Nightcrawlers

[Dusty(ND)]

A nice April rain in Bismarck over the weekend sent thousands of nightcrawlers flocking to the STREET. Between two of us, we managed to pick over 100 dozen nightcrawlers in just a couple hours and in only a couple blocks!! Had to quit because of a sore back {trust me, the back gets sore after picking up that many of the things:-)}

Now we have over 100 dozen crawlers in bedding and in the fridge. In your opinion, what's the best temperature to store these crawlers in the fridge? I have some Frabill worm food, should I be using this as well? I've used some in the past only to have a stinky mess of dead crawlers after a few weeks.:-( I'm looking for any info. possible so I can make these crawlers last me well into the summer. What makes the crawlers flock to the pavement? Any tips are appreciated.

Good pickins!

Dusty(ND)

sorry Hans, but I can't resist..."There is nothing; absolutely nothing; half so much worth doing,
as pickin' crawlers." lol

[Terry P (SD)]

From what i understand the worms are flooded out of the ground. They are pretty waterlogged when you pick them up so keep them in a fairly dry bedding mix to startwith. I had a lot of casualties when i tried to feed them also. Raise them tough and dont feed them a whole lot. I think 40- - 45 degrees is about right to store them.

[Gilligan]

Dusty
Drift'r is usually hanging around here, must wife got him working! He answered this ? last week. He keeps several thou. crawlers in peatmoss and shredded paper. He said don't mix food in bedding, just sprinkle on center of surface. Think he used an egg laying mash from feed store. Hope he sees this and posts if I got it wrong.

[dummie]

I keep crawlers myself. They keep real well between 35 and 50 degrees. My fridg stays around 40. You need to check your crawlers every couple of days. If you find any laying on the top , touch them. If they scoot back under they are ok. If they don,t move well or not at all get rid of them. A few dead crawlers will mess the whole thing up. As to feeding I use bedding that has some feed in them. Coffee grounds are great food for them as well as corn meal. Don,t mix food or cover food in your crawlers. It has a tendency to decay and again will kill your crawlers. You should be able to keep them six to ten monthe this way. Good luck, God bless.