What Do Worms Eat? A Detailed Guide for What To Feed Your Worms

Worms seem to live for decay. They gravitate toward soft, broken-down things—fruit scraps, wilted greens, cardboard bits, maybe even old leaves or the odd piece of shredded paper. Some even handle manure, though not all bins are built for it. 

When you start to truly understand what to feed worms, the approach system changes. Feed them well, and the payoff isn't subtle. What you get back is dark, crumbly, alive with nutrients. It doesn’t just look like compost. It feels like soil that remembers how to grow.

Moreover, what do red wiggler worms eat? Fruits, vegetables, and organic waste. Simple.

 

Why Feeding Your Worms with the Right Types of Food is Important?

Worms can’t chew. No teeth, no grinding. Instead, they wait—let microbes do the work first. Then what to feed worms? Bacteria, fungi, and time. That’s the OG food for worms. This comes down to WHAT you feed them being more important than HOW you feed them. 

Even the best food for worms follows the same structure as our diet. If we overdo something, we get sluggish or, worse, diarrhea. 

Overdo it, and the bin can turn sour. Underthink it, and it reeks. But when does the balance click? Once you’re sorted with your quest for ‘what do nightcrawlers eat’, you’ll notice differences. Your actions will come to fruition, and the castings grow richer. The worms, livelier. 

Especially red wigglers and nightcrawlers—they seem to respond best to food that’s already halfway broken down. Not fresh. Not rotten. Just soft, familiar decay. That’s when the real transformation starts.

If you wonder what do nightcrawlers eat, it’s the same as the red wigglers.

 

What Do Worms Like to Eat? 10 Best Foods for Worms to Feed

Here’s a list of top worm-friendly favorites, answering the raging question of ‘what do worms eat’. Think soft, plant-based, and easy to rot:

1. Banana peels – Moist and nutrient-rich
2. Cucumber peels – Breaks down quickly, hydrates the bin
3. Wilted greens – Spinach, kale, lettuce, and cabbage
4. Pumpkin and squash – High in moisture, worms eat it fast when chopped
5. Grapes and soft fruits – Easy for bacteria to pre-digest
6. Avocado peels – Use sparingly; high in fat but nutritious
7. Used coffee grounds – Adds grit and mild acidity
8. Tea bags – Only the non-plastic ones
9. Bread (whole-grain) – In small quantities, moist and soft
10. Shredded newspaper and cardboard – Essential bedding and carbon source

Now that you know what do red wiggler worms eat, let’s understand the things they can or cannot eat!

Must Read : What To Feed Worms in 2025: The Complete Guide

Check out our short video to quick info:

What Fruits and Vegetables Can Worms Eat?

Most fruits and vegetables are worm-safe. The rule: if it’s organic and plant-based, it likely works.

Worm-approved fruits:

1. Apples (cut, no seeds)
2. Melons and cantaloupe
3. Strawberries, blueberries
4. Mango, papaya
5. Grapes

Vegetables worms enjoy:

1. Carrot tops
2. Zucchini
3. Broccoli stalks
4. Peas and green beans
5. Cucumber, lettuce, spinach

Still unsure about the worm food? Checkout our video here.

What Do Earthworms Eat in Nature vs. in Bins

If you’ve ever wondered what do earthworms eat in nature versus what to feed earthworms at home, the answer lies in their environment. In the wild, earthworms eat decaying leaves, plant roots, and soil full of microorganisms. This diet keeps forests fertile and full of life.

In compost bins, what earthworms eat changes slightly — they thrive on soft fruit scraps, vegetable peels, used coffee grounds, and damp cardboard. These foods mimic the organic debris they’d find in the soil. Always avoid acidic or oily foods. Understanding what do worms eat in different environments helps you keep them healthy and your compost productive.

 

Preparing Food the Right Way — What to Feed Worms Efficiently

Learning what to feed worms is one part — but how you prepare their food is what keeps your bin thriving. Worms don’t chew; they rely on microbes to break food down first. So, chop your scraps small or blend them lightly. Pre-composting food for a few days also helps.

Great examples of what to feed earthworms include soft fruits, lettuce, cucumber, pumpkin, and crushed eggshells. These are easy for worms to digest and full of nutrients. Avoid citrus, meat, and dairy, as they upset the pH. By mastering what do worms eat and how to prep it, you’ll have faster composting and happier worms.

 

Foods to Stay Away from: What Not to Feed Your Worms?

Not everything belongs in the worm bed. What not to feed worms:

Certain foods disrupt the system. Acidic peels, spicy cores, dairy remains—they don’t sit well. The microbes falter. The bin reacts. What starts as a handful of scraps may end in imbalance.

Can worms eat citrus or garlic? Probably not safely. The same goes for onions, hot peppers, and greasy leftovers. In the list of what not to feed worms, sugar ideally should come first. It ferments. The pH shifts. Microbes vanish. Worms suffer. Bread? Maybe. But only whole grain, and only in small, clean doses. Molded slices or sweetened varieties complicate things

 

What Do Worms Need to Survive?

Now that you know what do worms eat, know this too: food alone is insufficient to keep a worm alive. You need a bin to create a living, breathing micro-ecosystem habitat. Start with light and shade. Worms recoil from brightness. Shade keeps them steady. Cover helps them calm down. Without it, they burrow deeper, stressed and disoriented.

Then comes moisture. It matters more than most realize. Bedding should mimic the feel of a damp sponge (just enough for water retention). Dry bedding shrinks them. Wet bedding suffocates. Worms thrive best in the middle ground.

Air (Oxygen) is the next unseen pillar. It has to filter through the bin. If things get too heavy and too packed, the oxygen disappears. That, in turn, forms anaerobic zones. You’ll realise that from the dampening smell, and then you’ll see the worms slow down next.

Temperature is highly crucial. These creatures aren’t built for extremes. Give them the coolness of spring, the softness of early fall. Anything above 85°F, and they retreat. Push past that, and they perish.

Bedding matters too. Dry leaves, newspaper, and cardboard provide structure and carbon. All must remain moist, but never soaked. Pouring water in? That can drown them. Instead, hydrate through food and bedding.

Moisture creeps through scraps and through damp bedding. Slowly, like mist through the forest floor. That’s how the habitat lives. And how the worms stay alive.

Must Read : How Long Do Worms Live

How Much & How Often Should You Feed Worms?

It depends. Most feed every few days. But it’s not about a strict schedule. It’s more like reading a room that breathes. Some folks drop scraps every few days. Others wait. The truth? The schedule matters less than the signs. You're not running a clock. You're listening to something quieter.

Look at the scraps. That’s where the answers live. If they’re gone or barely there, the worms may be ready. If food’s still sitting there, untouched or slow to vanish, don’t rush. Adding more can backfire. The rotting starts happening, you’ll be able to smell it, and then the pest will arrive. Give them time and reap the rewards.

They say worms can eat half their body weight each day. Maybe. Under perfect conditions. One pound of worms, half a pound of food. But bins don’t always run on theory. Sometimes it’s too cold. Sometimes the air’s off. Bedding might be too dry, or the scraps too acidic. And then? They eat less or slower. Sometimes much more. The bin shifts. So do the worms.

A small but vital move: bury the food. Don’t just toss it in. Pull back the bedding and slide the scraps underneath. Just a couple of inches is enough to keep the smells down, the flies away, and the surface calm. It also keeps things moist where it counts. Surface scraps dry out. Buried scraps stay soft, edible.

Give it time, and the rhythm begins to show. One patch gets eaten clean in a few days. Another lingers. Some bins like banana peels. Others seem to go wild for mushy cucumbers or wilted greens. You’ll see it. Over time, you’ll learn the bin’s preferences. Not rules. Just patterns.

Worm composting doesn’t move in straight lines. It loops and pulses; when you feed, they react.

 

What Happens If You Overfeed Worms?

Too much food causes:

• Anaerobic conditions (bad smells)
• Mold and rot
• Fruit fly infestations

Check uneaten scraps. If you still see food after 3–4 days, hold off feeding. Rotate feeding zones and always balance with browns like dried leaves or cardboard.

Must Read : Red Wiggler Worms 101: Everything You Need to Know About Eisenia Fetida

 

How to Care for Worms Beyond Feeding

Knowing how to care for worms means going beyond their diet. Worms need food, but they also need the right environment to survive. Maintain the bedding like a damp sponge — not too dry, not soggy. Keep the temperature between 55°F–77°F (13°C–25°C) for ideal conditions. 

Aerate your bin weekly so air flows freely, and add crushed eggshells to stabilize pH. If you already know what to feed worms, balance it with proper moisture and airflow. Remember, what do earthworms eat is only part of the puzzle — how you care for them determines their activity, health, and composting power.

 

Worm Diet Myths — What Worms Actually Crave

A common misconception is that worms eat anything — but that’s not true. When we look closely at what do worms eat, we find they prefer soft, decomposing organic matter. Think banana peels, melon rinds, and wilted greens. These are the foods what earthworms eat most easily because they break down fast.

Worms can’t handle spicy, oily, or citrus-based scraps. Instead, what to feed worms should always be mild and plant-based. The trick is balance: not too fresh, not too rotten — just slightly decayed. When you feed them right, they reward you with rich, dark compost that smells like fresh earth.

 

Worm Feeding Routine — Finding the Right Rhythm

When it comes to what to feed worms and how often, consistency is key. Worms generally eat about half their body weight in food daily, depending on temperature and moisture. Check your bin every few days. If the scraps are gone, feed more; if they’re still visible, wait.

Overfeeding creates odors and attracts pests. Spread food evenly and cover it with bedding. Knowing what do worms eat helps, but learning how to care for worms means watching their behavior — active worms and dark, crumbly castings mean you’ve hit the sweet spot. With rhythm and observation, you’ll master worm feeding balance.

Must Read : Worm Life Cycle

Wild Worm Diet vs. Pet Worm Diet (Bonus Insight)

Ever thought about the difference between what do earthworms eat in nature and what to feed earthworms at home? In the wild, worms thrive on decayed leaves, roots, and soil bacteria. These natural foods give them the nutrients they need. In captivity, they rely on us to mimic that.

Feeding them soft fruits, coffee grounds, and paper bedding recreates their natural diet. If you’re wondering what do worms eat in the soil — it’s everything that’s slowly rotting and rich in microbes. The closer you match that balance in your bin, the stronger and more active your worm colony becomes.

Meme’s worms Extra Feeding Tips for your Worms

Straight from our team’s composting corner:

• Freeze and thaw food scraps before use. Freezing softens everything. It tears the cells apart. The result? Faster rot. Easier meals.
• Worms also need grit. No teeth, remember? Coffee grounds. A pinch of soil. Crushed eggshells, or Oyster Shell Flour. These help churn the food for worms inside their gizzard.
• Balance is everything. Got mushy scraps? Don’t pile them alone. Tuck them into dry bedding—paper, leaves, shredded boxes. It keeps the airflow steady.
• Leaf litter works like magic. Not fresh leaves. Old, soft, barely-there ones. Worms seem to melt right into them.
• You can even boost the diet. Premade worm food exists. Or make your own—powdered oats, cornmeal, whatever’s mild and earthy.

Want castings that feel like soil gold? Go for the best food for worms at Meme’s Worms.