Worm bin and potting soil

[kay]

Hi guys, quick question for you. I am creating my first worm bin to hold canadian nightcrawlers. I went to home depot and bought Premium Nature Mix by Hortibec. The ingredients read: peat moss, humus, compost, and perlite. It also sayd this is organic mix. I opened up the bag and saw those white balls, im assuming is perlite.

Is this potting soil ok to use? Or do I need to throw it out. Thanks for your help.

Kay.

 

[Greatwtehunter]

If it's just used in the worm culture then it should be OK. If you decide to use it, make sure you rinse off the worms before you feed them out. Perlite is volcanic glass and therefore poses a HUGE impaction risk if your critter were to accidentally ingest a piece or two.

 

[Jan]

Canadian nightcrawlers have to be maintained at refrigerated temps to live any length of time and can't be cultured. See this discussion on the best substrate to use/try in a holding bin:

http://www.caudata.org/forum/f1173-...rs-etc/81114-keeping-worms-fridge-secret.html

 

[kay]

Justin: thanks a lot. From what I was reading, I knew it was unsuitable as regular substrate in tanks, but there was no specific discussion on worm bins. If that's the case and you agree it would probably be ok, I can just go ahead and sift the permit out as an extra precaution.

Jan: I had no idea that I couldnt use nightcrawlers... There goes that plan :S I will do more research. Off the top of your head, do you know which ones can be maintained successfully in a worm bin?

 

[Kaysie]

Red wigglers will do just fine in a worm bin.

 

[nwmnnaturalist]

I keep my worms in a container of garden soil and mixed in composted manure. I buy the Wal-Mart "Trout Worms" since they're of a manageable size and tend to live a long time in good care. I keep mine on a concrete floor by a window, where cool air radiates off the windows (it's winter right now). Cool concrete can keep it cool if you have enough substrate for them.

I've actually had a couple of batches of worms that I bought a month and a half ago that are doing well and not dying off. I make sure to check for any dead worms, since it stinks and isn't healthy for the others.