shrinking night crawlers.......

[Bob M.]

How do I get these boys to grow?I have about 4 dozen night crawlers in a "Frabill" worm box with about 1 1/2 lbs. of bedding that I change every couple of weeks. My nightcrawlers on average that I keep seem to lose some size after a week or two. The obvious answer is to fish more and use them before they have a chance to shrink. But I do not have that luxury. What can I do to keep them big and fat and possibly increase their size???

[Jenn_WI]

Ok, so there's probably a better answer than this. But, I teach Biology and my kids and I do worm composting in the classroom. I used to have one in the kitchen at home on the floor; but never did it after moving, was too busy. We just use rubbermaid buckets like those ones about 16 or 17 gallons I think they are..and shred newspaper in the bottom....about 3-4 inches of it compressed, wet it down. Add soil and stir it in with the newspaper shreds, then use it like a normal compost pile. Veggies, leaves, etc.... nothing cooked or meats and the thing never stinks (if you set it up properly, stir it, and don't add the cooked stuff or meat, and don't over water it) even in the house. Keep a wet newspaper on the top of it to keep moisture in it. Stir it and keep it moist but not soaking or it will mold. Oh yeah, drill some holes in the bottom. Well, use a nail and pound a bunch, not bigger than a big nail hole and put the rubbermaid cover underneath it to collect any water that might drain through or worm droppings or soil. Ok so probably sounds dumb eh but it works......I think I only had one or two, ok maybe 5 or 6 but that is it...worms escape and crawl on the kitchen floor. They really do stay in there.
Have fun.
~Jenn_WI

[T-Mac]

adding water (not too much, now) wil "pump them up"

[L.M.G.S]

I feed mine used coffee grounds, it really fattens em up and there is nothing better than a crawler hooked on caffeine.
Loren Waalkens

[EyeBoy]

L.M.G.S. The question that begs to be asked; how in the heck do you get em on the hook, if you use Espresso grounds?!
>>>>>------------------~~~~~~~
Tom
FISH-ON!!!

[Backwater Eddy]

Jenn has the plan down pat the way it sounds! Watch the temp you keep them in too, most fridge's are set too cold and they shut down growth. I am the paper and coffee grounds type guy, and they do well if the moisture and temp is carefully maintained.

Ground temp is around 53 so that is my target temp. I used to keep them in 7 day coolers buried up to the lids in the shad of my garage, then covered them with plywood. No fridge needed then, just maintenance of moisture and food.

Hope this is of help, good fish'n!

"Backwater Eddy"

[dummie]

I have had crawlers in a spare refridgerator since spring and haven't lost a one. You keep them at 40 to 50 degrees they do very well. The bedding you mentioned is fine. Feed them coffee ground or fish food that comes in the sporting goods stores for that purpose. The other post are good. Check them often for dead ones and moisture. I use I believe the name is Frabill food. Remmember a crawler can eat its weight in a day. That's according to what I have read. Also before you use them you can pump them up with air.

[eye1]

Keep the bedding fairly moist , this way the ctawlers will absord water which helps to pump them up.Also feed them the crawler food that they sell in most sporting goods stores.When feeding start out slow , don't give them more than they will eat in a day or so , if you give them more than they can eat the un-eaten food will mold.A day before you are going to use them put them in some super wet bedding in the fridge and they will pump up even more , then just keep them in a cooler when fishing.

[popia]

I dont know how to make the crawlers grow but to prepare the crawlers for a days fishing this is what I do. Remove a couple dozen crawlers and rinse off the bedding in water. Place the crawlers in a small cooler containing water and a little ice. The crawlers swell up big time and are very active and are excellent for rigging or trolling spinners. Only put enough crawlers in the ice water that you will be using for the day.