Hmm, this is the first that I heard about mites attacking and "eating" live worms. So far I have known about mites co-habiting a worm bin, sometimes even over-populating it if too much food scraps is present, but the worms will just hide deeper down.
If it were me, I wouldn't use the VC for indoors. If you are determined to have a worm bin, I suggest to start new and not taking stuff from outside especially manure, no matter how well aged, or even tree leaves unless maybe you nuke them for a bit, just for fiber and C. Bottom line, I would only use kitchen scraps and paper product. (Unless you buy your veggie from the Super Market where I suppose it's clean of soil, I wouldn't use unwashed trimmings when bought from the open market/street vendor). With temp. in Thailand, I am sure your scraps will have enough MO in no time to make the worms at home.
Good luck.

It was astonishing to see the mites attach themselves to the worms, and their speed. They stayed fastened on the nightcrawlers, presumably sucking their blood until the worms were literally a loose shell of what they had been. The mites continued to work until the worms had become part of the compost.
IâÂÂm mainly trying to produce my own potting soil because commercial soil mixes at local nurseries are loaded with chemicals, partly from rice hulls. The worms would have been a great benefit. And I like the general idea of their contribution to a small ecology. Years ago when I had outdoor space I had compost piles that pretty much regulated themselves.
You suggest avoiding manure. IâÂÂd thought manure was valuable as a source of nitrogen (in compost with no worms to add castings). Not so? I will try with just kitchen scraps and âÂÂbrownsâÂÂ, paper materials as you suggest and see how it goes.
I also must be careful because of my urban environment. I compost in plastic bins on the balcony and monitor the process closely. Some neighbors in my building likely would be distressed at the idea of balcony composting, however careful I am.
Many thanks for your help.

Worms LOVE manure, It's just with the pred. mite problem you are having, the mites must have come from outside. I was simply doing the elimination process. Hence my comment about where you got your produce/fruit from.
Is it possible to keep your worm bin indoors? A properly maintained worm bin doesn't smell. (Just don't tell your neighbour what's in the box, lol) You still can have your pre-compost bin on your balcony with the tight lid during monsoon season. It will go anaerobic and smell but airing the feed portion before feeding will get rid of most the smell (I hope,lol) Or like many of us, you could store your scraps in the freezer.until needed.

Thanks again. Good tips.

Your composting and vermicomposting abilities need more space. More balconies or gorilla composting which is composting on land you do not actually own. Possibly your kitchen scraps are more than the bins can handle. Are there more outlets to use it? The red mites need a predator to balance their numbers. With both kitchen scraps and manure both being green maybe there is no need for manure unless it is from an animal you are keeping. The red mites in my mind suggest too much green matter and not enough bedding. Living in an urban or even a suburban setting, like I do, with no chickens to feed excess to is sad because it is difficult to put all of our excess resources to their best use. This turns them to waste. Unless bokashi I am unsure about not keeping everything oxygenated. Keeping kitchen scraps with no oxygen turns them to bad things that are hard to then add into a living system. Are there planters in front of your building? Can you visit an area where people rent land to garden? You might enjoy chatting with them. They might want compost.

Those are Bangkok vermi-vampire mites.....very hard to get rid of without physically separating them out of the "bin". I tried those little tiny wooden stakes but......

About the monsoon situation: you might drill some holes in the sides of the "bins" and, for sure, the bottoms.

Also, in every case I've ever seen with unwanted critters like that the problem was mainly overfeeding.

It mine, I would begin separating out the mites a cup of materials at a time. On the other hand, with only those few worms, maybe becoming a vermi-vampire mite composter "mite" be interesting.

Chuckiebtoo