How exactly do you care for nightcrawlers?

[ConcinusMan]

Leave them in the container they're in. It needs to be kept just barely moist, not wet and store them at 50 degrees. That is how to keep them alive the longest. You can put them at regular fridge temps (42 F or so) and it won't kill them but they will go dormant and not eat or reproduce. They'll stay alive 2-4 months like that as long as they are not too wet. check often for dead ones. If one dies and rots in there, they all die. DO NOT FEED THEM FOOD SCRAPS they are earthworms. They eat dirt not scraps. They eat what composting worms, fungi and bacteria leave behind AFTER breaking scraps down. Their need for food is ziltch if kept at 42 anyway. Room temperature is too warm. They will consume all the food in a day or two and start dying at room temp. 50-55 F is ideal. My snakes always eat them up quick enough but I have had them survive in my fridge at 42 for several months. You just can't let them dry out and if u add too much moisture or scraps that rot or mold, that will kill them too.

[Muslim1]

Leave them in the container they're in. It needs to be kept just barely moist, not wet and store them at 50 degrees. That is how to keep them alive the longest. You can put them at regular fridge temps (42 F or so) and it won't kill them but they will go dormant and not eat or reproduce. They'll stay alive 2-4 months like that as long as they are not too wet. check often for dead ones. If one dies and rots in there, they all die. DO NOT FEED THEM FOOD SCRAPS they are earthworms. They eat dirt not scraps. They eat what composting worms, fungi and bacteria leave behind AFTER breaking scraps down. Their need for food is ziltch if kept at 42 anyway. Room temperature is too warm. They will consume all the food in a day or two and start dying at room temp. 50-55 F is ideal. My snakes always eat them up quick enough but I have had them survive in my fridge at 42 for several months. You just can't let them dry out and if u add too much moisture or scraps that rot or mold, that will kill them too.

AMEEN! Also. If a crawler dies it help to leave it in with them worms become worm food.

[guidofatherof5]

Dead or sick worms should be removed immediately. They produce a gas/substance that will kill all the worms. Night crawlers are decayed plant matter eaters. The dead worm will return to the soil and then to plants but the night crawlers won't eat the dead worm.
In this case,
♫"One bad worm will spoil the whole bunch, girl"♫
Sorry, I just had to.

[Muslim1]

Whoops! I always left them in the container. I havent had anything bad happen.....yet? I use a mixture of dirt/compost for mine. would that make a difference?

"you live, you learn"

Steven

[guidofatherof5]

There is no way to make them non-toxic other then to remove them.

[Muslim1]

Thanks for the info.

[Lcrest]

I occasionally feed nightcrawlers to my newts. Don't keep them inside the styrofoam packages- they could start rotting in those if you keep them too long. I use small plastic containers (with lids, of course) and punch air holes in the sides to make them stackable. I sprinkle a little yeast or some bread crumbs in there every now and them and they do fine. If you spot mold, take it out immediately.

This seems like a great method. Thank you.