What are you using for bedding? Even with clitellum present, it doesn't mean they will become cocoon machines straight away. You set up your bin 45 days ago, so give it time to become an environment where the worms feel at home, then I think that's when they will start mating.

Put your personal worm chow away for now, to be used once your bin has established. For the moment I suggest to feed them kitchen scraps and do not over feed. Bacterial activity slows down, so do the worms', around this time of year. I would pile the scraps in one spot and cover with shredded paper. The worms will come when both are good and ready. And in the event you did overfeed, the worms have room to hide and offending clumps will be easy to remove. Worms will die from overfeeding (and a dry bin) but not from lack of food.

Do you have any drainage holes in the bottom to keep it from getting too wet? Looks like it might be a bit too soggy but hard to tell.

Agree with Otis, be patient and be careful not to over-feed! Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Harry

Okay, thanks.

The bedding consists of well-shredded newspaper and egg cartons plus soil from outside.

I have drainage holes near the bottom. I had some in the bottom, but some worms went through those, so I covered them up.

The bin is in the garage and we are near the ocean, so the air temperature is around 60 degrees. The temp in the middle of the bin varies between 65 and 75 (due to decomposition). Will the bacteria and worm activity decrease even under these conditions?

Concerning moisture: If I take a handful of the bedding and squeeze it, I can get a few drops of water to form. It seems damper near the bottom, and many of the worms stay down there. Does that sound about right or should I spray on a bit more water?

>Be patient

Will do. Thanks for the advice!

I wouldn't add any water - the food scraps you add will probably add enough moisture.

I just looked back and realized you have European N.C. ......... I hadn't noticed that. Since I only have experience with red wigglers I should be careful offering advice that might not be correct. I'm sure someone here will have some good advice. Since the worms seem fat and healthy I wouldn't worry. Keep an eye on them, don't over feed, and give them a chance.

Maybe they just need some time to "worm" their way into each other's hearts.......all five of them! ;-)

I'll pipe in some romantic music. ;)

Yay! I found my first cocoon today. And I think I interrupted a pair of mating worms.

Progress!

Do what I do I have a wireless speaker that plays Barry White music and I have mood lighting. What you got to lose? Ive had 30 ENCs as an experiment and have 8 cocoons that I found. Just saying