Tiger-toilet earthworms
 
Tiger worms have been found to be an effective treatment for outdoor toilets to remove odour.
 
By adding tiger worms to your pit latrine system, the decomposition process is accelerated, leading to reduced waste levels and cleaner latrines without chemicals or costly servicing.
 
10,000 earthworms is suitable for a pit latrine that serves up to 10 people per day. They may double their population in 3 months if conditions are right to be able to serve even more people.
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They don't need much care - just drop them in your latrine and let them start eating.
 
Just avoid dropping cleaning chemicals in there and they will be fine.
 
Pit latrines can be much better
Less odours - Aeration by earthworms reduces anaerobic conditions - preventing odour.
Lower contamination - Earthworms reduce pathogens by up to 99% by eating them.
Reduced flies - Earthworms eat fly eggs, reducing spreading of flies
Less frequent emptying - Earthworms reduce pit waste by up to 50%
 
Where to use them
Compost toilets: Establish a 10–15 cm bed of damp carbon (shredded cardboard, partially matured compost or our Worm Farm Bedding). Introduce the worms, keep the chamber aerated, and cover each use with a handful of dry carbon.
Pit latrines: Drop the earthworms onto your existing pit latrine pile.
French drains / soak-aways: Spread the earthworms in your soak-away to let them remove any remaining organic material that would have smelled bad.
 
Key benefits
Speeds up composting: Rapidly converts fresh solids into stable vermicompost under aerobic conditions.
Cuts odour & flies: A living, covered surface reduces smells and discourages fly breeding.
Reduces sludge build-up: Continuous digestion helps slow crusting and solids accumulation, extending service intervals.
Chemical-free sanitation support: Improves system performance naturally—ideal for eco-toilets and off-grid sites.
High-activity starter colony: ~10,000 worms (counted by weight) for a strong kick-start; population grows as conditions improve.
 
Care & operating conditions
Moisture: Keep bedding like a wrung-out sponge—never flooded. Low flush toilets are suitable.
Air: Ensure ventilation; worms require oxygen.
Soil temperature: Best at 15–25 °C (tolerant ~10–30 °C). Most areas in SA are fine.
Feeding: Regular small additions of carbon cover material (dry leaves, sawdust, shredded paper). Toilet paper is fine,
Avoid: Chlorine bleach, disinfectants, pesticides, salty/oily wastes, and detergent surges. Use natural cleaners sparingly
Compost: The purpose of a Tiger Worm Toilet is to have a natural treatment of human waste to avoid smell and pathogens, not to make compost. Some people use the compost but we don't recommend it unless you are doing testing and are very experienced.
 
What you receive
~10,000 Tiger Worms (Eisenia fetida) in breathable, protective bedding.
Earthworm care guide
Ongoing support from our team if you need help sizing or tuning your setup.
 
Notes: Use only in contained sanitation systems with good drainage and airflow. Not suitable for fully sealed, permanently anaerobic septic tanks.