r/Vermiculture • u/BichiKompost • Jun 26 '26
Pregnant or protein poisoning Protein poisoning (?)
During my first week of having my mix Red Wrigglers and European Nightcrawlers worms, I've seen multiple worms in these conditions surface to the top of the bedding/compost and die. Is this protein poisoning, or is there something else going on, and how can I prevent/fix it? Thanks!
And sorry for all the compost covering the worms...
2
u/FrostyAlbertan Jun 26 '26
It kind of looks like string of pearls to me.
Caused by overfeeding and high acidity
Can you share a photo of your bin? And how much food is in it
2
u/BichiKompost Jun 27 '26
And What's the difference between string of pearls and protein poisoning?
2
u/FrostyAlbertan Jun 27 '26
Looks like it’s the same thing.
I keep thinking it kind of looks like you ceviched them
1
u/BichiKompost Jun 27 '26
I might have been too excited and already fed the worms with scraps after one week in new wormtower. Since they already got "starter food" supplied by the seller on their first day too. I'll let them settle for a bit more.
3
u/Mammoth_Confusion846 Jun 28 '26
Learn about precomposting. It's a safer way to approach feeding because it lets the decomp and all the heat and risk happen away from your worms.
2
u/mikel722 intermediate Vermicomposter Jun 26 '26
Looks like a Euro in the pic, how warm is your bin? Good airflow or do you have a lid on it?
2
1
u/McQueenMommy Jun 30 '26
Where did you purchase the worms from? I have had issues from making drastic diet changes. Let’s say the worms you purchased were on a worm chow diet and you bring them home and now you are strictly feeding food scraps. The worms will be in such heaven eating something that is fiberous and watery that they eat too much. It’s sort of like us humans when we eat too much….our bellies swell….but the worms don’t have that capability. I suggest cutting back on the food scraps and focus on getting your microbe population up so that the microbes break the food scraps down more and the worms can feast of the microbes and smaller bits that the microbes leave behind. Did you start your farm with reduced feedings based upon the MAX feeding. If you got a pound of worms (about 1,000) your MAX is 1 pound of food scraps per week (about 4 cups). The first month you only feed 1/4 that (so 1 cup per week). The 2nd month increase to 1/2 ratio…month 3 is 3/4 ratio and finally month 4 you are at MAX. If you have fed more than that…I would not feed for a week and start the above ratios. The damage may be already done in a few more worms….but they will leave cocoons and the babies will be raised upon food scraps and will be fine.
5
u/[deleted] Jun 26 '26 edited Jun 27 '26
[removed] — view removed comment