The Diary of a wiggly worm.

February 1st
I was turning the compost pile when I turned up two adult worms (Eisenia Foetida) mating.
I placed them in a container with some damp white tissue paper.

February 2nd
I checked them, and in between the layers of the damp tissue paper was a cocoon. I took damp white tissue paper and placed the cocoon in the middle of the layers of tissue paper and placed it in its own container and numbered it #1. The two adult worms appeared to be doing fine. I noticed that the damp tissue paper looked to have some tiny rolled up pieces of tissue spread about the container, I'm sure the worms have been working on eating the tissue so I added some chopped up lettuce for some food for the two adult worms. I added a few water drops to make sure everything remains damp.

I checked them each day between February 3rd through February 7th with no noticeable difference.


February 8th
I found one of the adult worms in the middle layer of white damp tissue. All signs of shredded lettuce was gone, so I added some more lettuce and a little piece of molded bread.

February 9th
While checking the layers of damp tissue paper I found a second cocoon, I removed the new cocoon and placed it in white damp tissue paper in a different container and numbered it # 2.

February 23rd
I have checked the two adult worms and each cocoon everyday from Feb 10th -23rd. Both adult worms seem to be doing fine. I check the layers of white tissue paper for any new cocoons. There is still more of what appears to be small rolled up pieces of tissue, and some darker specks that I believe to be worm castings. I added more damp bread and some more damp white tissue paper. When checking the cocoons I have noticed that the cocoon #1 is getting much darker, and has taken on a more rounded shape than cocoon #2.

February 24th
I checked the cocoon # 1 today and there is 6 new baby worms!

They emerged from the cocoon exactly 23 days after the cocoon was made.
The babies are all about 1/4 inch long and are the size of a thread. Baby worms can start eating as soon as they are out of the cocoon. I added a small amount of damp molded bread for food.

When I checked the adult worms today they appeared to be
fine. When I checked the damp tissue
paper I found a new cocoon. I placed it
in damp tissue paper and put it in a container numbered #3.

February 27th
I have checked the adult worms and
each cocoon everyday from February 23rd to February 27th. I have found a
new cocoon today Feb. 27th. I placed it in damp white tissue paper and
placed it in a container numbered #4.

The baby worms in
container #1 are hard to find, but I was able to find 3 of the 6 in the
molded food. I am sure they are all in the molded food. There was no
noticeable difference in their size.

The two adult worms appear to be doing fine. I added a few drops of water and more damp white tissue paper.

February 29th
I have checked the worms and the cocoons each day from February 27th - February 28th. The worms seem to be doing fine. I found 4 of the 6 baby worms from cocoon # 1 eating the moldy food. They were hard to find so I am sure the others may be there as well and I am just not seeing them. The 4 that I found are growing and they measured to be about 3/4 of an inch now.



March 1st
When checking the adult worms I found a new cocoon, I placed it in damp white tissue paper and numbered it #5.

March 2nd
I checked each cocoon and the two adult worms. The baby worms are getting darker pinkish color and easier to find, but still not seeing all 6 of them, but they are still in the food and hard to find. Cocoon # 2 has not produced any worms as yet, but the cocoon is rounder and firm to touch, once the worms come out of the cocoon when you touch it is has no firmness to it, just a hollow shell that flattens when touched.

When checking the adults, there is a new cocoon today. I placed it in damp white tissue paper and placed it in a container numbers # 6.

I'll be really interested to see what the time frame is for the cocoon to hatch in box #3. So you got 6 out of 1 cocoon? So far only one has hatched?

Yes 6 baby worms out of the one cocoon. I read that it takes around 23 days for the cocoon to hatch and that was just about right. I also read it depends on the temp as to how often the adult worms will mate. So far 3 cocoons this month. Everyone is always saying they multiply fast and I was curious as how fast is fast...
I checked the little babies yesterday and at first I couldn't find them, and when I was just about to give up I seen 2 of them on the moldy food, so I'm thinking they were all there on the food. I wonder how long it takes a baby to grow up?

That is so neat. It's because of you that I will be starting a worm bin for castings!

Estimate 3 cacoons per month and they all hatch approx 6 worms per cacoon that'd be 18 baby worms a month. That's actually quite a few worms!

:cheers:wncsohn

Today I found another cocoon, so make that 4 cocoons a month, and sometimes there can be more than just 6 babies!

Found another cocoon! # 5 now! Now 6!

I wonder how long it takes a baby to grow up?

You'll be the first to know You will have to fill us in how long it takes

Wow, that's really interesting! I have never seen an earthwrom cocoon. They almost look like something that would be on some seaweed in the ocean or something. It will be neat to learn how fast they grow, great pictures!

tinsoldier the worm cocoons are about the size of a grain of rice. I can't believe such a small thing can have 6 or more baby worms in there.

Well, I finally took the leap and ordered my Red Wigglers! 2000 of the little buggers should be arriving this week!

Hope I'm as successful as you are Josh!

That's Great! Are you making a worm tube? Or just having a worm bin?

For now I think we're going to just do a worm bin. We don't even have the contents in our beds yet so .... I don't think they'd be very comfortable in them! LOL

I need to go to the store this morning some time and get two bins for them, as I want to make sure they're new "home" is ready when they get here!