Red Wrigglers have become quite popular nowadays. The worm is also known as the Eisenia Fetida. It is related to the common earthworm, but this worm is specialist at feeding on decaying manure and vegetation. The red wriggler is rarely found squirming the dirt. It usually makes it home in places other worms cannot survive.

The scientific names it has been given comes from the odor it release when handled. Hundreds of thousands of these worms are sold commercially each year. The reason the worms are so popular is because they are efficient at turning organic matter into compost. The compost the worms produce is packed with plant growing goodness. The process that worms use to transform organic matter into rich compost is called vermiculture.

The red wriggler grows up to 2 ½ inches long. As well as the compost they produce, anglers use them to catch pan fish and trout. In addition, they are used to feed fish in ponds and aquariums. Other animals including turtles and birds also enjoy this worm as a food supply.

The worms make a good fishing bait because they are active and can live beneath the water longer than other earthworms. The worms are hardy and able to survive extreme changes in the climate. A safe temperature range to keep the worms is anything between 38 to 95 degrees.  

Red wrigglers improve the soil by conditioning it as they move through it searching for food. They emit a nitrous fertilizer that has 5 times the nitrogen you will find in 6 inches of soil, 11 times the potash and 7 times the phosphorus. Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potash are essential nutrients plants need to grow and remain healthy.

If you were to buy a pound of these worms you would get between 800-1000 worms and their eggs. If you are planning to start a compost bin in your yard, the red wriggler is the worm you want. They also are prolific breeders that reproduce incredibly fast. A starter supply of 1000 worms can grow into 3000 in only a few months.