Superworm breeding

[prsken]

I bought superworms and separated them till they morphed, once beetles came about I put them in wheat bran just like my mealies.They had babies and they are morphing without separation but they are exactly the same as mealies pupae! Why are they not growing into supers? The worms are no bigger than regular mealies. Am I nuts??

 

[fl_orchidslave]

They'll grow but it takes some time.

 

[prsken]

I've been breeding meal worms for a yr and have wonderful success. Wanted some super worms so, like I said, I separated and pupated some supers, the beetles had babies, but they are not super worm size pupa, they are exactly like meal worms, and they pupated the same size as meal worms, It doesn't make any sense?? Thanks

 

[acpart]

Nope, you're right, it doesn't make sense. The only thing I can recommend is to let them complete the change, put them in bran and see what they produce. My superworm pupae are 3/4" to 1" long.

Aliza

 

[UnicornSpirit]

I haven't bred superworms myself yet... but I've done a lot of research on the topic. From what I hear, the worms must have movement around them to keep them disturbed and from pupating. If your colony of worms is small to start I would move them into a smaller bin for a more confined space. That way, all the worms bump into each other and keep each other from pupating. As they grow larger, sift some out and move them into larger bins but always remember if there is not enough movement going on in their habitat then they will pupate. I know it's strange, but that's how those work. Mealworms are the opposite, they will just pupate automatically- crowded or not! lol. I hope you can try this technique and see if it helps!

PS. To give you an idea of the right amount of space, I've kept 1,000 worms in a normal 10 gallon glass tank along with about 3" of wheat bran and tons of veggies with no problem! No pupae and very little if no cannibalism. Once the population dwindles down to 200 is when you will start to see a few of them pupating! Time to move them to a smaller plastic/Tupperware bin or add more worms.

 

[Miami geckos]

Hello. We have alot of experience breeding Meal Worms and Super Worms. According to your post, it is possible that you were originally sold Giant Meal Worms and not Super Worms. I have come to this conclusion only because we have never had a Super Worm pupate unless they were seperated from others Super Worms. If you are saying that your Super Worms are "morphing without separation," There is no doubt in my mind that they are Meal Worms. I am so sure of this that I am recommending you to do the following to prove this fact. Get one or 2 worms and refrigerate them in a delicup with precut holes for air. The following day open the dish and let them slowly warm up to room temperature. If you see them beginning to move around, rest assured they are Meal Worms. If they do not move and appear to be lifeless, then you have just discovered a new morph of Super Worms that doesn't require seperation to pupate.

Hope this helps.

Please feel free to visit our site: http://miamigeckos.com/

Alfonso
Miami Geckos

 

[acpart]

Good point. I was kind of thinking giant mealworms after I sent my post off.

Aliza

 

[UnicornSpirit]

Good point. I was kind of thinking giant mealworms after I sent my post off.

Aliza

It may be that he was send the wrong bug... but, you cannot totally jump to conclusions. It may be that they are supers: I have had some of my superworms pupate (and yes, then form into giant superworm darkling beetles!), with a few other superworms living around them. What I'm saying is that it is possible that his supers may not be "irritated" enough by others (a high population) to deter them from pupating.

 

[acpart]

I agree that's possible, but the combination of them pupating with other worms around and forming pupae that seem too small to be superworms inclines me to think he has giant mealworms.

Aliza