the last picture is kind of graphic which may not be suitable for some…
That being said, I decided to use a refrigerator which I store mealworms prior to shipping which is set at a constant 48 degrees Fahrenheit. Now mind you, I only used four good and healthy 6 – 8 inch African nightcrawler worms since I did not wish to waste a bunch, which by the way I hated to part with
You can see the four worms in the bait cup, which I then placed some castings which were straight from the original bin I had pulled the four worms from. You will notice the worms look in great shape. I proceeded to place the African nightcrawlers into the refrigerator at 7:48pm January 1, 2010.
Now for any skeptics out there, I used my automotive multimeter which also has a built in thermometer that I now use full time on my worm bins as it is easy to read the temperature especially when your eyes begin to deteriorate as mine have. As you can see when I placed the sensor on the end of the wire inside the refrigerator with the door shut, the reading was at 48 degrees Fahrenheit.
I checked on the worms 12 hours later and they were already just about dead as they had begun to discolor turning a pale white towards the tail ends. Basically the circulation to the tail end of the worms has either stopped or slowed considerably. Mind you twelve hours is basically the time for an overnight temperature. At this point, even if the temperatures had risen up to the eighties, these four worms would not have made it as they were already too far gone.
I did not get a picture of this stage as I found out the batteries in the camera had run too low, hence I placed them on the charger.
I had some running to do this evening, January 2, 2010, hence I checked on the worms a little later than I had anticipated. I pulled the worms out of the refrigerator at 8:29pm just about 24 hours and 49 minutes since the experiment had begun.
As you can see from the picture below, the African nightcrawlers are dead. The pale white color has spread throughout their bodies while a bulging red color separates the paler areas. These worms are not only dead but have been for a while since they are now beginning to decompose.
One major item to notice is the fact that all four worms are the same. In other words, the temperature did not affect 25% or 50% but rather 100% of the worms!
Even if you tried to raise African nightcrawlers at 60 degrees Fahrenheit they would die, most likely surviving up to a week before keeling over, however the end result would be the same.
This is mainly why I state the African nightcrawler needs 70 degrees minimum. In fact, this is the low end of the spectrum. If you really want your Africana nightcrawlers become active and prolific, get the internal worm bin temperature up to 80 – 85 degrees Fahrenheit, which is what they prefer!
I hope this helps to clarify first the temperature range by which you want to raise your African nightcrawlers and secondly that I will not throw you a bunch of misinformation, but rather facts from my years of experience in raising worms.
Now go and tuck your worms in for the night to keep them warm
Bruce
I’m still trying to win my wife over on keeping a worm bin inside the house. Raising red worms may have to wait awhile. I’m very curious about trying to get African night crawlers to survive “free range” in my backyard. Since I live in Phoenix, the low temps shouldn’t be too much of a concern. I’m wondering if our summer high temps would pose any problems.
Erin
Sorry for the delay… running a bit behind with a few projects including moving the worm farm to larger location on some land we obtained.
I do not recommend the African nightcrawlers for solid worms to be released as such. If you have areas which are shaded so as the soil can remain cool from the suns direct heating, I would recommend the Alabama Jumpers. These are also a heat tolerant worm being they originated from the tropics. Just be sure to keep the soil moist and keep a pile of organic matter available for them such as shredded paper, cardboard, hay…
Bruce
Looking into raising worms for three reasons. We have a stocked 3 acre pond. The pond has blue gill, small and large mouth bass and crappie. We would like to use worms as bait, as our four boys go through a lot of worms “feeding”, I mean catching the fish.
We also would like to compost our scraps to use in the garden. Yes, we love to garden and would love to have our own castings to place in the garden.
We live outside of Kansas City and have a downstairs garage not being used for much of nothing at the moment. We have plenty of space to farm the worms. What do you recommend for type of containers, size and type of worms we should start with?
Sheryl and Jim
I apologize for the delay. The move is completed and I hope to stay on top of the blog better from now on
Probably the easiest is a 15 to 18 gallon Rubbermaid style bin to raise the worms.
As for the type of worms, the red wigglers will be great for composting and fishing for smaller fish.
You could go with the European nightcrawler for the larger fish, however once the water warms up, I prefer the African nightcrawler which is a larger worm and produces one of if not the prettiest worm castings.
Since you have the pond and fish in place, I would recommend with two pounds at least to start. A pound of red wigglers and a pound of either the European or African nightcrawlers.
Bruce
I am just starting a worm bin for composting for the 1st time. I have the bin and am ready for red wriggler worms. How many would you suggest to buy to get started?
Excelente Blog, suas dicas me ajudaram muito.
Tyson
Thanks for the compliment…
Have a great day!
Bruce
Gloria,
Welcome and congratulations on joining the rest of us wormaholics
The amount of red wigglers to buy depends on your needs and more importantly the size of your worm bin and amount of food you wish to feed them. A law of averages is one pound of worms to one square foot of surface area. If using a 15 – 18 gallon Rubbermaid style worm bin, then one pound would do for most people, giving ample room for them to reproduce for you.
another way to figure out worms is one pound of red wigglers will eat half a pound of decayed food scraps per day. Now I mention decayed as first the worms need to settle into their new environment, hence they will eat less so do not add as much food and secondly they will not be able to eat raw food scraps until they begin to decompose. So once the system is set in motion then you can figure on the half pound of food scraps per one pound of red wigglers per day.
Bruce
Where can you buy a few dozen and have rthem shipped to TExas
SW
SW
The smallest amount we offer is 1/4 pound which is roughly 5 to 6 dozen large African nightcrawler worms. you can fine them here.
Hi,
I’m thinking about getting some worms that I can keep and maybe let reproduce for fishing. I have a room that is partially heated and cooled. Max temp is about 80F or so in the summer and the lowest is about 50 or so in the winter. I heat it with a small heater in the winter and just leave the door open in the summer. The room is mostly for deep freezers. I live in East Central Mississippi just to narrow it down a bit.
Given that temperature range, what would be a good worm to grow? I do need them to be pretty big and fat. I fish for catfish and my Mom goes with me. She has a hard time with small worms. She catches her fingers as much as the worm.
Thanks.
Dale
Dale,
If the max temperature is 80 degrees, the European nightcrawler would probably be the way to go. I say this as the winter temperature you state of 50 degrees is to cold for the African nightcrawlers which are becoming a favorite fishing worm around here. Don’t get me wrong, the European has been a good friend to avid fisherment for the past decade or so in the USA.
These worms can get fat. A good product ofr health, assisting in breeding and fattening up worms is Purina Worm Chow.
Bruce
Hi Bruce,
I’m planning to get some worms pretty soon. If I got African night crawlers, what is their lowest temperature? I may could bring them up to my closet if needed in the winter. That would keep them between 65 and 75 or so. The most important thing, I want to know what temps that are comfy in BEFORE I kill them with to much of one or the other. I also want them to be nice and big so my Mom can bait her hook without to much trouble. She’s 77. I bought some Canadian night crawlers locally and they are pretty good size but bigger would be better if there is such a critter.
It would also be nice if they could reproduce while they are in there. I’m disabled so I don’t get fish a whole lot so they will have some time to themselves to eat and etc.
If you still think the European worms would be better, then I’ll plan on them. Just trying to weigh out the options here. Just want them to live and be big.
Thanks for your time and your replies.
Dale
Dale,
If you kept them between 70 – 75 degress you would be fine for raising and breeding the African nightcrawler. The ideal temp would be right about 74 degrees.
The African nightcrawler is not as large as the Canadian nightcrawler however is more active and can withstand warmer temperatures where as the Canadian nightcrawler cannot. Our African nightcrawlers range in size from 6″ to 8″ in length and even have had some about 10″.
They will reproduce well at the above listed temp and right bedding… food…. supplies.
If they fall below 60 degrees you will begin to lose them.
Bruce
Hi Bruce,
Which is larger, the European or the African? Not to worried about the length as much as I am the diameter. Mom wants to bait her own hook and always has. She put it this way, if I can’t bait it, I ain’t fishin.
At 74 degrees, I could put them in several rooms in the house. One reason I don’t like the Canadian worms is that they have to be in the fridge. I like to keep food in my fridge.
Thanks again.
Dale
Dale
Then the African nightcrawler is the way to go since it is larger than the European nightcrawler. The African nightcrawler is smaller than the Canadian night crawler however more active than the Canadian as well as heat tolerant.
The African nightcrawlers we offer are 6″ to 8″ in length when relaxed and longer when stretched out.
The African nightcrawler would actually die overnight if placed in the refrigerator.
Bruce
Hi Bruce,
I’m going to give the African worms a try. If they don’t make it, I’ll try the European worms next. I just want something big enough that my Mom can bait her hook without poking her fingers. lol
Thanks for the help. Plan to get some worms in a few days.
Dale
Hi Bruce,
I wanted to add that you really need to send your prices to froogle. It’s google for shopping products. I was researching for information when I ran up on your sites. Your prices are cheaper than others so you would benefit from being listed on froogle. May help increase your business. Beats waiting on blind luck for a sale.
I’m planning to order my worms Monday. I’m disabled and want to wait until Monday to make sure they don’t have to sit in a post office somewhere over the weekend.
Thanks much.
Dale
Dale,
Yes I have a lot to do online. working on some plans for new worm bins I need to build… double deckers, new automated rabbit manure separator… I still have to go by the nursery… they have a neat conveyor belt setup I may buy… help load worm castings into trucks…. and this all should have been done an hour ago.
I do appreciate as it is some good advice and something I really do need to put on my list of things to accomplish one day
I thought about cloning myself, however I do believe already knowing myself that the training period would be too long!
As for ordering, if you wish for them to ship next week, then you would need to order by Saturday, 3pm EST. We ship on Monday’s and Tuesdays for the most part. In other words if you ordered today they would not ship until this coming Monday!
Bruce
Bruce,
It sounds like you know your worms. I enjoy your website. Just curious, where are you located? I have the leading bait and tackle store in north central Iowa and sell 1000′s of Canadian crawlers every year. I also own a donut shop next door. Here’s my questions: If I wanted to raise some panfish worms and feed them on left over donuts, what variety would be my best choice and what kind of yields could I expect. Could they do well on a high starch and sugar diet? Could I use my existing bedding? The bedding I normally use is made by taking newspaper and corrugated cardboard and grinding it through a PTO powered hammermill. Apparently there is enough nutrients in the glue of the cardboard to sustain crawlers. I have kept Canadian crawlers in our bedding for months without adding food. Of course, it has to be changed peiodically. We keep our Canadian crawlers around 42 degrees.
Thanks, Dan 641-357-2248
Dan
Guess you have it wrapped up… sell them some coffee and donuts before getting their bait and off to go fishing
The donuts are iffy to use because of the ingredients used to make them, however my suggestion would be to try some and see how they do with it. I would think the red wigglers would be the way to go and keeping them around 70 degrees or so.
If you do give it a try, let us know how you make out.
Bruce
Greetings Bruce,
I just found your website and you have some great info. and comments from others.
Ive been growing worms for about 4 years now, but havent tried the african’s yet. Any tips on bedding and food choises for propagation?
can you please tell me if 30 degrees F is too cold for canadian nightcrawlers…btw, you are the 8th place i have posted this question to no avail…thank you for any info you have about these huge worms my daughter has decided to save from a science project and turn into pets.(inside of my fridge)…lol..thank you
Tennielle and daughter joe
tennielle
Actually 30 degrees Fahrenheit would be fine for the Canadian nightcrawler. They may become inactive at this temperature however will become active once it warms up a little bit.
Canadian nightcrawlers are actually an earthworm. One method earthworms can use is called estivation, where they coil up into a slime covered ball which they produce and go into a sleep like state, similar to hibernation.
Bruce
Kenn
African nightcrawlers can be raised in a variety of ways. One being Sphagnum peat moss and feeding them some grains such as Purina Worm Chow. They also will devour damp shredded newspaper. You could use a variety of manures that they can do well in however be sure the ones that require heating are heated completely and there is no dewormer passed from the animals if they were given the dewormer.
The way we raise them can be found in the 14 Day Worm Castings ebook. We raise them not only for the speed in which we harvest worm castings but they are also very prolific this way. Many cocoons can be laid with a good percentage hatching as well within the two weeks system.
Bruce
I’d like to share my two cents. I keep my worm bin outside the house in a generally shaded area. It gets a little afternoon sun though. Anyway, the temperature that day was about 95 degrees. That afternoon, I found lots of my African Nightcrawlers crawling up the sides of the bin, trying to escape apparently. I would guess, therefore, that 95 degrees is much too hot for ANCs already.
Chris
African nightcrawlers, which are originally from Africa, are known to be able to withstand temperatures upwards of 110 degrees Fahrenheit in the shade with moving air.
I did have a look at your website and was able to see that your worm bins are saturated with moisture. With all the moisture and the heat from the summer time, your worm bins are most likely turning into a hot sauna which is essence will bake your worms.
Unlike many other types of worms, too much moisture even at lower temperature levels will kill off the African nightcrawlers as they are much more sensitive to moisture levels. If anything, you would be much better off on the drier side rather then being to moist when it comes to the African nightcrawlers.
Bruce
I can say this, they don’t like it cool. It got cool here and my African Night Crawlers died. It didn’t take long for the cool weather to get them either.
I to have noticed in the past that they don’t like to be to wet. They are happy when it is slightly damp but not wet.
I got to find some sort of worm that can handle the temps I can provide. After all, I got two nice buckets for worms so I may as well get some worms.
Dale
Thanks Bruce. I didn’t think the moisture level impacted the temperature tolerance. Good info in case we get some terribly hot day again. So far though, it’s been all good. And I have dried that bin considerably.
you must be right i have african crawlers in basement i did everything i was told to raise them i live in cheyenne i can only keep it about 60 degrees for them they are red at one end and white yellowish at smaller end never have gotten to be like pictures of healthy full size that i have seen they do muliply though lots of small ones ive had them about 4 months now very disapointed with them
If you hatch African night crawler cocoons do you mix the bedding with the same portions of feed and such as normal as listed in the 14 day casting book?
Tomeka
Once hatched, allow them to be raised in the same bedding setup, however allow them to sit in there longer (approx) 4 weeks or so until they are large enough to separate into their own counts.
Bruce
Bruce,
Thanks, How about the moisture level do I need to keep it at 30% in the cocoon bucket.
Tomeka
Tomeka
Yes, you want to raise them in the same environment as they were produced.
Bruce
Bruce, Are you supplying wholesale worms to bait shops?
Dan
I have not actually gotten into this aspect of the business, however am finding out it can be very lucrative, especially if you are raising your own worms and avoiding the middle man.
Recently I began supplying a local store as his regular guy for the past few years has been slacking off. Now it is still early in the season here however in one week we sold 21 cups of worms for 42 dollars. Now keep in mind this is not much, however if multiplied by 100 locations for instance and if this was an average, you could be collecting over $4,000 per week… less expenses…
Bruce
When you sell them to the bait store where do they keep the worms. Most would want to pop them in the fridge. Kathy
I live in Saco, Maine on .6 of an acre. Room for a worm farm is not a problem; temperature variations are a serious obstacle to raising worms outside, plus the wildlife is abundant including moles. However, my basement is unfinished and roughly 1100 square feet. Temperature in the basement is 40-42 degrees in the winter and 60 degrees during the summer. My thinking is the European NC would be best for raising in the basement as a business. I have not scouted the market yet.
Roy
The temperature range would be good for both the European nightcrawler and the red wigglers. In the winter time you may wish to heat them up a little as at 40 degrees or so they will survive however slow their reproduction rates down.
Bruce
Kathy
I only service one store however none of mine go in the refrigerator. They go on a simple stand. I replace any unsold each Friday morning for them with fresh as well as restock to replace any that were sold. When I bring the unsold worms back, they go into a worm bin to allow them to live another day!
Bruce
Hey Bruce,
I been thinking about raising african worms for fishing and for sale at near by bait shops. I was wondering how much do you usually charge the bait shop for your worms,just wanted to get an idea. Thanks for all your help and website. Tom
Tom
Of course the price can vary from area to area, however going on the pricing of the European nightcrawlers as well as counts, we sell 18 per cup @ $2.00 per cup sold during the week. Any unsold are picked up a week later and replaced with new for the picked up worms as well as ones sold.
The one thing about the African nightcrawler is not only are they an all around fishing worm but catfish appear to prefer them over other worms almost all the time.
An advantage to selling them is the competition is low compared to other worms
Bruce
HEY BRUCE,
IN APPRECIATION FOR YOUR HELP I WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE MY AFRICAN WORMS FROM YOU IF I COULD IF SO HOW DO I GO ABOUT IT. ALSO PLEASE DISREGARD LAST POST I WAS A LITTLE CONFUSED. THANKS AGAIN TOM,
Tom
Our online store is located is OrderWorms.com. Simply select African nightcrawlers on the left menu and follow the directions. You will have a choice to pay via PayPal or mail in a check or money order….
Thanks
Bruce
Bruce-
I want to raise ANCs like they teach in the 14 day worm book. I live in north Florida where summer temps get into the 100 degree range. Do you have any suggestions?
Thanks
Steve
Steve
100 degrees is a bit hot… used to live down there
If you do not have AC in the building, I will have an article soon with directions on a cheap swamp cooler I have been playing with. As a prototype it runs off a drip system hooked to a garden hose… next I will build with a reservoir for the water and fountain pump to recycle the water.
Current results 90 degrees outside the window… 73 degrees inside the window… 97 outside while 78 inside. Also keep in mind since the water is not flowing fast, the garden hose heated up so while it was 97 outside, the water dripping from the system was at 102 degrees
The entire frame for the water drop is 2 feet high.
I hope to be able to give more information and photos within a week or so.
Bruce
Bruce-
Thank You. Your website is great!
Steve
I recently set up a red wiggler vermicompost in my barn and it is working well.
I would like to set up at least one more vermicompost with larger worms. The outside temperature in this area (near Vancouver, Canada) goes from a low of around -5 degrees centrigrade (25 degrees farenheit) in the winter to a high of around 32 degrees centigrade (86 farenheit) in the summer. The barn temperature is a little warmer in the winter and colder in the summer than outside temperature. I am looking for large worms that will produce large and plentiful castings which I will use to improve the soil. What type of worm/s should I get and do you ship worms to Canada?
Beatrice
As long as the worm bins don’t freeze, you would be best to try the European nightcrawlers. They can take cooler temperatures as well as survive in the warmer range you specify.
We can ship to Canada, however the shipping rate go up as it can get expensive. Now as much as I would like your business, I believe you can do better for pricing by locating a Canadian supplier. More than likely they ship from Europe to Canada each week which is where most USA worm farmers get theirs too. We do raise ours locally on the worm farm
Bruce
Bruce I have red wiglers that thrive my queston is on night crawlers they seem to be loosing weight I have been feeding chicken starter . They were in tne basement cool temp there in peetmoss damp like a rung out sponge what should I do