my worms are staying put

19 years ago

After reading so many posts about worm escapes and escape attempts, I'm starting to wonder why I haven't found any dead worms in my set up that is less then a week old. I do have them on the top shelf (wire) with recycling boxes underneath. I looked through the bags a few days ago to look for escapers. Should I keep looking? I suppose it is possible a bunch are escaping and I don't even know it. Has anyone else had experience with (apparently) content worms in a new set up? Also, the worms seem to be crowding an area that has solid food. Does this mean the food already has microorganisms on it? Otherwise, what are they doing? The last thing I wanted to mention is that I have been having to spray the newsprint nightly, it seems to dry out pretty quick... Thanks for any comments :)

-Rose

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

jenn_gardener
19 years ago
My bin is about a month old and so far have only had two attempted escapes. I think if conditions are good for them in the bin you won't get many suicide attempts.

Also I live in a dry area and have to spray down my bin whenever I check on it (about once a week). Even though the sides and top of the bedding get pretty dried out the worms hang out where there's moisture.
tclynx
19 years ago
My bin is pretty new and I haven't had any escape attempts. They say if the conditions are good, the worms will stay. Too wet seems to be one of the main conditions that will cause worms to flee the bin.
Related Professionals
Roanoke Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Lexington Landscape Contractors · Natchitoches Landscape Contractors · Portsmouth Landscape Contractors · Martinsburg Landscape Contractors · Fergus Falls Landscape Contractors · Merced Landscape Contractors · Little Rock Stone, Pavers & Concrete · Lake City Stone, Pavers & Concrete · Terre Haute Stone, Pavers & Concrete · Salisbury Stone, Pavers & Concrete · Vicksburg Stone, Pavers & Concrete · Martinsburg Stone, Pavers & Concrete · Detroit Stone, Pavers & Concrete · Brattleboro Stone, Pavers & Concrete
wfike
19 years ago
If the bedding is similar to the bedding where they came from I think it helps a lot to keep them happy. If they came from newspaper bedding and went to peatmoss bedding they seem to leave pretty quick as if they are going back to the area where they were before. Of course the area they came from is miles away and they just die on the floor unless they are kept down in the bed till they get used to the idea. 24 hours or so in the light is about all. Helps to ask about their bedding from the place where you get them. If they are captured worms you should have rotten leaves to welcome them home with.
tclynx
19 years ago
The worms I got came in a cardboard box filled with their normal bedding from the breeder I got them from. Two pounds of worms doesn't take much space so there was plenty of bedding in the box (similar in size to the more cubic of the flat rate USPS boxes.) After I preped my beding I then made a trough in one side of my bed and placed the new worms along with all the bedding into the trough and gently placed my new wet bedding over theirs. That way they have familiar bedding to be in while they adjust to the new location. When I fed for the first time I made a trough on the other side of the bed. The worms that quickly adjusted to the new bedding were over feeding shortly thereafter, the slower starters remained or kept returning to the old bedding. Luckily my bedding isn't that different form the breeders bedding (shredded paper and cardboard.) So far no worms leaping out or even crawling up the sides.
homefry
19 years ago
when there not moving a lot that means that there working at there best. when they are very active means bedding and food has to low of a ph level