How to Start a Fish Bait Farm

Find an appropriate container. A standard plastic box, such as a portable food container, with a lid is suitable. It does not need to be too big provided everything that needs to go in fits.

Poke several air holes in the container to ensure the worms get oxygen.

Dampen the shredded newspaper, this helps the worms breathe. It is important the paper is not too wet, as it will cause the worms to drown.

Add soil, but be sure not to add so much that it crowds the container. Garden soil is preferable to potting soil.

Get worms. You can either buy a supply or find them in your garden. Red earthworms are preferred, they breed quickly, can be used for composting and grow faster.

Weigh the worms. This is important to know how much food to place in the container. Red earthworms eat approximately half their body weight every day, so calculate the food needed based on their weight.

Add food. Scraps of vegetables, pasta, bread, oatmeal and eggshells are all good options. Eggshells provide crucial calcium, which helps worms reproduce. Use shells from hard-boiled eggs. Do not use salty foods, meat, poultry as they attract unwanted insects.

Add the worms. It's a good idea to briefly leave the lights on in the room and keep the lid of the container open. This allows the worms to get used to their new living space. When putting the container lid on, keep it slightly open to allow a little bit more oxygen in.

Look after your farm. Every so often you will need to remoisten or change the bedding (newspaper and soil). It is possible to train the worms by feeding them at one end of the container. (They will remain at that end, making it easier to remove everything.)