confusion on worm species

15 years ago

I am interested in starting a vermicomposting bin in my backyard for all of the obvious benefits. I called a local Phoenix nursery for red wrigglers but they did not seem to carry them. The lady on the phone told me that I can find worms at Walmart or even AM/PM gas stations. However, I know from fishing experience that these worms sold at sporting goods stores are nightcrawlers, which are no good in a vermicomposter. Unless perhaps red wrigglers are also used as fishing worms? There is a place I found on the web that sells worms in the valley but is extremely far from my residence. I might end up calling the local extension office for sources of worms, although I was told they are closing it down for some reason :(

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Comments (8)

roselover_5b
15 years ago
I've heard that Petsmart and the like carry the worms. It would be an expensive way to acquire them, though. FWIW, some places to sell composting worms as bait. My local gas station sells Eisenia hortensis (also known as European Nightcrawlers) as bait during the fishing season. That's a good composting worm. (Buying composting worms as bait is also an expensive way to acquire the worms). I've also heard of people having good success posting to Craig's List and Freecycle.
fosteem1
15 years ago
If you go with Petsmart open the tubs and check out the worms. I found that the amount of worms in each tub can vary a lot.
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sbryce_gw
15 years ago
Your best way to insure that you are getting what you want is to order from a reputable on-line dealer and have them shipped to you. Because of the cold weather, not all dealers are shipping to all locations right now. You may have to wait until spring.

Another way to get worms is to go on-line to http://www.vermicomposters.com and see if you can find someone in your area who can help get you started.
tclynx
15 years ago
You can easily order worms from online sellers of composting worms. If you choose a seller in the south, they would probably be able to ship this time of year. Most online sellers will sell a pound of worms between $15 and $60 depending on how they measure the "pound" of worms and all and what type of worms they are selling. My link below does have links to the place where I bought my worms (quite handy that they are local to me so I didn't have to pay shipping.) Where ever you get your worms from, just make sure they don't pack the worms in a plastic bag or anything like that for shipping. Cardboard and paper are all that is usually required but I've heard some terrible stories of people buying worms off ebay and they wind up with a box containing a ziplock bag full of foul mush that was worms before being shipped.

Here is a link that might be useful: TCLynx
kioni
15 years ago
I myself bought fishing worms to start up my bin. It was from a local outdoor supply store, and the bag said they were red wrigglers. I'd looked at lot on the internet to help me identify them, and were pretty sure that is what they were. I paid $5 for a bag of 20 (19 alive, 1 not). The supplier's address indicated they were 2 hours from me, but since I was starting small, I didn't mind beginning with so few. After a few weeks I went back to the supply outfit and forked over another $5 for another bag of 20. I fed them hardly 2 tablespoons of (hand) minced scraps that I'd frozen first-then thawed, twice per month. Then noticed that when the good food was run out, I'd have white springtails all over the ceiling of my rubbermaid, but if there was stuff for them to work on, nothing on the lid or sides (maybe a few drops of moisture). So that is how I've been able to guage when the bin needs more food. Hope I'm right.

This was 18 months ago, now I need to feed weekly, about 1/2 cup chopped and frozen scrap, and just judging by how many worms I see when I do poke around, I'm guessing I could be up to 150 - 200? I need to start up another bin soon (when I can claim the time), and plan on making it bigger, then I will do a count, and hopefully remember to report back to this forum, should anyone be interested. I've enjoyed nuturing them along. It's been fun. I'm also thinking of purchasing another bag of 20 this summer, just to freshen the genetics of the herd I've already got, does this make sense?
pyropunk
15 years ago
connor,

maybe your problems started when you called them "red wrigglers". There are several earthworm species that are commonly called "red wriggler". You may just end up with the wrong species. Rather call them by their scientific name Eisenia fetida or Eisenia foetida. Or if you want to go a little bit more exotic Eisenia andrei or even more exotic Lumbricus rubellus or a lot more exotic Perionyx excavatus.

Instead of buying, why don't you contact any of the vermicomposters in your area?

Hope that helps you further.
Alex

Here is a link that might be useful: vermicomposters in your area
takadi
15 years ago
Do you have any farms in your vicinity? They always have a pile of manure laying around, and they are usually loaded with red wigglers. That's where I got mine
african
15 years ago
I agree with Pyropunk, you need to sharpen up on your terminology - the latin names are exact and avoid confusion.

But watch out for exotic worms. I've read that the imported European Lumbricus Rubellus (usually known as Red Wriggler - as opposed to Red Wiggler) is already cited as an invasive species in North America and is suspected of damaging forests, by reducing the amount of trash on the surface, which is needed to be retained to keep the forests healthy.

Here is a link that might be useful: What about the Workers