I just got mealworms!

Hi everyone I just got my mealworms today! And at the moment they're eating chicken food and rolled oats! Do I need to give them water?

Congratulations on the mealworms!

I'm not a mealworm expert, but I have raised quite a few in the past. You don't want to give them straight water (poured on their food, etc.), since that will soak everything and encourage mold growth. Instead, there are several other ways to give them moisture:

Apple: Cut up and apple and put a few slices in with your mealworms face down. Thirsty mealworms will latch on and suck the moisture out of the apple. Remove the apple every few days to prevent mold and give them fresh moisture.

Moistened paper towel: Tear off a piece of paper towel and dampen it with water. Then, lay it down on top of the mealworm's area. Like with the apple, they will suck the moisture from the paper towel. Re-moisten the paper towel every few days, and replace as needed (mealworms tend to tear up or eat the paper towel eventually).

I believe you can also cut a potato into slices and put the slices in with them. Once again, replace the potato slices ever so often to ensure they're getting enough moisture and to prevent mold.

collingwood said:

Hi everyone I just got my mealworms today! And at the moment they're eating chicken food and rolled oats! Do I need to give them water?

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I feed mine veggie and fruit scraps. That's it. the water content in the scraps should be enough for them. My mealworm farm is doing great and they're multiplying like crazy.

Hi thanks for your help but I looked at my mealworms this morning and they seem to be sleepy and tired and not doing anything! Is this normal? Is it possible they got too cold? because the ones under the newspaper are fine!

They prefer the dark so possibly that's why the ones under the newspaper seem happier and more active

Thanks but they've got a lid I think they were just cold!

I left them outside last night and it rained so their food is a bit moist will they be okay?

Hi when do mealworms start breeding?