Craig McPherson asked 6 years ago
Hi Brian, I\’ve had my worm farm for 4/5 months and all has been fine. But lately it seam\’s that the worms are not I\’m the same amount as before. When I got give the farm it came with 500 worms from Bunnings and I bought 1000 worms and 2000 eggs from Kookaburra Worm Farm about 2 weeks latter. I know longer can see any bigger worms that I bought where as before you could see them everywhere. What maybe the cause of the worms decreasing in volume? Thank you, Craig
wormadmin Staff answered 6 years ago
Hi Craig,
What’s probably happening is one of the measures worms use to control their own population. Worms never outgrow a space.
As the population nears the capacity of an area, measured in a weight of worms per square foot/metre etc – the worms all get smaller so theres more worms, but the same weight of worms.
This continues and the worms then slow down or stop laying cocoons – and the cocoons will stop hatching out. Cocoons can stay dormant for up to 5 years until conditions are suitable (the can sense season, population, food availability).
My guess is thats whats happening – 2000 cocoons would equate to about 6000 worms, added to your starting 1000 worms, youve got 7000 worms. So about 2 kilos of worms. One of the bunnings plastic worm farms will only hold 1 to 2 kg of worms.
Hope that helps – and thanks for asking your question
Regards
Brian