I find that they usually go some distance away to pupate. I have a difficult time spotting them. I noticed yesterday that my really big milk weed was stripped clean and the cats were all fat. Today I was able to find two chrysalises because they did not hide well. One is up under the eaves and the other just stuck itself to the outside of the screen. I hope he makes it.

Earthworms need organic matter, that is what they live on. How much is in the soil?

It sounds like the soil compacts with water - which leads me to believe that there is not enough grit in the mix. I use an inorganic mix of perlite, granite chicken grit and turface. No soil. No bark. This works well for me in my wet and humid climate. However, many people have success with a 50/50 mix of cactus and succulent soil and perlite or grit. It's really chunky and allows good drainage and aeration for the roots. It doesn't compact. It should look like this - And if that is what your potting mix looks like, then I apologize for telling you something that you already know. ;-)

Yup. Next time, either start them all at the same time, or raise up the little pots so that the plants are all at the same height, then put the lights very close to the leaves. Not knowing where you live (and when you can plant them outside), I could suggest that the super tall ones that you plant them lying down so that only the top leaves stick up. If planting out is a long way off, I would cut those very tall ones to above the first set of leaves, then cut the tops to about 6" and root them in water (or soil). Then you will have more sturdy plants to put in the garden when the time comes.