By the end of this lesson: you will rescue viable stock and rebuild without repeating the cause.

If worms are dying or the system is clearly unsafe, prepare clean damp bedding in a separate container. Recover live worms gently with a small amount of material from the healthiest zone. Do not transfer foul sludge or suspected contaminated feed.

Keep the rescue bin simple: bedding, darkness, ventilation and a very small safe feed after the worms settle. Investigate the original system before reusing it.

Document what happened. Failure is useful only if it changes the next setup. Blaming “bad worms” without examining moisture, temperature, food and airflow guarantees a repeat.