Comments on: Deformed Worms http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-composting/deformed-worms/ Worm composting (vermicomposting) guide | Information about setting up & maintaining a thriving worm bin or larger vermicomposting system Fri, 16 May 2008 08:25:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Bentley http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-composting/deformed-worms/#comment-7077 Bentley Mon, 12 May 2008 13:29:02 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=162#comment-7077 Hey Thomas, Glad to hear your second batch is doing better! Perhaps they were all harvested around the same time (worm farmers sometimes keep batches of worms ready for shipping so they can be sent out fast), but the second lot simply sat for longer waiting to get shipped. Hard to say for sure. Did you get in touch with the grower? B Hey Thomas,
Glad to hear your second batch is doing better!
Perhaps they were all harvested around the same time (worm farmers sometimes keep batches of worms ready for shipping so they can be sent out fast), but the second lot simply sat for longer waiting to get shipped.
Hard to say for sure.

Did you get in touch with the grower?

B

]]> By: Thomas http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-composting/deformed-worms/#comment-7051 Thomas Sat, 10 May 2008 20:09:55 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=162#comment-7051 Cindy - What Bentley and you describe, is something new to me. I experienced it for the first time this week. About two weeks ago I received a pound of Eisenia hortensis (Euro's) and added them to an aged bin. Anywho, the bedding they came in was a combination of peat, something that looked like small pieces of paper egg carton and other unknown doodads - the moisture level was good. The worms were plenty moist upon arrival and acclimated quickly. The second batch I ordered came from the same company but was in pure peat moss. These worms were a bit dry and weather beaten. I found a few worms that looked like they had been twisted in different places by the guy at the fair, who makes animals out of balloons. A few others were a bit chewed up or in pieces. I don’t know if it had anything to do with the moisture content (the first batch was better hydrated) or the bedding material - I would think the pure peat would be less brutal on them in transit than bedding that was of different sizes and hardness's but it wasn't. The few I found in the second batch that were less than worm-like, I discarded. Once I wet down the rest (before I added them to the bin) they started to recover well and seem to be doing fine. I don’t have an explanation as to why one batch was moist and "alive" yet the other a bit homesick and tattered. According to my shipping email notice, they were both in transit the same amount of time. All I can say is I have taken a look the last couple of days and I can’t tell the difference between the "haves" and the "have nots" - the second batch must have spoken to the first batch about their traumatic traveling ordeal and it looks like they won’t need therapy after all. I do understand how disconcerting it can be when the worms arrive in less than "good" condition but the ones that make it are well on their way to a life of eating, pooping and cocoon making. If the bin is properly set-up for the worms I think they will do fine in their new digs. Regards, Thomas Cindy - What Bentley and you describe, is something new to me. I experienced it for the first time this week. About two weeks ago I received a pound of Eisenia hortensis (Euro’s) and added them to an aged bin. Anywho, the bedding they came in was a combination of peat, something that looked like small pieces of paper egg carton and other unknown doodads - the moisture level was good. The worms were plenty moist upon arrival and acclimated quickly. The second batch I ordered came from the same company but was in pure peat moss. These worms were a bit dry and weather beaten. I found a few worms that looked like they had been twisted in different places by the guy at the fair, who makes animals out of balloons. A few others were a bit chewed up or in pieces. I don’t know if it had anything to do with the moisture content (the first batch was better hydrated) or the bedding material - I would think the pure peat would be less brutal on them in transit than bedding that was of different sizes and hardness’s but it wasn’t. The few I found in the second batch that were less than worm-like, I discarded. Once I wet down the rest (before I added them to the bin) they started to recover well and seem to be doing fine. I don’t have an explanation as to why one batch was moist and “alive” yet the other a bit homesick and tattered. According to my shipping email notice, they were both in transit the same amount of time. All I can say is I have taken a look the last couple of days and I can’t tell the difference between the “haves” and the “have nots” - the second batch must have spoken to the first batch about their traumatic traveling ordeal and it looks like they won’t need therapy after all.
I do understand how disconcerting it can be when the worms arrive in less than “good” condition but the ones that make it are well on their way to a life of eating, pooping and cocoon making. If the bin is properly set-up for the worms I think they will do fine in their new digs.
Regards, Thomas

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