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

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

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