Mealworm Pupa and Dubia..

[Hankj]

I had a good colony going but I accidentally threw thousands of them away, that's besides the point but it makes me want to get an answer to this question even more so.

I started with a thousand and just threw all the pupa into the bin that would be the roach bin. Then after trying to separate the roaches and all the dead pupa I realized I should just put the pupa in a separate deli cup. Now I am noticing very few are surviving into beetle-hood. I am guessing it's not common to have MOST of you pupa not survive? I had them at room temperature, now they are at 75-80 in the incubator (it's empty now so I didn't see why not). Do I need to mist them ever few days or something?

Also, I just picked up 300 dubia and a few breeding pairs and I don't have any quick access to water crystals. Tonight I am just gonna give them the "cricket water" crap. But I want to know if anyone has used those Cricket Water Pillows by Zilla with any luck?

 

[RampantReptiles]

Pupa should be fine at room temperature. I definitely would not mist them, if anything humidity would probably make it worse. I have actually had some problems with my mealworm pupae dieing as well so maybe its not just you. Although I was lazy with the pupa, I just tossed them in with the beetles and more then likely the beetles just got hungry. cannibals....

Previous years I have had absolutely no problems getting beetles when I separated pupae into a deli cup.

If you need more mealworm pupae let me know.. I can hook you up! I bought 5000 mealworms and they are all starting to pupate on me >_<

 

[notacoshells]

You should leave the pupa in a separate container with oats for the beetles to eat when they emerge from the pupa. when they do come out, put in a piece of potato for them to get water from.

 

[ReptileWorld]

If you dont have water gel dont panic. you can use a common house hold sponge thats brand new and just let it soak up some water and wring it out well and sit it in there, or just give them oranges apples or other fruit you may have around your home this will keep them hydrated. i have used those cricket pillows in the past and i personally am not a fan of them. If you are interested in a good source for water gel shoot me a pm i would be more then happy to point you in the right direction. :main_thumbsup:

 

[Hankj]

Thanks a lot guys. That's why I thought I had so many deaths the first time (the beetles eating them) but they are dying a lot now. I have food in the container for them when they do "hatch" or whatever you call that process. I don't think it is really that necessary because I prob check it twice a day and for that same reason I also do not keep any thing for them to drink in there either. Not that it matters, because they aren't turning into beetles :x.

Michelle I'm always interested in hand outs, but don't want to pay for them