TRAINING MEAL WORMS for Super Bowl

[GeckoGathering]

Maybe I grabbed onto your attention by
the topic line. Huh?
It is true.
I train my meal worms for
the Super Bowl.....
or maybe should I call
them helpful tips in harvesting
meal worms to go in my bowl for
the super snow.
Whatever!
Many persons raising meal worms or
just storing them until larger,
or even persons that wonder if they are
tossing eggs and small-eee worms
may like this read.
In most cases worms are in a container with
a grain they are feeding on, along with
moisture items.(carrot, potato, apple, etc.)
But if you inspect them you will see many
are dieing. Some people say Cannibalism.
Maybe so if we don't keep a good food sourse.
But where I see the loss is from dehydration.
I was always concerned with mildew, mold,
fungus, Grain mites, etc.......from too much
moisture supplied. Lately I have been doing
moisture tests to see what results I would get.
Kinda got a bit of a surprise. Life not only
picked up activity wise, but is also generating
quicker worm growth. Plus an added benefit.
Easier harvesting of the larger worms and
appears helpful to tiny worms not drying out
and turning black. (those specs are tiny worms Photo 3)
Pretty simple method. I have never heard
of or seen any one doing it yet.
Take White Paper Towels (6) Spray them down
Lay on top of your Meal Worm supply.
I handle a tub size of about 3 to 4 thousand.
Here is a couple photos.
#1Meal Worm Tub of all size worms + eggs....
Not a beetle tub.
#2Sprayed down white paper towels on top
#3Worms already coming for the harvest. (3 Min.)
#4Some tonged, some shaken, (training completed)
into the "Super Bowl"
The worms will seek out and be on many of the towel
papers, both sides.
Not a sign of mold, mildew, or ? so far in the tests...
Sheets dry out quickly so misting becomes a
daily chore when you want feeders.
This is not recommended for fridge housed worms.
Take care. HJ

 

[Tony C]

Cool idea. Do you keep lids on your tubs, or are they open?

 

[GeckoGathering]

Meal Worm Training

Cool idea. Do you keep lids on your tubs, or are they open?

No Lids Tony. Thanks.
Take care. HJ

 

[erik]

what kind of substrate do you use HJ? I use water in my cricket enclosure and once it spilled over the rim of the cup and the oats started to get moldy so I had to throw them all out just to be sure. It looks interesting though!

 

[thestack510]

With a title like that I had to look. :main_laugh: I like your method HJ. It looks like it works well for you.

 

[GeckoGathering]

Prey Food Super Bowl

what kind of substrate do you use HJ? I use water in my cricket enclosure and once it spilled over the rim of the cup and the oats started to get moldy so I had to throw them all out just to be sure. It looks interesting though!

Hi Erik.
I use "Layer Hen Crumbles".
...from a farm type store.
I used the same food substrate for my crickets.
This product is well fortified with
vitamins/minerals and is developed for laying hens.
For laying geckos it seems like its a right
choice.
(
Caution: don't get chick starter..looks the same but has 2 chemicals
added for prevention of coccidiosis in chicks.
The moisture from food item
(carrots, potato, orange peel, etc.
I find is not always enough.
Crickets dehydrate but also have a
bad record for drowning in a water bowl.
Plus what you mentioned, mold.(etc.)
That can break down the grain and start grain
mites in your substrate.
I use a dinner type plate (disposable) with
a group of plain white paper towels ( disposable)
wet down like a sponge. (replace as needed)
You don't want standing water,
only something they can crawl over
with out drowning.
They have the water cubes too but I went for
economy.
Economy method is not the most convenient,
but was right for me, since I'm retired. (got time)
Take care. HJ

 

[erik]

thanks for your info! I have a coffeecup filled with water and a lot of pebbles so that makes it pretty hard for them to drown, unless they insist on drowning

I might try and offer bedding only partly in the enclosure...

 

[ILoveGeckos14]

Cool we just switched over to the laying hen substrate recently. Can the beetles lay eggs and successfully breed with that stuff?

 

[leogecko88]

The info that you have written about feeders has been very useful. I have learned quite a few useful tips from you. Thanks for sharing!

 

[GeckoGathering]

Feeders, limitations

thanks for your info! I have a coffeecup filled with water and a lot of pebbles so that makes it pretty hard for them to drown, unless they insist on drowning

I might try and offer bedding only partly in the enclosure...

Hey Eric.
Sounds kind of funny, but in my curiosity
with the crickets .....
your comment
(unless they insist on drowning)
is very close to being true.
They will drown in spillage from the cup even.
Take care. HJ

 

[GeckoGathering]

Training Meal Worms 101

With a title like that I had to look. :main_laugh: I like your method HJ. It looks like it works well for you.

Hey Ken.
Thanks for the comments.
Being a Indy Colt fan....
"the Super Bowl" was on my mind.
Yes, more hydration works well...
I'm only guessing at this point,
but I think the extra hydration may add to their
processing food faster, or increase their desire
for it. Oranges/pineapple have a similar effect for
growth, but get fruit flies / gnats started,
and are a bit costly on the hobby.
Take care. Hj

 

[gothra]

Maybe I grabbed onto your attention by
the topic line. Huh?
It is true.
I train my meal worms for
the Super Bowl.....
or maybe should I call
them helpful tips in harvesting
meal worms to go in my bowl for
the super snow.

HJ, I love this Super Bowl explanation! :main_thumbsup:

 

[GeckoGathering]

Meal Worm Tips

Cool we just switched over to the laying hen substrate recently. Can the beetles lay eggs and successfully breed with that stuff?

Hi Jeanene.
That is true.
I have beetles/crazy stage in a separate tub.
Same deal with the moistened towel papers.
Beetles die off from dehydration too
even with moisture foods included.
You will get more eggs out of them.
Sift the beetle tub to get all the fine eaten
grain from the bottom.
Dump all that in the worm tub.
Replenish fresh food supplies.
If you have the need(gets to full) sift
the worm tub, start a new tub with the fine
stuff. It contains eggs and really tiny worms.
You can see all sizes of worms gather to the
moist paper towels.
Take care. HJ

 

[GeckoGathering]

Meal Worm Tips

The info that you have written about feeders has been very useful. I have learned quite a few useful tips from you. Thanks for sharing!

Hey Stephanie,
you are most welcome.
I'm certainly glad it will be useful, and I
thank you for stopping by with your comments.
Take care. Hj

 

[GeckoGathering]

Super Meal Bowl

HJ, I love this Super Bowl explanation! :main_thumbsup:

LOL. Since I'm a Indy Colts fan,
it just kinda slid out of my mouth,
bounced right off my tongue that way.
Thanks Bonnie. Take care. HJ