Worm farms: I'd like to try to keep leftover bait this summer and was curious how folks store worms when they're done at the end of the day. I'm looking at the magic bedding/food...

Mgiven Loc: Michigan

I'd like to try to keep leftover bait this summer and was curious how folks store worms when they're done at the end of the day. I'm looking at the magic bedding/food system and was curious if anyone else used it or what is best way to keep them for next time. probably mostly leaf/red worms or crawlers I'd be keeping. thanks in advance..

1Oldboat42 Loc: Kearney, Nebraska

Mgiven wrote:

I'd like to try to keep leftover bait this summer and was curious how folks store worms when they're done at the end of the day. I'm looking at the magic bedding/food system and was curious if anyone else used it or what is best way to keep them for next time. probably mostly leaf/red worms or crawlers I'd be keeping. thanks in advance..

The way I try to keep worms for any length of time is to keep them cool. In the summer it's a fridge. In the winter it's just in the garage, as long as it doesn't freeze. I also use a combination of magic bedding and dirt, keeping it just moist enough as not to be dry. But to be honest with you, come late January or February I forget about them and they die anyway. 🥴

EasternOZ Loc: Kansas City Metro

And feed them a little oatmeal dry of course

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

Mgiven wrote:

I'd like to try to keep leftover bait this summer and was curious how folks store worms when they're done at the end of the day. I'm looking at the magic bedding/food system and was curious if anyone else used it or what is best way to keep them for next time. probably mostly leaf/red worms or crawlers I'd be keeping. thanks in advance..

I just keep them in a big coffee can and feed them old dried coffee grounds mixed with cornmeal.
I just set mine free from lack of use. I'd had them for 3 years. There were over a dozen big crawlers with MANY little ones still in there.
I kept them on the bottom shelf of the fridge.

Clappy Loc: Michigan

Crawlers in the fridge, last about 2 weeks unless you up size the container, and in some cornmeal, dirt and coffee grounds. Then they will last longer. Avoid heat and freezing, that will kill them quickly. If not the fridge, cool dark place.

Grandpa Knows How Loc: Bahia De Los angeles, Mexico

I founding putting them in a 5 gallon pail with a loose cover worked well.(I didn't want to put holes in my cover.) I insured proper moisture level and covered the soil with a 1/4 or more of wet local newspapers still folded. I kept it in my garage, which did not get below freezing. I always had lots more bait as they could feed of the news print and multiply. You'll be able to tell if the worm or night crawlers are getting over crowded as you'll find them on the garage floor. Do not use colored new print as most colored inks as I understand are reported to be toxic. My Grandfather used a large wash tubs 60 years ago. He always seems do have wash tubs available for everything.

Papa D Loc: Mantweeka, Ca

Mgiven wrote:

I'd like to try to keep leftover bait this summer and was curious how folks store worms when they're done at the end of the day. I'm looking at the magic bedding/food system and was curious if anyone else used it or what is best way to keep them for next time. probably mostly leaf/red worms or crawlers I'd be keeping. thanks in advance..

M-

If you want to go large, I have used a system like this one:
https://m.vevor.com/other-c_11229/vevor-5-tray-worm-composter-50-l-worm-compost-bin-outdoor-and-indoor-sustainable-design-worm-farm-kit-for-recycling-food-waste-worm-castings-worm-tea-vermiculture-and-vermicomposting-p_010234676318?adp=gmc&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_id=20551600067&utm_term=&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAg9urBhB_EiwAgw88mUHtqGmNgAlfxe-fcvl7sA6xSs_p_1AOx3kkF1WnL1rcsudrlaO1_xoCRS8QAvD_BwE

Compost and wet peat moss or Coco palm in the top -- finished worm casing and hundreds of eggs come out the bottom.

I'm currently using a DIY version that I made with 7 gal Tough Totes from THD. The only thing I feed them is dog poop and coco palm. I let my grandson sell the casings and eggs to local gardeners ($10 per gallon) or just spread it in our garden.

If you want more info, just ask.

From the Internet....
From the Internet.......

What I made mine with...
What I made mine with......

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

Grandpa Knows How wrote:

I founding putting them in a 5 gallon pail with a ... (show quote)

My Dad had a tub of worms he kept under the swamp cooler on the front porch when I was a kid.
The cooler would drip water into it and it was covered with a tow sack, or some people called it a gunny sack or burlap bag, whatever you prefer. Anyway it stayed wet and cool and we always had plenty of worms for fishin.

Jeremy Loc: America

Mgiven wrote:

I'd like to try to keep leftover bait this summer and was curious how folks store worms when they're done at the end of the day. I'm looking at the magic bedding/food system and was curious if anyone else used it or what is best way to keep them for next time. probably mostly leaf/red worms or crawlers I'd be keeping. thanks in advance..

Red wrigglers don’t need to be kept cool but can freeze. Earth Worms ( night crawlers ) need to be kept cool. Both like coffee and paper and cornmeal and leaves. Paper is just wood so it’s good for them.

Steve smith Loc: Cambridge Maryland

Mgiven wrote:

I'd like to try to keep leftover bait this summer and was curious how folks store worms when they're done at the end of the day. I'm looking at the magic bedding/food system and was curious if anyone else used it or what is best way to keep them for next time. probably mostly leaf/red worms or crawlers I'd be keeping. thanks in advance..

In my younger days when we use to catch night crawlers at night we use to use potatoe peels and used coffee grinds

Papa D Loc: Mantweeka, Ca

Steve smith wrote:

In my younger days when we use to catch night crawlers at night we use to use potatoe peels and used coffee grinds

My brothers and I would 'borrow' the battery and jumper cables from my mom's car and jolt them out of the ground at our neighborhood park.

nutz4fish Loc: Colchester, CT

saw1 wrote:

My Dad had a tub of worms he kept under the swamp cooler on the front porch when I was a kid.
The cooler would drip water into it and it was covered with a tow sack, or some people called it a gunny sack or burlap bag, whatever you prefer. Anyway it stayed wet and cool and we always had plenty of worms for fishin.

Saw1, When we were kids, we used burlap bags too, but differently. After we collected our crawlers, we would place a moist bag on top of the worm "box" and expose the worms to light. The ones who were not injured during our harvest would crawl through the burlap into the soil. The ones that were too damaged from our dragging them outta their holes couldn't make it. Then it went into the cellar right up against the foundation where it was cool. Mom wouldn't tolerate any bait in her refrigerator!

Fishing500 Loc: Okc

I used to keep worms for trout fishing kept them in the frigerator fed them coffee grounds and garlic the Trout loved it.

Randyhartford Loc: Lawrence, Kansas

Mgiven wrote:

I'd like to try to keep leftover bait this summer and was curious how folks store worms when they're done at the end of the day. I'm looking at the magic bedding/food system and was curious if anyone else used it or what is best way to keep them for next time. probably mostly leaf/red worms or crawlers I'd be keeping. thanks in advance..

I’ve kept them for years in an old fridge in the garage, in the “crisper” drawer with worm bedding/
food and a wet newspaper or cardboard over them. Pour a cup or two of water on the paper every now and then.
I restock the worms after a “toad-strangler” in the spring or summer; hundreds of night crawlers come out and I pick ‘em up off the gravel drive and road.

Randyhartford Loc: Lawrence, Kansas

Grandpa Knows How wrote:

I founding putting them in a 5 gallon pail with a ... (show quote)

That’s what I’ve kept minnows in. With a small aerator, occasional ice (depending on the season) and cornmeal to eat, they will last all summer, or longer if brought inside to the garage or basement.