Mealworm farming

[Kassaundra]

Quote:
I have put my own home grown cukes in (the bitter ones) and no death problems, just a to much moisture, goes bad to quick problem. I won't do it again until my colony is big enough to cosume it much quicker.

 

[Cakela]

I'm not sure how long the beetles live, hopefully the cuke didn't kill them

So I will try to post pictures of my set up later but for now..

I use a giant 3 drawer thing like hannakat's, only bigger.

The middle drawer has the worms in it, top draw is (for now) storage and will one day hold wormies once the colony gets big enough to split up.

The bottom drawer has hot water bottles in it to provide some extra warmth and humidity as it's been rather dry/chilly here the past few days.

They weren't moving around a lot and it's kinda cold in their drawer which is why I added the bottes, kind of like you would do with a 'bator.

 

[Kassaundra]

Quote:
That seems like alot of fussing changing out the water bottles? Have you thought of a heating pad on low, or a 25 watt red light? I use the red light for my b. dubia's keeps them a toasty 90's in the fish tank. My mealies are room temp, but in the house. How's it going to work in the winter?

 

[Cakela]

Well we have a woodstove in the winter/late fall.

It's been really warm here for a few days and then it gets chilly for a few days. Won't be firing up the woodstove for a few more weeks or even a month or so.

I might have a heating pad... if not, I'm sure I could find one cheap. But DB is at work so I just did the bottles for a makeshift thing to see if that helps with their activity.

I would be worried about a light bulb melting plastic if it was close enough to provide heat. When it's time to fire of the stove, the mealies will be in the warmest room of the old drafty house I live in, so there shouldn't be too many problems then. Just gotta make it through the in between. The last days of summer and the start of fall.

Should also mention the bottles I used were 1gal vinegar bottles, so they should stay warm for a while.

 

[Chickangel79]

Quote:
I have put my own home grown cukes in (the bitter ones) and no death problems, just a to much moisture, goes bad to quick problem. I won't do it again until my colony is big enough to cosume it much quicker.

They were home grown ones. To be honest they don't seem at all interested in ANY food!! They have their toilet roll inners and egg box and are thriving.

 

[CluckyJay]

Try making a light bulb with thermostat? I just did this and it works great. I'm building an incubator.

 

[Czech's_chicks]

Just checked mine and darned blasted ants are in there! I moved them and as militant as I am about spraying any poison, these ants have been relentless this year. The one product I break down and buy every so often is supposed to last 9 months...try 9 days right now! They are everywhere!!!

 

[hannakat]

Chickangel79 ~ Cucumbers didn't kill 'em. The beetles live for months so there was something else going on

Beetles don't seem to eat as much as the worms and if there's only a few, they only need a wee bit of veggie to keep them happy and healthy.

Cakela ~ Wow...that's a lot of work!!! The colony will still thrive in normal tempuratures. If it's below 50 degrees, they will slow down significantly and I don't know if going to all that trouble is worth it. A heating pad maybe, but lights and hot water bottles??? You kinda have me laughing picturing tucking the mealies in at night with hot water bottle. heheheheeeee

Mealworm farming is not hard but we certainly add our own twists to it!

Czech's_chicks ~ Sorry to hear them darn ants are still a problem

Did you try DE? (I'm assuming you already did) but then again, I'm not sure if it works on ants. There are so many different kinds, and attracted by different things. We had ants one time that like sweet things and it wasn't until I bought some liquid ant stuff that I won that battle. Hope the ant war is over soon!!

 

[WyoChickenMamma]

I am using the three drawer system. I had the worms pupate and then turn to beetles. So now I am wondering if they are laying eggs...what do they eggs and tiny worms look like? I think I am seeing them in the second drawer, but am not sure. I just have oatmeal in that drawer. I have what looks like tiny orangey-red specks in there. Are those the eggs????

And how long will it take for them to be worms? Do I need to put some moisture in there now or when I can see worms????

 

[hannakat]

WyoChickenMamm ~ Back on page 124, at post #1235, I posted photos of newly hatched wormies and an egg. Hope this helps! The wee wormies do wiggle when threatened, just like the older ones and burrow quickly.