If you don’t have newspaper, you can use other paper materials in your Worm Factory 360, as long as they are non-toxic, untreated, and biodegradable. Here are some great alternatives:

✅ Best Paper Alternatives for Worm Bedding

✔ Shredded Cardboard (brown, uncoated, no glossy prints)
✔ Paper Towels & Napkins (plain, no chemicals or scents)
✔ Toilet Paper Rolls & Paper Towel Tubes
✔ Printer Paper (black & white, no glossy or colored ink)
✔ Brown Paper Bags (shredded into strips)
✔ Egg Cartons (non-glossy, torn into small pieces)
✔ Junk Mail Envelopes (only if no plastic windows or glossy finish)

🚫 Papers to AVOID

❌ Glossy or Coated Paper (magazines, brochures, colored fliers)
❌ Colored Ink Paper (some inks contain toxic chemicals)
❌ Waxed or Plastic-Coated Paper (won’t break down properly)
❌ Receipts (contain BPA, bad for worms & soil)
❌ Bleached or Scented Paper (perfumed napkins, treated paper)

💡 Tip: Always shred or tear paper into smaller pieces to help it break down faster and mix well with food scraps.

Would you like more bedding mix ideas for your worm bin? 😊♻️

🐛 How to Breed Nightcrawlers for Fishing & Composting

Since nightcrawlers prefer deep, loose environments, you may have better success breeding them in a separate, deeper bin instead of stacking them above your red wigglers in the Worm Factory 360. Here’s how you can do it right!

📦 Best Bin Setup for Breeding Nightcrawlers

✅ Choose a Deep Bin

• A 10–20-gallon plastic tote with a tight lid (to prevent escape).
• Drill small air holes on the sides & lid for ventilation.
• Depth of at least 12–18 inches for burrowing space.

✅ Bedding Material (Loose & Moist)

• Shredded cardboard & newspaper (moistened but not soaking).
• Aged compost, coconut coir, or peat moss for a soft, loose texture.
• Crushed eggshells (adds calcium & helps with pH balance).

✅ Ideal Conditions

• Temperature: 50–70°F (10–21°C) (cooler than red wigglers prefer).
• Moisture: Bedding should feel like a damp sponge.
• Dark Location: Keep in a cool, dark spot (basement, closet, garage).

🍎 What to Feed Nightcrawlers for Growth & Breeding

🌿 Best Nightcrawler Foods:

• Leaf litter & aged grass clippings (natural food source).
• Ground cornmeal, wheat bran, or oats (protein-rich, good for breeding).
• Small fruit & veggie scraps (like cucumber, apple peels, pumpkin).
• Coffee grounds & filters (moderation, not too acidic).
• Crushed eggshells (helps digestion & egg production).

❌ Avoid: Too much wet food, meat, dairy, onions, citrus, or salty foods.

💙 How to Breed Nightcrawlers Successfully

• Start with ~50-100 nightcrawlers for best results.
• Feed lightly at first, then increase as they consume food.
• Keep bedding loose & undisturbed to encourage cocoon laying.
• Check every 2-3 weeks for cocoons (small yellowish balls).
• In 3-5 weeks, new baby worms hatch!

🎣 Harvesting Nightcrawlers for Fishing

• Sift through bedding every 2-3 months to separate worms from castings.
• Store in a ventilated bait box with damp newspaper in the fridge (~40°F).
• Feed lightly while storing to keep them healthy.

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.