who's going back to mealies?

[Kristi23]

I started with 1000-2000 worms that I didn't use for feeders. It didn't really take long at all. I want to say that I started about 2 months ago and I've already taken full size worms out of the egg drawer. They've grown a lot quicker than I thought/had read. My bottom drawer is about empty now, so I just ordered some more worms that I won't use for feeders. By the time those are beetles, I should have plenty of my own and shouldn't have to buy them anymore. When I started, I made sure I bought worms from 3 different sources, too. This time, I ordered from 2 different people. I will order some every so often just to add more sources for my beetles to outcross (I hope that's the right word).

 

[MSMD]

I've had my own mealie colony for a while now, so I wasn't really affected by the whole thing. I still feed, and will continue to feed, mealies, supers, and the occassional waxie.

Kristi, awesome colony! Great idea keeping them in the (I'm guessing Sterilite??) drawers! :main_yes: What do you use for bedding? How do you get all the beetles out to move the bedding to the next drawer to hatch?

 

[acpart]

I want to point out that I breed my own mealworms and have for the last few years, don't get my gutload from major suppliers, feed nearly all of my breeding adults exclusively crickets (one male eats only mealworms; one trio eats mealworms occasionally) and still had a lot of the same breeding issues (single egg clutches, reduced production from reliable breeders, deformities and fetal deaths) that others did.

Aliza

 

[Kristi23]

I'm using gutload from progeckos as bedding. So far, I've only moved the beetles once. It took me forever because I had to pick them out to move them, but I haven't thought of an easier way yet. I just moved them 2 or 3 weeks ago to fresh bedding and I already have babymealworms in there. I keep 4 drawers total now. One for my original mealworms to pupate, one for the pupated ones, one for beetles, and one for the baby mealworms that I'll feed with. Once they get large, I move them. I'm really just guessing what to do, but my husband thinks I have thousands of baby worms in there already. So something is right.

 

[acpart]

I'm using gutload from progeckos as bedding. So far, I've only moved the beetles once. It took me forever because I had to pick them out to move them, but I haven't thought of an easier way yet. I just moved them 2 or 3 weeks ago to fresh bedding and I already have babymealworms in there. I keep 4 drawers total now. One for my original mealworms to pupate, one for the pupated ones, one for beetles, and one for the baby mealworms that I'll feed with. Once they get large, I move them. I'm really just guessing what to do, but my husband thinks I have thousands of baby worms in there already. So something is right.

Here's how I pick out my beetles to move them:
a. spray a paper towel to moisten and lay it over the beetles who will cling on to it. This only works a few times because eventually the baby mealworms start clinging too

b. scoop up the bedding with beetles and strain it. Then you can either pick out the beetles or dump the whole thing into the new bedding.

Aliza

 

[Kristi23]

Thanks Aliza! I just took them out today. I put fresh carrot in there and a lot went to it. That helped a little. We used a slotted spoon, too. It still took forever though.

 

[Willowbyrd]

I'm pretty much sticking to superworms. I had crickets for awhile and when they got too frustrating to deal with I went back to supers. BUT I do have some mealies purchased... at least when they come in... >>

 

[LeapinLizards]

I'm starting a dubia colony this next week, and will be getting mealies about once every couple weeks to add variety to their diet. I'm sure I'll throw crickets in there once in awhile, but DEFINITELY will not breed them...they smell way too bad!

 

[fOOlsgOld]

I'm getting some dubia roaches from bestroach.com that are going to be shipped out next week. I can't wait but when I told my M-i-L the other night she just about FREAKED OUT :main_laugh: "YOU'RE BRINGING WHAT INTO THIS HOUSE!?":main_laugh:

I was also considering raising silkworms, any comments on how hard/easy they are to keep a colony going?

 

[LeapinLizards]

I'm getting some dubia roaches from bestroach.com that are going to be shipped out next week. I can't wait but when I told my M-i-L the other night she just about FREAKED OUT :main_laugh: "YOU'RE BRINGING WHAT INTO THIS HOUSE!?":main_laugh:

You think that's bad? My mom came over the other day, and I asked her for a large Dubia colony for my birthday LOL...she is still confused as to why her 23 year old married daughter wants ROACHES of all things for her birthday!

 

[goReptiles]

i'm going to stick with crickets and dubia. they take a lot less time to dig out and throw in the tubs for feeding time. lol

 

[MSMD]

Thanks, Kristi and Aliza! I'm doing much the same thing you are, Kristi. Just in tubs rather than the drawers (which is a darn good idea ). So far, I have been 'picking' :main_robin: to get all the beetles out of the bedding when I change it and it's a pain! :annoyed: I tried using a screen to sift them out, but that made a big mess. :main_rolleyes: I'm going to try that paper towel idea! :main_yes:

 

[rcobourn]

Word to the wise... superworms can easily get out of the smaller Sterlite drawers. Oops! Fortunately after I put them in there, I thought.. maybe not. I put the whole drawer in a tank, and about half the supers had escaped the drawer by morning. Looks like they crawl over each other in the crevices at the front of the drawer on each side. I may get a bigger set of drawers for the supers.

 

[acpart]

Supers can also chew through plastic, although they may not get much purchase in a drawer. I once bought a lot of supers and kept them in a tall deli cup. I put them in a drawer so my family wouldn't get grossed out. About a month later I opened the drawer and saw a superworm-sized hole in the top of the deli cup. I thought I put all the superworms back, until the family started seeing these REALLY HUGE beetles in the living room.

Aliza