Quick feeding question (mealworms)

[Eradik]

I think I'm pretty well set on feeding but I had just one question/concern about gut loading meal worms.

Basically, I'd have a container of mealworms in the fridge. I'd pull a handful out and put it in another container (what does this container need to be? Can it just be an empty plastic food container with poked airholes?) and then put in carrots, sweet potatoes, etc. etc. into this second container. Let this sit for 24 hours (outside of the fridge) or so for the worms to get loaded. Then I would put the mealworms into the leo's bowl with a piece of carrot to keep it moist and moving.

Rinse, repeat.

Is this method correct? Or should I be using a blender to grind up all of the pieces and give the mealworms a mush?

Should I have any type of food in the main fridge collection or just my "gutload container?"

Thanks!

 

[ElapidSVT]

i just leave mine in an open empty container (butter tub, salsa container, shoe box) with a carrot and start feeding them off the next day. since i go through them quickly they never need to go in the fridge.

moisture in the mealworm container in the fridge will cause problems. keep those dry and they'll last longer.

 

[Eradik]

Thanks for the information.

I have no idea how fast I'll go through them. Its my first leo and I'm hoping he will be able to get onto a mealworm staple, so I'd like to buy in bigger quantity if he likes them. Won't they turn to beetles if they're room temp for too long?

 

[ElapidSVT]

yeah, they do pupate if you keep them warm. i have a mealworm colony as well, though i've let it go for too long and numbers have dropped off. i take the pupae and put them in my colony to boost the numbers.

 

[OnlineGeckos]

Keep them in the fridge, make sure to remove all moisture items like fruit/veggies you give them before putting them in the fridge. Take them out once or twice a week and let them eat for a day, then put them back in. This will allow them to gutload & rehydrate. Use wheat bran or oat bran as bedding, they eat them as well. Put carrots & potatoes in there for them to feed on when you have them out.

Once you figure out how much your leopard gecko eats, then you can see if you want to have a mealworm farm. It'll be cheaper in the long run to have your own mealworm farm. But if you only have 1 leopard gecko, having a farm may not be necessary.

 

[Zencoran]

its ok if some pupate, drop the pupae in front of your leo, and it wiggles like crazy, my leo eats them.

Sent from my MB525 using Tapatalk

 

[Pinned27]

I understand that you have to take the moisture food out before putting them back in the fridge, but can you leave the bedding that you put in with the mealworms in the fridge with them?

 

[OnlineGeckos]

Yes, you keep the same bedding in or out of the fridge.

 

[Pinned27]

ok. and when you gut load them do you put them in a second sealed container but it has holes to keep it ventilated or do you just feed them in the sealed container out of the fridge?
just wana make sure i do it properly.

 

[OnlineGeckos]

Usually you keep them in the same container they're in, take them out to gutload for 24 hours, then remove gutload food like carrots & such, then put them back in the fridge. They can stay in the same container.

 

[Pinned27]

Usually you keep them in the same container they're in, take them out to gutload for 24 hours, then remove gutload food like carrots & such, then put them back in the fridge. They can stay in the same container.

Ok cool. how often would you gutload a container of mealworms? everyday? every other?
and if i take some mealworms that were refrigerated after gutloaded to feed to my gecko, would i have to gutload them again before i feed them or are they still good to go?

 

[OnlineGeckos]

Most people just gutload mealworms twice a week, and you feed them straight outta the fridge.

 

[Pinned27]

ok cool thank you.
and should i put vent holes in the container? or just take the top off when im gutloading them?
and if you put vent holes, its ok to put them in the fridge with these vent holes?

 

[jski711]

ok not to hijack the thread but i have some questions of my own regarding gutloading. i also have a single leo. i am currently leaving them in the fridge and taking them out and into another container as needed. the second container has repashy gutload in it and a carrot for moisture. Im not sure if this is the best way of doing things but i was having a hell of a time picking out the mealies in all the bedding, i may need to invest in a pair of tweezers for this purpose. thanks and sorry to hijack.