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Mealrworm question?

V

VipVenom

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I have started to breed my own melaworms to cut down on the costs of feeding my leopard geckos. How do some of you breed your mealworms? Can you post some pictures of how they are set-up?

Thanks,
Chris Embick
 
Honestly, if you start off with enough mealworms, you don't even have to try and they will breed on their own. It's a good idea to separate the aliens (pupae) from the beetles and mealworms though because they have a tendency to get eaten. For better instructions, Shayna has a great caresheet on breeding them on her site.
 
In addition to the info posted in those links, I find it beneficial to use a plastic 3-4 drawer chest to house/breed mealworms in. They come in all sizes and you can find them at most stores for around $10. You can use multiple drawers to house different sizes in and to remove the 'aliens' and beetles to. I've done it this way for a few years and it really keeps things a little more organized, and when you start to get up there in numbers of little ones, organization can be more and more difficult to find.

I couldn't find a pic of the one I use, but it is similar to these, but not exactly the same. I'm sure you get the picture.

Good luck
 
It's a good idea to separate the aliens (pupae) from the beetles and mealworms though because they have a tendency to get eaten.
Click to expand...

I've been breeding mealworms for over three years, and have never separated anything. Full life cycle is completed in a single drawer (well, up to 12 drawers). Currently producing enough mealworms to self-sustain... Approx. 50 geckos, 9 adult bearded dragons.
 
Mark and Aimee said:
I've been breeding mealworms for over three years, and have never separated anything. Full life cycle is completed in a single drawer (well, up to 12 drawers). Currently producing enough mealworms to self-sustain... Approx. 50 geckos, 9 adult bearded dragons.
Click to expand...
Like I said in my first post (and I am literally cut&pasting my own words here), if you start off with enough mealworms, you don't even have to try and they will breed on their own. I've gotten to the point where I don't bother to separate the stages either--which is how I know that it doesn't take much effort to breed them. But for someone else who's starting out and wants to optimize his or her breeding colony, it's a good idea to separate them.
 
Hey guys, I am now starting my colony and since i can't get the poultry feed you guys suggested until next week, i wanted to use something I might have lying around the house. I came across some whole wheat baby cereal which i think will be fine, but didn't have enough. I then came across some quaker oatmeal, but i'm worried because although it says "100% whole grain" and "100% Natural", it also says "Quick-1 minute". Is this ok to use until i get the poultry feed?
 
Should be fine. I have a recipe on my Breeding Mealworms page on my site that's for a sub/food mix.
 
lol, sorry but what is your website? this will really just be used until i get some poultry feed and dry baby food
 
Be careful what poultry feed you buy. Certified organic is preferable, as it has no residual herbicides/pesticides, etc. If you don't buy organic, at least be sure it does not have antibiotics added to the feed. I think they don't add the antibiotics to egg-layer and chick feed but you should check before buying. Also the feed comes in pellets or granules and you will have to grind it up with a coffee grinder or blender or food processor.
 
has anyone used cream of wheat or dried baby food (alone/not mixed) and had good results? Also, where can i buy the dried baby food because I know it is good for vitamins and etc.
 
Trying to make Cream O' Mealworm? I think I will stick to the Maple and Brown Sugar and the Apple Cinnamon!
Most grocery stores (every single one I have ever looked) carries Natural Red Wheat Bran in the cereal aisle- its intended use is for people on Metamucil! It is the same thing most Cricket/ Mealworm suppliers use. I can get it here at the local feed store in a 20 or 50 pound bag for alot cheaper but in bulk it tends to have potato bugs in it.
 
lol, i made a quick trip to the grocery store and made a "whole grain baby cereal", and "organic cornmeal" mix. i also bought some dry milk but wanted a bit more info before i add it in. does it have to be nonfat, or fat? and how much should i add?
 
leaftail said:
Mine never has potato bugs in it! :( I was cheated!
Click to expand...
Poultry feed is different from Red Wheat Bran. RWB is used with cattle, poultry feed is a ground up mixture that generally contains high amounts of corn which is not too beneficial to reptiles unless it has some high calcium additives (which can also result in a shortened lifespan in the mealworms). RWB is just natural red wheat ground up which is why it sometimes contains the potato bugs which are not good for reproduction purposes because they disturb the mealworms .
 
Gene, I know you meant wheat bran. I buy wheat bran in 50 lb bags too :) Tell me more about why high amounts of corn is bad. Or if you have a link where I can read about it?

Laura
 
I tried using powdered milk before and found the results to be unsatisfactory. It just gets packed down on the bottom of the and hardens so the mealworms can't burrow through it. It's not that high in calcium anyway. You're better off using something like flax seeds (which contains omega 3 fatty acids) or sesame seeds (VERY high in calcium).
 
Comparison...

Corn Meal
facts-01-02s04e4.png


vs.

Crude Wheat Bran
facts-01-02s04fi.png


You make the call....
 
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