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. Hopefully you have done lesson one and have started your earthworm "kit" this lesson will deal with taking care of it. |
Lesson 2
Lesson two will deal with the
 | General characteristics of the "Red Wiggler Earthworm" |
| What a healthy red worm acts and looks like. |
| What red wiggler earthworm egg capsules look like. |
| The breeding habits of earthworms. |
| What to look for as your worms grow. |
General characteristics of the "Red Wiggler Earthworm"
What a healthy red worm acts and looks like:
A healthy red worm is a "med-dark brownish red," with a iridescent looking sheen. It will be quite active and even hard to catch, they will move quickly and generate a very faint "slime trail" when you place them on a dry surface, such as your hand. When you hold them they will be cooler then your hand and try to escape they will NOT necessarily be fat!
While working for a "bait dealer" years ago, I noticed that the "fat worms" were more fragile then the thinner earthworms... Less healthy and had a tendency to "Break apart" far easier. I guess it would all depend on what you plan to do with the earthworms, fishermen prefer the fatter, bigger worms. While for vermicomposting I think that a bunch of "hungry smaller worms" would do better.
What red wiggler earthworm egg capsules look like:
The worms egg capsule will resemble a grain of "light yellow" rice when they are first deposited and will be at the same level as the worms are feeding at (upper 4") if the conditions are right. The capsule will gradually turn to dark brown as it reaches the "baby hatching" time.
Each egg capsule can contain between 6-10 babie earthworms and can hatch in between 2 - 4 weeks , depending on the conditions of the bed, bin.
The worm egg capsules can lay dormant for years if the conditions aren't right... even when the bedding is completely dried out... I've done it, unintentionally, but they hatched after about two weeks when I started watering the beds again....see what NOT to do to earthworms.
The babies will resemble the adults, only a lot smaller. The capsule will resemble a brownish transparent shell, with the top open after hatching.
Different breeds will have slightly different colors and sizes, but will basically do the same.
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T-Dome Homes Basic Manual