The European nightcrawler's scientific name is Eisenia hortensis, but it also goes by blue worm, super red and giant redworm, among others. These worms can grow to between 3 and 8 inches in length, which makes them much larger than many of their more common cousins. In addition, European nightcrawlers are also the simplest worm to raise and breed as they only have four requirements. As long as you provide them with the proper pH environment, bedding, moisture and food, you'll have a successful breeding farm. Purchase large, plastic bins to house your worms. Generally, you'll need 1 square foot of area per 1,000 worms. The exact sizes and quantities of the bins you need will depend on how large you want your farm to be. Opaque containers work best as nightcrawlers prefer the dark. Place 8 to 10 inches of dampened peat moss into each of your bins. The peat moss should be damp, but not too wet. Ideally, when you squeeze it in your hands, only a few drops of water should drip. Add your starter worms to the bins. Try to have at least 500 breeder worms for each bin to start. Be careful not to add more than 1,000 per square foot. As your farm progresses, you can upgrade your bins to larger sizes that hold as many as10,000 worms at a time. Place the bins in a cool, dark place. Garages and basements tend to make ideal environments. Feed your worms food scraps or grains. Many breeders use chicken egg layer mash, believing it helps promote faster breeding. When placing the feed into the container, sprinkle it in a line across the top toward the middle. Avoid covering the entire surface because the worms need to be able to escape if the bedding becomes soured. Measure the pH of the bins daily. If the pH registers at 7 or less, you'll want to sprinkle some limestone powder in with the feed. It's also recommended to sprinkle some limestone powder over the surface of the bedding every two to three weeks to help neutralize any acids. Turn the bedding every three weeks to aerate the materials. Watch for egg capsules. The worms tend to lay their eggs near the food so that's an excellent place to look. Each worm will lay one to two egg capsules each week and each capsule will hatch between four and 20 worms. Harvest your worms. Many breeders pick up the worms by hand and place them into lidded containers with a small portion of the bedding and food. Keep them refrigerated until you sell them for a longer shelf life. The younger worms can be sold as breeders, and the older worms for fishing bait. - Plastic bins- Peat moss- European nightcrawler breeders- PH tester- Limestone powder- Brand X Pictures/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images