European Nightcrawlers (ENC) - Initial Bin Setup 01/09/2022

[@WorldComposting]

I've had these ENCs for a while and have a few things I've wanted to try this is only the first test! Buy Worms Here bit.ly/2XXy18v Meme's Worms (affiliate link)

[@A-V]

Nice cozy new home for the ENCs - they'll enjoy the coco coir bedding for sure. I've got a pre-built system that I assembled more than a month ago.. just sitting there kinda "priming" like your's is doing now. By the time we move worms into their new homes the material should be just right & make them feel perfectly at home in it 👍🏻

[@WorldComposting]

I'm hoping so it is key to prime the bedding so they have the microbes necessary to feed them!

[@philiphapeshis1226]

How many gallons is that tote?

[@WorldComposting]

Around 7-9 gallons. I used to buy 10 gallon totes but they stopped selling them.

[@connecticutwormsgardens]

What a great home 🏠, they're going to be thrive. Such a good idea to let the microbes bloom before adding the worms. This week I needed to move some of my blue worms to a new container and was out of pre-made bedding so they went into a bin with brand new bedding and a couple handful of castings. I didn't have the time to let it age so they went into a sterile system with several good handfuls of castings added. I've checked them daily and they've already found the food so I think they'll be okay. This was an unplanned situation lol and not the way I prefer to do it. The way you demonstrated is perfect 👍 Looking forward to the follow-up showing the new tenants moving in 🥰

[@WorldComposting]

I'm typically pretty bad about premixing bedding and letting it age but I really need to get a second Euro bin going just in case something happens in my UWB. Hoping this week I'll be able to add them as they finally have large enough numbers to split some out!

[@connecticutwormsgardens]

@@WorldComposting That's so awesome that they populated to the point where you can spin off a second bin. Everything is looking great

[@ontherocksinthesoilmichael6739]

Just be aware after a major disturbances in the bin leave them under a light for 1-2 hrs because ENC are notorious for fleeing uncovered bins. Just a heads up ☝.

[@WorldComposting]

Thanks! I have a light I can leave on to keep them in place 😉

[@ontherocksinthesoilmichael6739]

@@WorldComposting after an hour or two they will be fine but it takes a bit before they realize they are safe now.

[@connecticutwormsgardens]

Hi Mike, I run into you again lol. I've heard others say how ENC's are flighty, yet that's not been my experience. I went through a "can't make up my mind" phase and moved my ENC's 5 times in 6 days (and ended up with the original configuration 🤔). I don't mean I moved the location of there been, I relocated the colony into five different bins.. Despite the revolving door or revolving bin, I never had a single one come out or even try to. They always seem to settle right down. Maybe they know the cats are watching and realize their fate if they end up on the floor😼😲

[@ontherocksinthesoilmichael6739]

@@connecticutwormsgardens the closer to new bedding it is the more likely they are to climb. Usually they settle down relatively quickly (within a hour) but it can be an issue if people aren't aware of it. With my precomposted bedding it is less likely they will want to leave.

[@wallysworms]

I do add food immediately as soon as I start a new bin. I also use year old compost as bedding so I don't need to wait for the microbes and stuff. Nice video, thx for sharing

[@WorldComposting]

You are right year old compost is a great bedding for the worms and if I could do that there would be zero issues adding food right away!

[@giacomovitali7906]

Awesome playlist about ENC! Can I ask you if you control the level of umidity and correct it between a step and the seccessive? Where you store the bin and what temperature? Thank you!

[@WorldComposting]

Thanks for watching! Humidity is really difficult due to the temperature ranges in my area. During the summer months humidity will be pretty high (40-65%) and then during the winter it drops really low (10-40%). I try to allow a bit more air movement over the summer and less during the winter but the drastic changes really just require seeing how dry the material is in the system. My bins are in my basement which while temperature controlled I do not have a sensor and the basement tends to run 5-10 degrees colder than the rest of the house which is why I show the temperatures of the bins sometimes. During the winter the temps are in the low to mid 60s and during the summer they will be in the mid 70s. This has worked for multiple years with reds and ENC worms without really an issue. My ANCs nearly died off the first year as I used seed heating mats and other things but they really suffered. This year I tried to do less and they seem to be okay but not thriving. Sorry for the long answer but hopefully I gave enough details for your questions. If you have other questions let me know!!

[@giacomovitali7906]

@@WorldComposting No other questions now! Thank you very much for the answer! I just started a bin following your steps, more or less. Hoping in many ENCs!

[@dandavis6775]

Where did you get your European nightcrawlers?

[@WorldComposting]

I ordered my worms online. I recommend Meme's Worms bit.ly/2XXy18v if you are looking to order in the USA.

[@Gillilansisland555]

Can they be raised in 5 gallon buckets

[@WorldComposting]

I'm not sure ENCs could but I know reds can. I'll be testing out a vernmenting system with ENC at some point but I'm trying to build up the population a bit more.

[@larrymoss4296]

Can you put castings from red worms and your European been

[@WorldComposting]

I can but if I did that I would have a mixed system. I have thought about mixing in the past but worms like different conditions so I tend to keep them separate until they are in my big tote where I store castings. Can never remove all the worms when sorting.