As one of the most versatile worms we sell in our online store, Dendrobaena worms are truly amazing. They make great fishing bait, live food for reptiles, and even composting or garden care. In this post, we explore some fun facts about Dendrobaena worms that you might not have known!
1) Known as European Night Crawler
Especially at night, Dendrobaena worms should be kept in securely locked containers. They’re most active at night, so they’re prone to escape. Hence the name!
2) Originally from Holland
Imported from Holland, these worms can thrive in any part of northern Europe in the wild. They’re hardy and resilient, and it’s easy to replicate their natural habitat when you store them in your home.
3) They have both male and female organs
A Dendrobaena worm has both male and female reproductive functions, meaning they produce both eggs and sperm. When mating, two worms will fertilise each other’s eggs, before laying the egg directly into the soil.
4) Takes 20 weeks to mature
From the time a Dendrobaena worm is laid as an egg, all the way through to sexual maturity, it takes up to 20 weeks. When a worm hatches, it looks like a small version of a fully grown worm. Over time, it gets progressively larger.
5) They live in woodlands and gardens
In the wild, a Dendrobaena worm can thrive in woodland soil, and among leaf and plant matter. They can also be found in domestic gardens, or anywhere with rich and damp soil.
6) Low maintenance
Whether you’re keeping Dendrobaena worms for live feed, fishing bait, composting, or a personal hobby, they’re incredibly easy to maintain and look after. Their ventilated container can be kept at room temperature, and they can be fed plant matter, and organic kitchen waste.
7) 2.5 year lifespan
In the wild, an average worm can have a natural lifespan o up to 2.5 years. How long they live depends on their environment, and how much good food they have access to. Some earthworms have been known to live up to 10 years in a composting bin, as they have no predators, an abundance of food, and well-maintained conditions.
8) Always eating
Did you know that Dendrobaena worms never stop eating? In the wild, they’re constantly munching on rotten roots, old leaves, and living microorganisms in the soil. The same is true for compost worms, and worms kept as live food.
9) They can eat paper
As they can eat any sort of plant matter, this means Dendrobaenas can eat wet paper and cardboard too! That means you can include small quantities of waste paper in their feed.
Here at Yorkshire Worms, we sell dendrobaena worms in a variety of sizes from small to large. They’re most commonly used as live food for pet reptiles but can also be used for fishing bait.
View our range of large and small dendrobaena worms.