how long? best way?

[david13]

how long should you keep the same substrate for before replacing it iwht new one?
also what would be the best way to grin oatmeal up so it will go through a screen... people said a blender, is that best or any more ideas?

thanks in advance

 

[vctkiller]

For substrate I would say 2 months then you change it about the oatmeal thing I don't know.

 

[killagreen]

A blender is the absolute best way. The only other way i can think of would be maybe a coffee grinder, but you would have to do a little at a time.

 

[GeckoGathering]

same substrate / grinding

Hi. .....I vary on the time changing the substrate, according to the number of feeders being raised. My counts usually range from 1 to 8 thousand. More mouths, quicker changes. If you can see through the sides of your container you will see different colors in the layers of bran or whatever you are feeding them. The dark layer at the bottom is old but still contains tiny worms/eggs until it gets too deep, then I think pressure on them is a problem. When I do change over I don't throw it away at first......just moves to another container, until I know late eggs have hatched. Then its trashed.
As far as grinding oats......I would suggest checking a feed and grain store, if you have one in your area. I buy most every thing for my geckos and the gecko prey feeders at one here. Bran, chick starter, calcium carbonate, misc. .......you will find it at a much better price for much more quantity... I think they even sell meal worms.
Take care. HJ

 

[david13]

the mealworms also eat the substrate right?

thanks for your help guys'

 

[Mel&Keith]

I've tried grinding oatmeal in the coffee grinder and I just end up making a HUGE mess so we use Cody's Pro Gutload now. I change it with every new batch of worms we get, so about every 2-3 weeks.

 

[GeckoGathering]

Meal worm food/ grinding

[QUOTE=david13]the meal worms also eat the substrate right? [/QUOTE]
They live in and feed on Bran, Oats, Chick starter, Household cereal, Dog and cat food, etc. but need moisture sources, best from healthy foods as carrots,
oranges, pineapple, apples, potatoes, etc.... .....I consider pineapple #1 but switched to.....bran, chick starter,carrots and oranges only, ......due to a large amount of fruit flies
hatching from pineapple.......less mold/rot from carrots. They use the orange peal too.....eat it and houses the beetles while breeding..............
If I understand the instructions with blenders, they need a certain amount of liquid to work, (but no authority on them)......check for a feed and grain store in the yellow pages.
take care. HJ

 

[david13]

ok thanks everybody..!!

 

[MSMD]

I just stick the oatmeal in the blender dry.....and viola! It makes it into a fine powder quite quickly! (and not very messy unless you are accident prone, like myself, and occassionally forget to put the lid on before operating the blender :main_rolleyes