Why do my worms try to escape?

1) Worms Really Are Trying to Escape
When worms get stressed and/or near death, you will often see them bunched up with one another.
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How do you stop worms from escaping?

Keeping a light on around the clock for the first couple of days will encourage the worms to burrow into the bedding. If worms are escaping from drainage holes in the bin, covering the holes with nylon stockings will block escape passages while allowing air to circulate. Keep your bin in a relatively peaceful location.
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Why are my worms escaping?

Worms breathe through their skins. If they don't have enough air, they will try to leave the bin. Lack of oxygen could be caused by: Too wet.
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Why are my worms coming to the surface?

Thunderstorms and other rapid climate changes will force your worms to the top of their bin. Remember, worms breathe through their skin, so if they sense a chance of rain, they're going to move accordingly to keep themselves from drowning.
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What does it mean when worms clump together?

You might have often seen earthworms forming clumps of balls together in compost or when out in the open. The extensive research carried out to find the reason behind this peculiar behaviour revealed that worms actually communicate and influence each other's behaviour by making close contact with each other.
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Why are my COMPOSTING WORMS trying to ESCAPE?



Should I stir my worm bin?

There is definitely no need to completely mix up your worm bin contents. The worms themselves – along with various other critters do a lot of mixing on their own.
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Should I turn over my worm farm?

In traditional composting turning is necessary to introduce air and mix the ingredients properly. The waste breaks down and releases water, food waste especially will start to clump together and get matted down.
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Why do worms curl up in a ball?

Earthworms need moisture to live, and light destroys a layer of slime on their bodies that keeps them wet. To protect themselves in really dry weather, earthworms dig deeper into a wetter layer of soil. Or they curl up in a ball in their tunnels and go to sleep.
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Can worm bins get overcrowded?

Someone absolutely new to worm composting may be shocked to see how rapidly worms reproduce and build their population. These guys instinctively mate until space becomes limited, and then they just maintain that. That capacity is determined by the size of the bin they are in.
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When should you change worm bedding?

After worms are added, bedding should be kept moist but not soggy and the top 6 to 8 inches turned every 7 to 10 days to keep it loose. About every 6 to 9 months the old bedding should be replaced with properly prepared new bedding. To change bedding, remove the top 5 or 6 inches (where most of the worms are).
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How much moisture do worms like?

Your worm farm environment should maintain a moisture content range of around 60-85%. How do you know if your worm farm is the correct moisture level? This 'squeeze test' method is a simple way to make sure the moisture is just right for your worm friends.
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Do worm bins need air holes?

Like people, worms need air to live so be sure to have your bin sufficiently ventilated. Some people also prefer to drill about 10 holes (1/4- to 1/2-inch each) in the bottom for aeration and drainage. A plastic bin may need more drainage — if contents get too wet, drill more holes.
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How often should you feed your worm farm?

Depending on the size of your bin, feed the worms from once a week to every two days with about a cup (240 ml.) of food. You may want to keep a journal regarding how quickly your worms consume certain things so you can adjust timings, amounts, and varieties.
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Can worms eat banana peels?

Bananas are a great and inexpensive snack for both us and our worms. Those peels are desirable to compost worms no matter what shape they're in. They'll make short work of what otherwise would have taken up space in your trash.
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Can a worm bin be too dry?

However, if a worm's environment gets too dry, the worm can't breathe either. Worms require their mucous-coating for proper breathing, and a dry environment can cause the worms' bodies to dry out. Maintaining the correct moisture levels for your worms enables them to breathe easier and find food.
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Why do worms climb walls?

2) Worms Are Attracted to Condensation

By far, the most common reason to see worms on the walls and underside of the lid of your worm bin is because condensation is present. Condensation occurs when warm air comes into contact with cool surfaces.
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Can you have too many worms in your worm farm?

If you are feeding your worms too much, the excess food will go anaerobic and begin to smell. Stop feeding them for a few days or even a week and sprinkle the contents of the top tray with a teaspoon full of Tumbleweed Worm Farm & Compost Conditioner, then mix it in with a small fork or spike.
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How long do worms live in worm farm?

Worms can live as long as four years. When worms die in the bin, their bodies decompose and are recycled by other worms, along with the food scraps.
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What is the lifespan of a worm?

They grow sex organs within the first two or three months of life and reach full size in about a year. They may live up to eight years, though one to two is more likely. Full size for an earthworm varies among species, ranging from less than half an inch long to nearly 10 feet.
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Do worms play dead?

Worm can play dead to survive drought – The Irish Times.
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How many hearts does a worm have?

Heartbeats: Worms don't have just one heart. They have FIVE! But their hearts and circulatory system aren't as complicated as ours -- maybe because their blood doesn't have to go to so many body parts.
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How do I know if my worms are happy?

But how do you know if your compost worms are happy and content? You can tell that compost worms are happy and healthy if they multiply and produce compost that does not stink. The key to happy and healthy compost worms is to give them a good home, adequate food, and maintain the right conditions in the compost bin.
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Do worms like grass clippings?

Grass clippings are a great addition to a traditional compost pile and worms will eat these as well in their natural setting, but in your vermicomposting system, they will heat up the soil and can kill all of your worms.
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Is it OK to have maggots in my worm farm?

There are flies or maggots in the farm!

Tiny little vinegar flies are occasionally present in worm farms (and compost bins) and are absolutely nothing to worry about. If larger flies or maggots are present, it is generally a sign that food (especially meat) is rotting rather than being eaten by your worms.
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