Although their smaller composting cousins, the Red Wigglers, are a well known composting bin worm, the European Nightcrawlers are a close competitor.  They are great composters, stay put in their bins, and are about the size of a gummy worm.  Perfect for people who love to fish and garden.  They work great in our stacking worm bins and migrate upward just like the Red Wigglers.  They like their soil a little moister than the Red Wigglers and are not quite as prolific.  Red Wigglers and Europeans can also coexist peacefully in a bin since they have the similar characteristics.

European Nightcrawlers (Eisenia hortensis) are also known as the Belgian Worm, Super Red, Carolina Crawlers, Giant Redworm, ENC's and Blue Worms.  European Nightcrawlers grow to be 3-8 inches long, and look like very large, fat red wigglers.  When they are not stretched out, they are as thick as a pencil.   European Nightcrawlers can tolerate temperatures as low as 45° F., however, they are most active between 60° and 70° F. They are also known to be prolific breeders so their numbers can increase rapidly.   The ENC's are quickly becoming the ideal bait worm.  They are a very tough worm that can be used successfully in salt water.  They have also been used for ice fishing in the most frigid waters of Northwestern British Columbia and have been found to be still active on the hook after 30 minutes in the freezing cold water. Nightcrawlers are also used in exotic pet markets as food for birds, fish, koi, turtles and other reptilians.

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