Eisenia Foetida and Eropean NIghtcrawlers. anyone have them together in a bin

[Anisten]

So yes I want to expand and also get the Night Crawlers so my hubby can have free worms for fishing. Does anyone have them both together in the bin? Most people have 2 bins and keep them separate.

[steamyb]

Well, yes I do. I started 2 bins in Sept. of '08. One for red wigglers and one for night crawlers. These were feeble attempts with bait shop worms. After a couple of weeks I had read enough to think I could do this, so I went to a local worm farm (found on the net) to buy some worms. I was told to forget about night crawlers (he said toss them in the yard cause they will die in a tote) because it is to hot in NC for them and to just have red wigglers. So I bought some EFs and went home. I didn't toss the night crawlers in the yard but combined the two bins and added the new worms I bought. When I harvested that tote in March, some of those crazy night crawlers were still lurking down in the bottom of that bin. Not as many as I bought originally, but at least half. My wife said to toss them while we were harvesting and I told her that they were good luck!

[Jeffrey J. Schaefer]

I recently read how it's a pretty good idea to mix them because the European NC will eat the food at the bottom of the bin while the "Red Wigglers" will stay at the top. The last worms I bought had a few of the ENC in them and you can really see how different they are. I can see why people like the Eisenia hortensis or European Nightcrawlers for fishing, big, FAT and juicy!!!!!!!!!!!!

[RJ_Hythloday]

I have mine mixed, I had to remove the lid and keep a light on. They get their name for a reason.

[Woo]

For the last year I have had a number of boxes with both red wigglers and European Nightcrawlers. They do very well living together. I feel the RW's are the best composters and breed the fastest, but the larger worms are big eaters. The only problem with the ENC's is that they will try to escape from the box when first introduced. In the past I have lost many ENC's when the box was first set up. Eventually, they will settle down with no problem as long as they have enough food. The last 2 ENC boxes (18 and 10 gallon plactic totes) I set up with no vent holes to prevent the worms from exiting. Many still found a way to get out. I ended up wrapping the boxes in large plastic bags so I could retrieve the escapees before they died on the floor. This has been working for a few days. Soon I plan to remove the bags and put vent holes in the boxes.

[Beth & Dave]

Hi. We have three worms in one Gusanito worm farm bin. EFs, ENCs and African NCs. All love it in there and get along great!
Beth