Raising nightcrawlers (European or Canadian) in a bin above your red wigglers inside the Worm Factory 360 is tricky but possible with some considerations!

Can You Raise Nightcrawlers Above Red Wigglers?

✅ Yes, but…

• Different needs: Nightcrawlers prefer a deeper, looser soil-like environment, while red wigglers thrive in shallow composting layers.
• Different diets: Red wigglers process kitchen scraps quickly, while nightcrawlers prefer decaying organic material and high-carbon food.
• Temperature considerations: If conditions get too warm for nightcrawlers (above 70°F), they may struggle.

How to Make It Work in the Worm Factory 360

✔ Bottom Bins → Red Wigglers (for composting)
✔ Top Bin → Nightcrawlers (for growing/breeding)

💡 Tip: Keep the top bin’s bedding looser & more fibrous to accommodate nightcrawlers.

What to Feed Nightcrawlers?

🌿 Best Foods for Nightcrawlers:

• Leaf litter, aged grass clippings
• Shredded cardboard & paper (moistened)
• Ground-up cornmeal, oats, wheat bran (for breeding)
• Soft fruit & veggie scraps (smaller amounts than red wigglers)
• Crushed eggshells (for calcium)

❌ Avoid: Too many wet food scraps (can create anaerobic conditions).

Potential Challenges:

• Nightcrawlers may burrow down to the lower trays (mixing with red wigglers).
• Moisture balance: Nightcrawlers prefer slightly drier conditions than red wigglers.
• Escape risk: Nightcrawlers tend to roam, so a secure lid is a must!

Alternative Setup Idea

If you want to breed nightcrawlers efficiently, you may have better success keeping them in a separate, deeper bin with looser bedding instead of stacking them over red wigglers.

Yes! If you want to make your own Clean-Up Buddy Kit using a 3D printer, you’ll need to design and print the necessary components. Here’s a general guide on how you can approach it:

1. Understanding the Clean-Up Buddy Kit

The Clean-Up Buddy Kit is used for gold prospecting and typically includes:

• A sluice or riffle system
• A water pump or flow control system
• A housing or frame to hold the components together
• Tubing and connectors for water flow

2. Materials & Filament Selection

Since this kit will likely be exposed to water and outdoor conditions, the best filament choices include:

• PETG – Good for water resistance, durability, and UV resistance.
• ABS – Strong and impact-resistant but needs an enclosure for printing.
• ASA – UV-resistant, better for outdoor use.
• Nylon – Strong and flexible but can absorb water.

3. 3D Modeling

Use a 3D modeling software like:

• Fusion 360 (Beginner-friendly with parametric design)
• TinkerCAD (Simple and web-based)
• Blender (More advanced but powerful)
• FreeCAD (Open-source alternative)

You'll need to design:

• A sluice tray with riffles for trapping gold particles.
• A water guide or hopper to direct water flow.
• A housing or bracket to hold everything in place.
• Connectors for attaching the pump, tubing, or other accessories.

If you don’t want to design from scratch, check Thingiverse, Printables, or Cults3D for similar designs you can modify.

4. 3D Printing Settings

• Layer Height: 0.2mm (for a balance of detail and strength)
• Infill: 20-50% (higher for structural parts)
• Supports: As needed for overhangs
• Bed Adhesion: Use a heated bed for materials like ABS

5. Assembly & Waterproofing

• Use silicone sealant for waterproofing joints.
• Consider using stainless steel screws for assembly.
• If needed, apply a protective coating (like epoxy) to improve durability.

6. Testing & Adjustments

• Test water flow and check for leaks.
• Make adjustments to the design if needed.
• Ensure the sluice riffles work effectively in trapping heavier particles.

Red worms don’t have teeth, so they rely on microorganisms to help break down food before they eat it. Here’s how they consume food in your Worm Factory 360:

🐛 How Red Worms Eat

1. Microbes & Decomposition – Worms wait for bacteria and fungi to soften the food. This can take a few days.
2. Suction & Grinding – Worms suck in softened food and grind it in their gizzard (using tiny grit particles like eggshells).
3. Digestion & Casting Production – The food moves through their intestines, breaking down further, and is excreted as worm castings (nutrient-rich compost).

⏳ Why Haven’t They Eaten the Veggies Yet?

If you put fresh cut veggies in a few days ago and they’re still there, it’s likely because:
✔ The food hasn’t decomposed enough – Worms prefer slightly rotted, softened food.
✔ The temperature is too cold – Ideal range is 60–75°F.
✔ Worms are adjusting – If your colony is small, they may take longer to eat scraps.

🚀 How to Speed Up Worm Feeding

✅ Chop or blend scraps – The smaller, the faster they break down.
✅ Freeze & thaw food first – Softens cell walls, making it easier for microbes to break down.
✅ Bury food under bedding – Keeps moisture in and prevents pests.
✅ Add a bit of crushed eggshell – Helps digestion by providing grit for their gizzards.

💡 Tip: If food is still untouched after a week, remove some and try softer options like banana peels, cooked squash, or melon rinds.

The evolution from ape-like ancestors to modern humans (Homo sapiens) is a long and complex process that took millions of years. Here’s a simplified version of the key stages in human evolution:

1. Early Primate Ancestors (65–20 million years ago)

• The story begins with early primates, small, tree-dwelling mammals.
• Around 25 million years ago, the ancestors of monkeys and apes split.
• The Great Apes (Hominidae) evolved, including gorillas, chimpanzees, and our own ancestors.

2. First Hominins (7–4 million years ago)

• Hominins are early human-like species that split from the common ancestor with chimpanzees.
• Sahelanthropus tchadensis (7 million years ago) is one of the oldest potential hominins.
• Ardipithecus (4–5 million years ago) walked upright but still climbed trees.

3. Australopithecus – Early Bipedal Apes (4–2 million years ago)

• Australopithecus afarensis (like the famous "Lucy") lived around 3.5 million years ago.
• They had small brains (~400-500 cc) but walked upright on two legs (bipedalism).
• They still had long arms for climbing trees.

4. Early Homo Species (2.5–1 million years ago)

• Homo habilis ("Handy Man") – 2.4 million years ago, the first known tool user.
• Homo erectus ("Upright Man") – 1.9 million years ago, larger brains (~900 cc), controlled fire, and spread from Africa to Asia and Europe.

5. Archaic Humans (1 million–100,000 years ago)

• Homo heidelbergensis – Lived 600,000–200,000 years ago, used complex tools, and built shelters.
• Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis) – Lived in Europe and Asia, had large brains (~1600 cc), wore clothes, and buried their dead.

6. Modern Humans (300,000 years ago – today)

• Homo sapiens appeared around 300,000 years ago in Africa.
• Developed language, art, culture, and advanced tools.
• By 50,000 years ago, they spread worldwide and replaced other human species.

This journey shows how humans evolved through natural selection, adapting to different environments, developing intelligence, and eventually creating civilization.