Earthworm species currently being used . . .

[welaka75]

I'm fairly new to vermiculture, having raised "red wigglers", for over a year now. I recently acquired a healthy start of Amynthas gracilus, aka "Wonder Worm" and "Alabama Jumper", among other names. In a couple of months, after we settle at our new property, I'll add the "European Nightcrawler" to my list.
Out of curiosity, what other earthworm species are being kept / used by other members of this list? I have heard alot of negative comments about the use of Perionyx excavatus, "India Blue / Spiketail", but it's smaller size does fit in with another marketing idea that I have as use as a fish food, for aquarium fish and reptiles. Canadian nightcrawlers are out of the picture for use, down here in the deep south as our temperatures are way too high.

[tt]

I just raise the Euros and reds. I would like some other species but no one seems to want to send me some egg caps. Im sure that would be the only way to get them to me alive. I just want to use them for my workshops to show some other types of worms.

[Jay Blair]

Perionyx excavatus are as suitable as Eisena fetida for vermicomposting provided that the environment is warm enough and the P.e. species can be adequately contained in the beds as they tend to be more active and migratory than the Eisenia fetida.

P.e. die off in temps of the low 40s / high 30s f. while E.f. will hybernate in that temperature range.

The biggest reason most people don't find value in Perionyx excavatus worms is that some unscrupelous commercial sellers have charged high per pound price for E.f. composting starter stock and while advertising them as only containing E.f. , portions of the starter herd were actually P.e.

As these worms die and do not fatten as well, this type of shipment is below quality and not what was advertised.

I use both E.f. and P.e. species in my compost bins. On the occasion I need only the more cold tollerant worms separated. I separate the neccesary worms and force hybernation in a small refrigerator for 48 hours killing off any P.e. worms.

My beds at my south Texas vacation home had large volumes of P.e. which often fared much better than my E.f. stock. The P.e. were visibly more active in the hot environment.