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What to Feed Red Worms to Increase Breeding?

Red worms are easy to raise in captivity. They adapt well to life in a bin or other restricted environment, they can withstand a wider range of temperatures than can many types of worms and they are easy to sell, as fish bait or as pet food. These worms will eat and thrive on almost any kind of decaying plant matter, but there are certain foods that can be added to give them an extra boost for breeding.

Description
- Red worms are active worms that range in size from small, thin, threadlike worms just out of the egg to fully mature adults that are 3 to 4 inches long. The worms can reproduce at two to three months of age, and each worm will have two to 20 young every week to 10 days. The young hatch from eggs that are contained in cocoons, tiny capsules that are each about the size of a grain of rice. Every worm is bisexual, containing both male and female parts, but a worm must come in contact with another worm for the exchange of sperm in order to be able to lay eggs.
Ideal Conditions
- Red worms will breed the best when they are kept under conditions that protect them, provide adequate space and plenty of available food. The temperature should be kept between 60 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit, and for maximum egg production, 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit is best. Bedding must be moist but not waterlogged, and there needs to be an adequate amount of air circulation.
Feeding
- The No. 1 feeding requirement for red worms is an adequate supply of any suitable food. Well-fed worms will reproduce reliably and often. To give them a nutritional boost, add ground or powdered corn meal, calf food or chicken feed. While other foods are best when buried in the bedding, ground meal or other concentrated foods should be lightly sprinkled on top of the bedding, since burying them could make the worm bed too hot, reducing breeding rather than encouraging it.
Foods to Avoid
- Red worms will eat almost anything but they do best with plant-based foods, and other things should be avoided. Any kind of greasy foods, foods containing oils, meat or dairy can cause problems in the worm bin. The worms typically avoid or eat very little of these foods, and the excess will go rancid, as well as attracting such pests as rodents, dogs, cats and ants. Excess citrus can also cause problems, potentially resulting in worm bedding that is too acidic, leading to a reduction in breeding activity and the possibility of health problems as well.

Animals & Science