Grievious Mistake Kills Earthworms

In an earnest desire to monitor growth rate of earthworm biomass using leaf mold as bedding, I hurriedly introduced 100 grams of adult African Nightcrawlers and 100 grams of juvenile earthworms into 4 kgs. of freshly pre-composted leaf substrate.

I failed to allow the leaf mold substrate to settle for 2 to 3 days and check if the bedding temperature would still rise.

This overlooked step cost me dearly. After the 2nd day, the bedding was noticeably smaller and it smelled of rotten eggs!

I spread out the smelly substrate on a white tarpaulin and checked for survivors. Unfortunately, there wasn't a single individual that survived.