Breeding Mealies

[GeckoMandi]

I've researched some older topics on here and just wanted to ask if it the shoebox sterlite tubs with holes in the top would be good to start breeding them in? Also I read somewhere that baby cereal is a good substrate/food source for mealies is this true? I spend so much on shipping and buying gutload I want to start making my own!

 

[eyelids]

I use shoeboxes and they work fine for a small colony. I only use Cody's Pro Gutload. You can get 10 pounds of it shipped for under $30 and if your just doing feeders for 7 geckos that should last at least a couple months.

 

[Scott&Nikki]

whats considered a "small colony"?

 

[GeckoMandi]

I use shoeboxes and they work fine for a small colony. I only use Cody's Pro Gutload. You can get 10 pounds of it shipped for under $30 and if your just doing feeders for 7 geckos that should last at least a couple months.

I haven't used codys yet but I've heard good things! I plan on trying maybe after x-mas just wanted something to get me through til then so would be baby cereal be ok til then? I might try the local feed stores to see what else they have like rolled oats etc.

 

[gothra]

That's what I use for my mealworm bedding, rolled oats, bran, wheat germ, flaxseed, brown rice, wheat flakes...etc, just anything I could find in the supermarket!

 

[eyelids]

whats considered a "small colony"?

I keep about 50 beetles in a shoebox and they give me around 5000 mealworms a month. I keep the beetles on the same gutload and every three weeks I remove the beetles and put them in a fresh tub.

Mandi, wheat bran is your best bet for something quick.

 

[GeckoMandi]

I keep about 50 beetles in a shoebox and they give me around 5000 mealworms a month. I keep the beetles on the same gutload and every three weeks I remove the beetles and put them in a fresh tub.

Mandi, wheat bran is your best bet for something quick.

5,000 a month????:main_lipsrsealed: Do I really want to breed?? LOL!!

 

[eyelids]

5,000 a month????:main_lipsrsealed: Do I really want to breed?? LOL!!

Yeah, and the doesn't include the 10000+ in the refrigerator...

 

[GeckoMandi]

Yeah, and the doesn't include the 10000+ in the refrigerator...

Wow..

Well I'm going to give it a whirl wish me luck!!

 

[eyelids]

Good luck!

 

[gothra]

I keep about 50 beetles in a shoebox and they give me around 5000 mealworms a month. I keep the beetles on the same gutload and every three weeks I remove the beetles and put them in a fresh tub.

Wow Michael, you're doing very well at producing mealworms!! I keep about 300 beetles in my tub and transfer them every 1.5 months. But I only get around 1000 mealies every time...

 

[eyelids]

Wow Michael, you're doing very well at producing mealworms!! I keep about 300 beetles in my tub and transfer them every 1.5 months. But I only get around 1000 mealies every time...

Hmmm... Maybe I just have a really good ratio of male to female beetles. I also use an UTH on a thermostat at 88 degrees so that would make production faster.

 

[iceman]

do you have to buy the beetles or do the mealworms change into them?

 

[GeckoMandi]

do you have to buy the beetles or do the mealworms change into them?

The mealworms turn into beatles they breed and lay eggs and hopefully you get little mealies