I bought a flat on the sturgeon excursion and put them right into a frabill worm farm. After we returned home I split them into 2 so that there was more space but I am having quite a few die off… Any suggestions? And also what temp should these be kept at? Is it fine to just throw them in the fridge, or does that get to cold? Thanks in advance!!
Basement floor has always worked for me.
I use a blue barrel cut lengthwise, filled with worm bedding. Keep them cold, mine sits on the concrete basement floor. 40ยบ if you keep them in the fridge.
I usually have between 500 and 1000 in there at a time, all picked from the ground. I go pick them up on good wet nights then harvest enough out of the barrel to go fishing.
Make sure you feed them if you do the basement route, they are going to be warmer so they will need to eat. You can buy worm food right next to the bedding at almost any sporting goods store.
I keep worms alive 365 days a year.I used to buy from Omaha Steaks and they sent your meat shipment in varios sized thick and sturdy strofoam coolers.I have been using this one for about 10 years now and it works very well.What I did was dill a bunch of 1/4 inch holes in the lid. Then on the underside of the lid I stapled nylon mesh all acroos the lid to prevent any worms from getting out. I then put a touch of waterproof silicone over each staple to keep them from coming out. I use any commercially bought ( Cabelas, Gander, Bass Pro_ worm bedding and put it in the cooler. Put it in the fridge for a couple days to pre-cool and then put your worms in it. This cooler has been all over the States and in many fly in trips in Quebec and Ontario and its still filled with worms. Some do die but I just check them now and again and weed the dead ones out and put new worms in. On top of the worms I put damp newspapers and then a layer or 2 of Burlap.Every couple weeks I will sprinkle some of the Magic Worm food on the top of the worms and this stuff seems to work really good. When I go on a trip, I put the re-useable Blue ice packs on top of the Burlap and away we go.I have put at least 250 worms in this and they are like little snakes after a few weeks. I have found that the best temp is between 40 and 45 degrees in the fridge. Hope this helps. 
I also use an Omaha Steaks Styrofoam cooler it it works beautifully. Mine is not customized whatsoever. I just put worm bedding that has the food mixed in it in there and that’s it. Keeps them in great shape for a long time.
I sort through mine at least 1 per week to remove the weak or dead ones before they start to stink. The old saying “One bad apple can spoil the whole bunch” is true for crawlers too. I’ll keep mine on the garage floor in a styrofoam cooler until it starts warming up during the day. Then they go in the gargage fridge. I only take out enough for each fishing trip. When your fishing, keep them in a cooler. Don’t let them sit in the sun.
We used to keep them in an big old styrofoam cooler as well.
As others have said, they need to be kept as cool and moist as possible. Also, it seemed to help to keep them in a light, fluffy soil that doesn’t compact. We used to use stuff from the bottom of the compost pile and mix in some decomposed sheep doo-doo. The key seems to be to have minimal clay in the soil because that will turn into almost cement after a while, it gets very hard. Also, having loose soil helps because it’s easier to get worms out without risking killing them by haveing to dig a lot.
Whatever you do, keep it covered tightly so the moisture stays in and they stay cool.
Grouse
Quote:
Whatever you do, keep it covered tightly so the moisture stays in and they stay cool.
Grouse
…and to keep the worms in the cooler. Ma ain’t happy about all the dehydrated worm carcasses on the basement floor.
Quote:
…and to keep the worms in the cooler. Ma ain’t happy about all the dehydrated worm carcasses on the basement floor.
Ya…..They have no sense of humor…. 
Try to keep them moist with rain water over tap water
Quote:
…and to keep the worms in the cooler. Ma ain’t happy about all the dehydrated worm carcasses on the basement floor.
I’ve got a ghost in my garage that keeps taking the cooler lid off just enough for them to get out. It doesn’t matter if its on the garage floor or in the fridge. I prefer when he does it in the fridge. It’s easier to find them when they get out and they don’t stink. Either way, momma isn’t ever happy about it. 
Here’s a trick as old as the hills to help keep you’re crawlers in the box.
Wet down a section of newspaper and lay it across the top of the bedding, completely covering the top.
You may still lose one here and there, but for the most part, crawlers don’t try very hard to get out when using this trick.
Quote:
Here’s a trick as old as the hills to help keep you’re crawlers in the box.
Wet down a section of newspaper and lay it across the top of the bedding, completely covering the top.
You may still lose one here and there, but for the most part, crawlers don’t try very hard to get out when using this trick.
Thanks Joel, I’ll have to give that a shot. I don’t think the ghost in my garage is going anywhere.
I have to use a rubber maid bin to keep them. I have the same issue with my foam cooler lid on with a weight on top and they still manage to escape. 
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
