Superworm smell

[GeckoConnection]

Well I have about 800 superworms at the moment and they are really starting to smell. They are on gutload with limited carrots in the tub, since I noticed a buildup of moisture. I cannot leave the top open, because then the smell from the tub is horrible in the room. I tried placing them on fresh bedding and only two pieces of carrot and no lid. But after about 12 hours they were smelling up the room. So I covered it, and it still stinks.

So I am hoping someone on here might have a solution for the smell, other then the obvious, placing them outside somewhere.

Thanks for your help.

 

[efx*]

Yea, they really do start to stink, I only have 100 thought lol. I just use air freshener in the room. I always try to make the odor go away changing the bedding and stuff to, but it doesn't work.

 

[malt_geckos]

Get one of those febeerze alternating scent plugins. They are WONDERFUL!

 

[TWC]

at least they arent crickets, i had a horrible smell problem with them, so bad that my neighbors were complaining.

 

[Vamp523]

So superworm start to smell really bad ? Are they worst than mealworm?

 

[paulnj]

I just stuck my face in a 15qt(no lid ever) that has had no less than 150 supers in it for the last 10 days(started out with roughly 800 10 days ago) and it definately doesn't stink.

They are in redwheat/mealworm gutload and sliced carrots and a few potato slices.

 

[TWC]

my supers dont stink, or my mealworms. i have 250 in a 32qt tub. in oatmeal and gutload.

 

[Vamp523]

Oh ok I was about to order 1000 super and thought they'd stink, guess not. The only smell I ever got was from the oats i was using and of course... that smell weird mix w/ humidity and heat

 

[paulnj]

I think the lid will hold in too much heat that they make when digesting and the humidity will build up and cause fermenting of the damp gutload? That must be the odor everyone is smelling?

 

[Michelle]

I have about 20 000 supers and they dont smell! Make sure that any dead ones are removed. Dead supers smell aweful. As Paul said, the gutload must stay dry. I leave all of my tops off the tubs or cut a big hole in the lid and glue mesh over it. What gutload are you using? Maybe that's part of the problem.

 

[Grinning Geckos]

I agree...removing dead worms is a MUST!! Keeping them cool and the gutload dry will help.

 

[GeckoConnection]

thanks

Well from what everyone is saying the problem was the heat they were creating. I sorted them into more tubs, so now I have about 200 or so per tub and they seem to be doing alot better. The moisture in the tub was creating wet gutload and I am guessing the heat was causing them to die, which was not helping the smell at all. So all seems better in superworm land now.

Thanks for your replies and help.

 

[Leopardbreeder]

I am amazed on how much heat that superworms/mealworms create with motion. Glad everything worked out.

 

[JConley]

Stinky

I only buy 1 weeks worth of crickets at a time and keep waxies and mealies in the fridge. (No smell) I buy 48 crickets a week and gutload them with "Fluckers" cricket food all in one. I clean the cricket keeper once a week.