I have 1100 coming

[MissChick@dee]

I have 1100 live mealworms coming in a couple days. If y’all have suggestions or tips about keeping/raising them I’d greatly appreciate some input.

 

[HuffleClaw]

I read the title and thought you meant CHICKENS But that’s awesome!

 

[MissChick@dee]

I read the title and thought you meant CHICKENS But that’s awesome!

Oh that would be something!
Could you imagine??

 

[pennyJo1960]

I do admit have not raised any myself but found this through Google hope that helps a bit http://www.sialis.org/raisingmealworms.htm

I wouldn't say raising mealworms is FUN, but it's not too hard and can save you a lot of money.

Quick Tips for maximum productivity:

1. Place large mealworms in a shallow plastic sweater container. Cut a hole in the top for ventilation and use a hot glue gun to adhere window screen to it to keep critters and moths out.
2. Add 2-3" of bedding/food:
   • wheat bran, or a 3:1 ratio of wheat bran to dried skim milk, or
   • 4 layers: 1/4" layers of chicken mash (non-medicated) separated by layers of burlap or newspaper, or
   • 10 parts oat or wheat kernels, 10 parts whole wheat flour, 1 part wheat germ or powdered milk; and 1 part brewers yeast.
3. For moisture, add a small wedge of cabbage or half a potato. Put it on top of a plastic lid or newspaper to keep bedding dry. Replace vegetable at least weekly or if moldy.
4. Ideally keep at around 80°F (room temperature is fine too) and around 70% relative humidity. Use a moistened sponge in a baggie/ open container (open side up above grain) for additional moisture.
5. Periodically (e.g., every 1 to 2 weeks) sift out beetles from bedding that will contain the eggs/tiny worms. (The beetles may eat the eggs.)
6. Once worms are big enough, sift frass (waste) and bedding out once a month, dispose of in garden, wash and dry container, return worms and add new food.

 

[MissChick@dee]

I do admit have not raised any myself but found this through Google hope that helps a bit http://www.sialis.org/raisingmealworms.htm

I wouldn't say raising mealworms is FUN, but it's not too hard and can save you a lot of money.

Quick Tips for maximum productivity:

1. Place large mealworms in a shallow plastic sweater container. Cut a hole in the top for ventilation and use a hot glue gun to adhere window screen to it to keep critters and moths out.
2. Add 2-3" of bedding/food:
   • wheat bran, or a 3:1 ratio of wheat bran to dried skim milk, or
   • 4 layers: 1/4" layers of chicken mash (non-medicated) separated by layers of burlap or newspaper, or
   • 10 parts oat or wheat kernels, 10 parts whole wheat flour, 1 part wheat germ or powdered milk; and 1 part brewers yeast.
3. For moisture, add a small wedge of cabbage or half a potato. Put it on top of a plastic lid or newspaper to keep bedding dry. Replace vegetable at least weekly or if moldy.
4. Ideally keep at around 80°F (room temperature is fine too) and around 70% relative humidity. Use a moistened sponge in a baggie/ open container (open side up above grain) for additional moisture.
5. Periodically (e.g., every 1 to 2 weeks) sift out beetles from bedding that will contain the eggs/tiny worms. (The beetles may eat the eggs.)
6. Once worms are big enough, sift frass (waste) and bedding out once a month, dispose of in garden, wash and dry container, return worms and add new food.

Thanks ... I think I’ve got the basics covered. But I tend to get creative (sometimes in a bad way). So I’m thinking I’ll mess it up somehow.

 

[HuffleClaw]

Oh that would be something!
Could you imagine??

It really would be!

 

[pennyJo1960]

Thanks ... I think I’ve got the basics covered. But I tend to get creative (sometimes in a bad way). So I’m thinking I’ll mess it up somehow.

Try real hard not to overthink it bookmark the website as it is pretty well read covers most everything in it's pages

 

[LittleMissCountry]

I raised them when I had a bearded dragon. I bought one of those under the bed plastic drawers from walmart to store them in, and it worked great. You don't want something too deep, because it will create too much moisture and it is harder to see dead beetles/mealworms. It was pretty easy and self sustaining. I threw some fruit in every few days, and some paper towels.

 

[AnimalGeek23]

Interesting topic--keep us posted!

 

[MissChick@dee]

I raised them when I had a bearded dragon. I bought one of those under the bed plastic drawers from walmart to store them in, and it worked great. You don't want something too deep, because it will create too much moisture and it is harder to see dead beetles/mealworms. It was pretty easy and self sustaining. I threw some fruit in every few days, and some paper towels.

Thanks!
One thing I wonder about is removing the adult beetles. How’d you do it? Did you find one way easier than the other? And was it difficult to not throw away the eggs when you change the bedding? How long did you keep your colony?