Fishing Forum

How do you guys keep and expand Crawler populations over the winter. I have a vented styro filled with worm bedding in my garage (45-55 degrees). Open to anything you might suggest.

Thanks
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I also store my worms/crawlers in vented styrofoam boxes, but am considering going back to the fiber sided worm boxes. I think the worms/crawlers do better in the fiber boxes whose entire sides, top, and bottom breathe.

The bedding used is paper pulp like Frabill's worm bedding. Food such as Frabill or Worm Paradise worm food is sprinkled on top and replaced as it disappears. I occasionally give the worms/crawlers spent coffee grounds as an extra treat.

The bedding is changed out when it becomes too wet. This problem occurs less frequently with the fiber sided boxes.

The boxes are kept in the basement.
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Hey there CatmanErv, It you have a Walmart out there, they have a really good worm keeping kit. Or you can get just the bedding material. It is pretty cheap and should last you all winter.
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Thanks for reminding me. I haven't checked on my styro worm container since the last 70 degree day we had! I'll hafta dig through the material and see how they're doing.

I bought a kit that came with a 10 oz container of "worm food" that you sprinkle on the surface periodically. Got mine at Gander Mountain. But I need to downsize since the styro container I have takes up half of my fridge! (I've got no other place to keep them.)
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How long will the crawlers last in the fridge? Is it too cold?
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They kinda stink up the fridge, but I've kept crawlers in those little styrofoam containers they come in at places like WalMart and sportings goods stores, in my fridge, for over a month!! I do have to sort through the containers and toss a few, but an amazing number survive well.

Don't know how it would work if more than I and the dogs lived in this house. Guess I could buy one of those small under table fridges college students now lug to school.
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I've had my styro-worm farm in my fridge for 9 months now. The worms are doing great! I do take it out, check the population, then feed them once in a while. This gives them a chance to aerate some more and also mixes nutrients a bit.

You should see all the cute little worms that are in there now.
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put leaves and compost in it will help them along but corn meal they like.
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I stay out late quite often fishing some times clear in to the next day. I need to keep my worms aleart and figity all nignt. so I use used coffee grounds. [sly] I do admit that they get addicted on the cafeen, I swear some times they are already up and waiting for the next cup when I step out in the mornings.....[laugh] they also like whole acorns
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Some of the local sporting goods stores have a commercial bedding and food that is good for storing them in for long periods of time. I found a kit at Wallys Worrld that is pretty inexpensive. It is also low maintenance and only requires occasional rewetting of the bedding.

I also tried the coffee grounds with mine and it works well. I did have to cut my worms back to decaf because they were starting to get those morning jitters.[laugh]
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