There are many types of nightcrawler worms (also referred to as grunt worms, garden worms, and leaf worms). There’s the European kind, as well as the African and Canadian nightcrawlers. They are the perfect worms for live fish bait; and are a good food source for different kinds of reptiles, amphibians, and birds. But which nightcrawlers are more preferred when it comes to live fish bait, and for vermicomposting? Let’s find out more below.

Nightcrawlers and its kinds

Raising nightcrawlers is simple. You’ll just have to provide them a worm bin with some earthy soil (and of course some organic food supply), that you can store indoors (in your basement or garage) or outdoors afterwards (on your lawn or garden).

Also take note that nightcrawlers have no eyes or ears. They only sense the motion of things through vibrations. They typically burrow down the soil (can burrow as deeps as 6 ½ feet) as soon as they feel minor shudders in their surroundings. But their burrowing has its advantages too since it helps with the aerating of the soil. They’re also sensitive to light that’s why they burrow back under the soil when it’s daylight. Aside from that, they’re usually seen feeding at night, and after a good rain (usually when there’s dew on the grass). They’re also thicker and larger in size (grows as long as 14 inches!) compared to red worms.

And as previously mentioned, there are three known kinds of nightcrawlers; and these are the European nightcrawlers (referred scientifically as Eisenia hortensis), African nightcrawlers (Eudrilus eugeniae), and Canadian nightcrawlers (Lumbricus terrestris).  

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. The Canadian nightcrawler on the other hand is also large in size, and is a very well-liked live fish bait. Also known as Dew worms, Canadian’s are deep burrowers; and are usually placed in less confined spaces (compared to limited spaces that red wigglers can sustain). As for the African type, these are worms that can sustain cool conditions. They can also be used for composting.  

Nightcrawlers as live fish bait

Nightcrawler worms have been popularly used as bait worms for fish, and for their constant twisting movement (which makes them very appealing to fish off all kinds). You can either buy them from a local bait store, or from a worm farm store online. But if you’d rather not spend, then you can always try catching several ones in your garden after a heavy downpour. They’ve been used extensively for fishing since they can be submerged under water for long periods of time (unlike their red wiggler worm cousins).  

Which Nightcrawler is good for vermicomposting?

The European and African  nightcrawlers are usually the ones being used for worm composting. There are benefits to using them but they’re not as preferred by gardeners especially when it’s used for composting. But the good thing about about them is that they can stand low food levels compared to red wigglers.

Uncle Jim’s recommends the 250 Super Red Worms or European Nightcrawlers

Our 250 Super Red Worms or European Nightcrawlers can grow for as long as 6 inches long; and can also be used for your gardening needs. It’ll help your garden or lawn soil become well aerated and fertilized too. Not only that, it burrows deep under the ground to allow water and nutrients to reach the root systems of your garden or lawn. It’s also a good source of food for other animals; and a great live bait for fish. Order yours from us today!

To know more about the product, check the 250 Super Red Worms or European Nightcrawlers here.