Worms not eating food

21 years ago

Hi,

I've had a Can-O-Worms unit for the last 5 months, my major problem at the moment is that the worms aren't making their way through the food waste at the moment at all. I've stopped feeding them for the last week, and they don't seem to making any progress through the waste. They've all moved back to the tray underneath except for one solitary worm! The food is the same that I've been giving them all along, bananas/egg shells/coffee grinds/veg/some newspaper. So I can't understand why they're not eating it. At this stage the food has started to putrefy & is attracting fruit flies. am I better off removing all this stuff & adding in fresh foods for them to eat through? I've also been adding feeding pellets from Wiggly Wigglers in the UK, which came with the Can-of Worms initially.

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subywu

21 years ago

I am having the same problem. I think I may have been adding too much food too fast. The last several weeks of food placed in two of my bins have almost no worms in there. The bottom drainage tray seems to have quite of few dead worms each week which I am not used to seeing. While the bin does not reek of stench, it is also not the healthy earthy smell. I definitely think the worm population in my bins has diminished and there are a few worms in there that appear sluggish and may be dying. I am now lacking in larger plump worms and the population has shifted to the much smaller baby worms. I fear both my bins have been going down hill over the past few weeks...

When people say wet food "ferments," is that a result of anaerobic conditions?

...I am so disappointed at this point, that I am thinking about hanging it all up (after just a year of vermicomposting). :(

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Comments (6)

MathieuP
21 years ago
Sounds like you may have created a condition from lack of oxygen to the bin. I would aerate the in some and add some shredded newspaper. I believe the word is anaerobic, but don't quote me on it. I would try to dry it out a little and see if that works. If not then maybe someone else might have an idea. I just aerated my bin yesterday. It was getting a little smelly and gnats were living in it. I am going to cut back on feed and water for about a week. I also added a little shredded paper. Another idea is the coir from Home Depot. Apparently it helps.
chuckiebtoo
21 years ago
It does sound like anaerobic conditions. I would mix in dry, shredded newspaper and stop water and food until the conditions improve.

Another idea: dump the contents out, separate the worms and eggs to get an idea of the numbers. After 5 months, even with the relapse, you should have lots more vermi than before. If so, divide half into a plastic bin and compare the success, ease of care, etc of the two methods for the next few months.

Chuckiebtoo
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MathieuP
21 years ago
Don't quit. The best part is trying to find out what is wrong. A good aeration always helps about every 3rd or 4th feeding. This promotes good air to the worms. I would add a little corn meal if you want to fatten the worms up some. It sometimes takes several weeks for the microbial and fungal action to happen to the food you put in the bin. That is what they are waiting for. I have a worm wigwam and it needs some maintenance about once a week. I feed and water as needed. Sometimes it stinks a little and I cut back. The aerating is working for it though. I started with about 10 pounds and would say I have somewhere around 15 pounds of worms now. Just hang in there.
vleachman
21 years ago
I absolutely agree. Keep going and don't give up. This problem is just one small hurdle. It happened to me when I first started as well. What you'll find is the stinky food is just right for the worms but they can't eat it and breathe at the same time. Aeration will sort that out. It's a bit of a yucky job but work fluffed up,damp strips of newspaper through the compacted food. Then don't feed for a week or two and the worms will move in. Just be careful to monitor your bin. As soon as you see worms moving in to the space to feed add your next feed in. I didn't and once all the stinky stuff was eaten the worms had to wait a while until the next lot was decomposed enough for them to enjoy...
Bdadawg
21 years ago
Dont be afraid to remove some of the food. If you think there is too much take it out and toss it in the compost pile.

If you want to add fresh foods try using stuff with a high sugar content. Fruits, Squash, Old Cola, etc.

Ive found when my bins start to reach a plateau that pouring a can of soda that has been sitting out for a few days directly over food in the bin, helps to jump start the microbial activity.

If this bin is outside has there been any major weather changes recently? Alot of rain, went from rainy to alot of sun, went from one season to another? These changes can cause changes in an outside bin that you may not think about. Going from alot of sun to rain or vice versa changes the amount of humidity in it (this also applies if it is an inside bin.) Change from one season to another can affect the core temp of the bin, if the bin gets too hot or cold this affects the amount of food the worms will eat.

After about 5 months you may have a majority of the bin as castings. It may be time to sort out the castings. Ive read that castings are poisonous to worms in large amounts. This could explain the die off of the larger worms.

Bryan