what to use for mealworm bedding?

[jschaf1]

Hi everyone,

So I bought a 1000 mealworms from feeder factory a little while ago. I am thinking it may be time to change the mealworm bedding soon. I am just wondering what to use as meal worm bedding? Any suggestions? Please if possible make it easy to find stuff at local grocery or pet stores. Thanks!! Have a great weekend!

 

[softballstud_1099]

I use Wheat Bran. You can find that at your grocery store. I have my own colony of mealworms so I went to the Natural Grocery Store and got a 25lbs bag of wheat bran. I just add carrots to mine.

 

[sammer021486]

You can either use wheat bran, chicken feed, dog food, or oatmeal, the list can vary.

I use chicken feed because I could pick up a 50lb bag for $15, for water I use water gel and have decided to throw a carrot in with each tub.

Wheat bran seems to be a very popular bedding material. If you would like them to last longer I would recommend keeping them cooler, either by placing them in the fridge or below room temp. If kept around 75F they will start to pupate within a few weeks.

How did you like your dealings with Feeder Factory?

I have been using Canadian Feeders, because they have guaranteed my order as long as it arrived in 2 days, while shipping in -20C weather.

 

[jschaf1]

I only ordered from feederfactory once so far but I have no complaints. I ordered mealworms, superworms, waxworms and butter worms from them. Everything arrived healthy and looking good. The only mystery I had was that most of my superworms died after a couple of days. I am not sure why this happened? I stored them in the fridge like my other worms. Was this a mistake? I don't know if it was something I did wrong or if they just sent me old worms. When they arrived the superworms all appeared lively and healthy but after a few days in and out of the fridge for feeding they all just seemed to die?

All my other worms which i ordered are still alive and kicking.

 

[ketz]

Yeah, superworms aren't supposed to be kept in the fridge. It usually guarantees that they die.

 

[jschaf1]

Yeah, superworms aren't supposed to be kept in the fridge. It usually guarantees that they die.

Really!? Ah shoot. :bigcry:

Thanks for telling me. Now I know for the next time. So do they just stay at room temp?

 

[L-G-C]

Really!? Ah shoot. :bigcry:

Thanks for telling me. Now I know for the next time. So do they just stay at room temp?

I keep mine at room temp and they do fine.

 

[ReptarNDukeNukem]

For all my worm feeders I use Organic Oatmeal and for their moisture I use apples and potato for them.For crickets I use Flukers Gutload with water crystals

 

[sammer021486]

For all my worm feeders I use Organic Oatmeal and for their moisture I use apples and potato for them.For crickets I use Flukers Gutload with water crystals

I was having massive die offs using the Flukers water gel crystals so I switched to making my own from RO water.

 

[Tony C]

I was having massive die offs using the Flukers water gel crystals so I switched to making my own from RO water.

Were you using the plain (blue) or calcium fortified (yellow) version?

 

[roger]

ground up wheat bran,fish flakes,high end dog food

 

[sammer021486]

Were you using the plain (blue) or calcium fortified (yellow) version?

I used the blue and the orange feeding cubes and they were dying like crazy. Switched over to my own water gel crystals and barely any crickets were dying. Also had a lot of die offs with mealworms and superworms on the Flukers, haven't had a problem since the switch though. Plus it is a lot cheaper to buy the crystals and make my own gel, $10 for 1 lbs of crystals, which makes 16 gallons of water gel.

 

[Tony C]

That's weird, the plain ones shouldn't hurt anything. Definitely cheaper to make your own though, I do the same.

 

[AvandisFifth187]

Plus it is a lot cheaper to buy the crystals and make my own gel, $10 for 1 lbs of crystals, which makes 16 gallons of water gel.

Where do you get your crystals from? I'm having trouble finding any without some sort of conditioner.

 

[sammer021486]

That's weird, the plain ones shouldn't hurt anything. Definitely cheaper to make your own though, I do the same.

It would seem that way but they were still dying, made the switch to just plain water gel from timberline fisheries water gel, which is just straight gel and the deaths stopped. I never changed anything in the care of the feeders except the water gel.

Where do you get your crystals from? I'm having trouble finding any without some sort of conditioner.

Sent you a PM.

As for the supers, they can not handle the cooler temps like a mealworm can that is why they all died when placed in the fridge. You can keep supers alive for almost a full year, just feed and water them and they will stay as worms. Take away their food and water, increase the temps to around 80F and you should have the supers pupating.

 

[jumper]

I use chick crumbles from the feed store...(non-medicated).
I put some in a blender with a couple calcium tablets

then I pour it through a strainer

I keep 2 inches deep in 12 qt. tubs with taters' for water, have never had a moisture issue in bedding.

When time to feed I scoop tub with mealies in them, shake the bedding through strainer.

 

[T-ReXx]

I've been using whole wheat flour for a while now simply because it's easier to sift than wheat bran. Seems to be working out well.

 

[leogecko88]

Is Purina Layena chicken food okay to use?

 

[AvandisFifth187]

Thanks! Wow, I'm seeing some great ideas here!

 

[jumper]

Is Purina Layena chicken food okay to use?

I believe they have a 15% that is non-medicated that is close to the same.