If European night crawlers are the same or similar to the night crawlers we have in the US-that you get at the bait store, then you can raise them but they need to have a minimum of 10 cm. of soil. I read this in a scientific journal and then did it earlier this summer, I lost a few (from 2 doz) but most survived for about 2mo.

They don't act at all like the composting type of worms, dig down into 'permanent' burrows and basically stay there-they do come up for sex and rarely for other reasons-probably to grab food. They are bottom feeders that basically come up out of the burrow and pull food down into it-they seemed to like spoiled 'fresh spinach leaves'. They reproduce slowly and are large so they themselves take up more space. I think this is why they eat less or maybe the composting worms are just big eaters but they don't eat like composting worms.

So yes you could raise them in a worm tower (if each layer is atleast 10cm, but expect them to stay at the bottom and in the dirt you have to give them-so they won't behave like composting worms but if you want to just learn about them they are interesting.

Kristi

Yes, the European nightcrawler (Eisenia hortensis) can be cultured in stacking units like the Can O Worms. While this worm species tends to grow a bit larger than does Eisenia fetida, it can still fit through window screen. The holes in the stacking unit trays will be no barrier to them.

Keep in mind that the term "nightcrawler" is essentially meaningless. It is a common name applied indescriminately to many different worm species, and does not represent similarities in environmental preference or behaviors. In fact, the bait worm most commonly sold in the US under the names 'Canadian nightcrawler' and 'common nightcrawler' is a deep-burrowing anecic species, Lumbricus terrestris (most of which are shipped to bait sellers from Canada, though this worm is common to US soils) while the European nightcrawler (Eisenia hortensis) is a surface-dwelling epigeic species with a poor burrowing capacity.

Dean, E. hortensis is a species that prefers cooler temperatures than does E. fetida, with the ideal being roughly 60°F, and requires as much moisture in the system as possible without inhibiting airflow in order to maximize activity. As such, these worms will often be found low in the system where moisture collects and where density of material helps insulate the area at cooler, more consistent temperatures. If you manage the entire system with E. hortensis preferences in mind, however, they can be effectively cultured in any commercial worm unit.

Know, too, that E. hortensis has an optimal breeding and growth rate considerably slower than that of E. fetida, so don't be surprised if it takes several months for your worm population to fill the available space. It will generally take at least 18 months under optimal conditions for this species to establish a stable, maximized population, with some growers reporting longer times.

Kelly S

This was a question that I felt I could answer for you, however Kelly has answered it so much better than I ever could.I do agree the term european night crawlers is very misleading and really should not be used in the way that it is.In England the term "dendrbeana" is still used instead of "eisenia hortensis.This is the worm I have in my composting bin,and yes it is a little slower to breed ,and yes it can take quite a long time to get fully established it does seem to be better suited to outside worm composting in cooler climates but I think well worth it in the end. kind regards John

OH, I just checked back. So sorry for the bad info. Kelly thanks for correcting me :), and please feel free to do so anytime i the future. Dean, I hope I didn't confuse the subject too much.

Kris, you have said nothing for which an apology is necessary! The term "nightcrawler" understandably confuses most people, and your information about anecic nightcrawler species was actually very good!

None of us (and I do mean none of us) are all-knowing, thus we must rely on eachother to challenge information and ensure our statements are accurate and are presented in a way that it is readily understandable. I'm always impressed when folks both give and recieve critiques with kindness and friendship as the guiding principles.

KellyS

European Night crawlers are non native worms,This is why we
with any non-native species, it is important not to allow them to reach the wild. Their voracious appetites and reproductive rates (especially among the red wigglers) have been known to upset the delicate balance of the hardwood forests by consuming the leaf litter too quickly. This event leaves too little leaf letter to slowly incubate the hard shelled nuts and leads to excessive erosion as well as negatively affecting the pH of the soil. So, do your best to keep them confined!
Try to buy a worm that is native to your area. Invasive "non-native", plants or animals that adversely affect the habitats and bioregions they invade economically, environmentally, and/or ecologically. Think Green ,this worm is not to be in the U.S.