What feeders work best?

[rhino43grr]

I'm getting back into lizards after a while away from the hobby and wanted to know what feeder insects you have had the most success with. i've used mealworms and crickets, but never tried putting together a repopulating colony of feeders, from what i hear mealies are tough to breed and crickets die and smell bad.

 

[Inlovewithherps]

I'm currently breeding crickets and mealies.
So far I have a few hundred 1/4 inch crickets. They do stink,escape and make a lot of noise.
The mealworm breeding is going slowly (30 or 40 darkling beetles that are starting to lay eggs) but hasn't been difficult. They are much easier to care for than crickets.
I'm going to attempt to breed Supers next since my Leo's love them.
I've heard that roaches are a great feeder and easy to breed but I haven't had the opportunity to try them yet.

 

[mynewturtle]

I breed mealies/supers mealies are easy and supers arn't that hard ethier.

 

[rhino43grr]

can the mealworm beetles fly? if not that might be what i try to breed since they'd have less chance of escaping i would assume.

 

[gko reptiles]

BOOOOOO CRICKETS! HOORAY BEER! I mean...ummm MEALIES!

 

[Stitch]

I breed mealies they are simple for me, although I have had some trouble breeding supers. I could breed crix if I wanted but I'd rather just buy them every other month and not have to deal with pin heads.

For me Mealies have worked the best. No the beatles cannot fly.

 

[rhino43grr]

that's great news, looks like i'll be starting a mealworm farm soon after i get my gecko. hope to see you at mars this weekend, brian.

 

[Stitch]

that's great news, looks like i'll be starting a mealworm farm soon after i get my gecko. hope to see you at mars this weekend, brian.

I'll be there on Saturday, probably around 9-10 o'clock.

 

[ALGeckos]

I've bred my own mealworms before which much success. The one thing that made me toss them into the garbage one time (back in 2004) was when I accidentally kept one of the small tupperware bins in a wooden book/DVD/CD cabinet with the doors closed, which increased the humidity and made book mites thrive. These book mites were in the tupperware, in the books, and around the shelf eating the gutload and the fruits/veggies in the tub! I was so freaked out, I tossed that out and made sure I cleaned EVERYTHING. No worries, those mealies never made it to my reptile tanks and since then, my mealworms have been stored in a cool, airy place and I haven't had a problem since!

I haven't tried breeding crickets because (A) they smell and (B) I hate adult crickets that escape. Hehehe.

And to answer rhino's question, mealworm beetles don't fly.

 

[David Loftin]

BOOOOOO CRICKETS! HOORAY BEER! I mean...ummm MEALIES!

HAHAH!!! Yey Beer arty2: and Mealworms! I am not the only one that likes that combination..

I use Mealworms for the majority of our Leo's. We do have some very picky adults that will only eat crickets. I am just starting to try out the King Mealworms. We have had a very small amount of success with our Raise Ups/Breeders. Hopefully a little later this year I will try breeding Mealworms again.. It will be much cheaper for us and our 200 + Leos.

 

[2.1SRR.YYC]

I'm kinda with Stitch...

I've raised crickets but I find buying them is a lot easier than feeding and growing them from pinheads.

I'm raising mealworms and I find it very easy. I'm actually overrun right now so I'm keeping a lot in the fridge. I only have two medium tubs on the go...:main_thumbsup: I just throw a carrot in once a week and they're good!

I'm going to start a colony of waxworms tonight as I've read that it's very easy to raise them too.

Roaches are a no-go as I've heard horror stories about escapees and infestations...:main_yes:

I buy my superworms but I may try raising them in the near future. I have a few leos that flip (dive actually) over the supers..:main_laugh:

As far as which ones work best....what do you mean by "Work best"?

If you mean which ones do the leos like best I would have to say crickets.:main_thumbsup:
If you mean which ones are the easiest to raise and maintain I would have to say mealworms.:main_thumbsup:

 

[Stitch]

...I am just starting to try out the King Mealworms...

What are King Meal Worms? I have never heard of them. I have heard of Giant Meal Worms and they are not good to use as feeders. From my understanding Giant Meal Worms have been fed growth hormones and will not pupate into beatles. We also don't know what kind of side effects those hormones may cause with the reptiles they are fed to. These GMW are bigger then normal mealies but are still smaller the super worms, just to give you an idea of their size.

 

[David Loftin]

What are King Meal Worms? I have never heard of them. I have heard of Giant Meal Worms and they are not good to use as feeders. From my understanding Giant Meal Worms have been fed growth hormones and will not pupate into beatles. We also don't know what kind of side effects those hormones may cause with the reptiles they are fed to. These GMW are bigger then normal mealies but are still smaller the super worms, just to give you an idea of their size.

I hate common names. The King Mealworms I speak of are a different species. They are Zophobas artratus. They are naturally large. I am sure we are talking about the same species. I do agree though.. The "steroid fed" Tenebrio molitor is not a good thing to feed. :main_thumbsup:

 

[Stitch]

I hate common names. The King Mealworms I speak of are a different species. They are Zophobas artratus. They are naturally large. I am sure we are talking about the same species. I do agree though.. The "steroid fed" Tenebrio molitor is not a good thing to feed. :main_thumbsup:

Cool, thanks for that explanation. Like I said I have heard of "Giant Meal Worms" and I was thinking that maybe they came up with a new name to get them to sell. Who do you get your King Meal Worms from? I may give them a try.

 

[David Loftin]

I get all of my feeder insects from Bassets Cricket Ranch [link]. I have been getting my feeder insects from them for over 8 years. Very good reliable company with great Telephone Support.

 

[GoGo]

We get our feeders from reptilefood.com. I HAD a mealworm colony going, but since weve switched to super worms(which work way better) my mom TRASHED IT ;-;. Super worms work very well if the geckos like them, but for our younger leo's and our still young crestie we use mealworms(the crestie gets mini mealworms and eats them like a pig.)

 

[Inlovewithherps]

King Mealworms and Superworms are the same thing. :main_yes:

 

[GeckoRing]

We use mealworms and roaches. I really couldn't believe it when I broke down and started breeding roaches, and when my mother-in-law found out! They are supper easy, and don't smell bad.

 

[gothra]

I've bred my own mealworms before which much success. The one thing that made me toss them into the garbage one time (back in 2004) was when I accidentally kept one of the small tupperware bins in a wooden book/DVD/CD cabinet with the doors closed, which increased the humidity and made book mites thrive. These book mites were in the tupperware, in the books, and around the shelf eating the gutload and the fruits/veggies in the tub! I was so freaked out, I tossed that out and made sure I cleaned EVERYTHING. No worries, those mealies never made it to my reptile tanks and since then, my mealworms have been stored in a cool, airy place and I haven't had a problem since!

I haven't tried breeding crickets because (A) they smell and (B) I hate adult crickets that escape. Hehehe.

I had the same problem before, they're like a layer of moving dust...now I always have my mealworm box on a dish of water, just in case the gutload gets infested again, those mites are contained...

I voted for roaches, they don't smell, and is quite easy to maintain. Crickets are evil, I can never touch a cricket with my bare hands...

 

[Ipsl]

Its funny cause there allways deals at petshops around my house that give away free cricks when you spend x amount. Ive gotten them and than I never use them. I just got 500 mealies from Bassets Cricket Ranch. And My new girls just ate 10 an 7 last night so they're perfect. (Thanks David)

Kings/ Supers are what This Fool eats and I love them. Easy to care for and no sound. I just open there cotainers when I first start feeding and let it air out for a sec.

As far as roaches. I live in a apartment and I know someone had roaches and they almost got here to my place. But I think that some would get out if I breed them and eat the poisions than come back.