What's killing Jimbo's worms?!?

As I mentioned previously, I am reading Wendy Vincent's wonderful work, The Complete Guide to Working with Worms.  In Chapter 6, "Common Concerns in the Worm Bin," Vincent covers a lot of frequently asked questions, including the all-important "Why are my worms dying?"

And as I also mentioned previous, Jimbo's worms are dying.  Well, we're trying to figure out what has extinguished the spark of life that once burned so brightly in his legless, dirt-loving friends.  I think his compost may have gotten too high in his bin (Jimbo, like me, is vermicomposting in a 5 gal. utility bucket), and they may have asphyxiated.  Jimbo regrets not having provided enough grit to enable his worms to digest their food and thinks this may have been their undoing.  I suppose, in my still very inexperienced opinion, that either theory may be right.

Well, what does Ms. Vincent say?  Before she gets to the chart, she introduces the first, very important question about dead worms - what happens to them???  "The dead worms will decompose and be eaten by their friends."  (Uh...  I don't know if I feel safe around my worms anymore.)  "If this is the case, you will need to act quickly before all of your worms are gone."  Egads!!!  So what do we do?

1. Move your worms to a new bin FAST.  (She suggests keeping an emergency bin ready.  Good idea!)
2. Check your vermicomposting system for theses problems (now the chart, as paraphrased by me):

• Problem: Bin is too wet, worms are drowning (sad).
• Solution: Soak up water, replace bedding with dry bedding, ensure drainage holes aren't blocked.
• Problem: Bin is too dry, worms cannot absorb proper oxygen.
• Solution: Add water - but not chlorinated water!
• Problem: Not enough food, worms eating their own poo.  Eww!!  Also...FATAL! (not surprising)
• Solution: Remove castings, harvest worms, start additional bins AND FEED YOUR WORMS.
• Problem: Too cold/hot.
• Solution: Bring your worm bin inside, but don't tell your guests!
• Problem: Too much light.
• Solution: Yes, they can die from light - they're like vampires.  Just keep 'em in the dark.
• Problem: pH level in soil is incorrect.
• Solution: Check pH levels and adjust - peat moss or coffee grounds to lower, lime or hardwood ash to raise.
• Problem: Worms given chlorinated water.
• Solution: Bottled spring water

Good advice!  It seems to me that there may be other potential problems, though.  I wonder what other sources might have other information on what ails your worms.

In the meantime, Jimbo and I will keep investigating.