Superworm issues

[STUTFL]

Okay, I could search, but I have a few questions I need to deal with at once, as quickly as possible.

Never had supers before, they were doing great but now they've got mites. It was a 100-worm cup, maybe 1/3 of that fed off before the mites became noticeable a day ago. Best way to eradicate these with minimal loss?

Good place to quickly purchase a safe, inedible substrate for superworms?

How much moisture do supers *really* need to keep them alive? I have one leo, he takes about seven per week.

 

[TnC_Chams]

you need to seaperate them from what ever they are in the need moisture or they will eat each other....i use flukers orange cubes stacked in a cup when i am running low on worms other than that i use a potato wedge in the cup on top of flukers cricket gut load they can eat it and keep off of each other you need to change potato out every 3 or so days caus ethey smell bad and can have a room smell for days after it is removed...hope it helps...also if the supers have mites living with them i would buy new caus eyou dont want to transfer what ever it is to your pets. i keep chameleons and am new to geckos but i wouldnt continue feeding off thoes supers to my chams or leos get new and keep them as i mentioned above!!!

 

[STUTFL]

I got the grain mites off my mealies easily enough (they were there when I got them, they'd been sitting in the post office for a day because I missed the stupid delivery), I just kept the humidity low and they were gone within days. Obviously, drying supers out would be a bit harder, though. That's why I want a non-grain-based substrate, to keep the mites from returning should I manage to clean up the worms.

 

[robin]

Okay, I could search, but I have a few questions I need to deal with at once, as quickly as possible.

Never had supers before, they were doing great but now they've got mites. It was a 100-worm cup, maybe 1/3 of that fed off before the mites became noticeable a day ago. Best way to eradicate these with minimal loss?

Good place to quickly purchase a safe, inedible substrate for superworms?

How much moisture do supers *really* need to keep them alive? I have one leo, he takes about seven per week.

they are most likely pest bugs, not mites.

i would buy supers from a better source like reptilefoods.com. you can get 500 a time, i believe.

you are going to need an edible substrate just like mealies, i use slow cooked oatmeal. use potato slices as a source of moisture (carrots and other veggies are fine too).

cody @ progecko has an awesome gutload.

 

[STUTFL]

So the supers are a loss.
Time to feed the sparrows. :laugh:

 

[STUTFL]

I think I'm going to get mealies next time. Easier keepers.

 

[robin]

Okay, I could search, but I have a few questions I need to deal with at once, as quickly as possible.

Never had supers before, they were doing great but now they've got mites. It was a 100-worm cup, maybe 1/3 of that fed off before the mites became noticeable a day ago. Best way to eradicate these with minimal loss?

Good place to quickly purchase a safe, inedible substrate for superworms?

How much moisture do supers *really* need to keep them alive? I have one leo, he takes about seven per week.

they are most likely pest bugs, not mites.

i would buy supers from a better source like reptilefoods.com. you can get 500 a time, i believe.

you are going to need an edible substrate just like mealies. use potato slices as a source of moisture (carrots and other veggies are fine too).

cody @ progecko has an awesome gutload.

 

[STUTFL]

Mmkay, any idea what shipping's like for reptilefood? The base prices seem good if the product is quality.

 

[robin]

i also use slow cook oatmeal as a substrate for supers

 

[robin]

Mmkay, any idea what shipping's like for reptilefood? The base prices seem good if the product is quality.

depends on how much you order and what shipping option you choose

they do have quality bugs and awesome customer service

 

[STUTFL]

They offer mealworms, which is good. I'll go back to supers or a new, meatier feeder when the cashflow is better and I have fresh food on hand more often. I can't afford to have a major die-off if I run out of food or get the humidity/temp too low.

 

[robin]

they have great mealies too :yes:

 

[STUTFL]

Thanks - luckily the gecko had a big meal recently, so he won't go hungry in the meantime. :main_thumbsup:

Are these bugs (look just like the grain mites, I must say) liable to cause any problems if they swarm out of the cup and into the house, or can I leave the whole buggy mess where it is until I can dispose of the poor critters properly tomorrow?

 

[robin]

i would put the grain bugs or whatever in the trash and take them outside. i hate those things bleh

 

[STUTFL]

Times like these I wish the balcony door didn't freeze shut when it gets below 10 degrees. :laugh: I'd just chuck the whole lot out on the ice for bird food. I'd be more popular in the avian community than the neighbor who pours cracked corn all over the sidewalk every morning. :main_rolleyes:

*shudder* Into a bag they go.

 

[RoninSTi]

I keep my supers on old fashioned oats. I use an unpeeled carrot cut in half, or an unpeeled potato cut in half for moisture. The skin keeps the moisture out of the substrate.

 

[STUTFL]

I also used unpeeled carrot - they were in the original cup, though, which was pretty deep and narrow.

 

[StopperExotics]

I've never had issues with my supers. What do these little grain bugs look like? How can I keep an eye for them? How do they get in there?

 

[robin]

i have seen black little beetle things and little grey worms in bugs before from particular breeders and sellers :|

 

[ariana]

for substrate for supers i buy bran,
and i give them one baby carrot a day,
if its all gone the next day i give them more, if not i add a THIN slice of potato