Mealworm farming

[zookeeper15133]

It won't harm the chickens to eat the wheat bran, right?

Think of the wheat bran as metamucil.

 

[Ivywoods]

That's exactly what I think of wheat bran.... fiber.

I have a question for some of you worm farmers. I read a ways back that someone used sponges wetted down and set on a lid or something in the bins for water/moisture for the worms. She had to keep changing the sponges because they would start to "sour."

There's some stuff I have heard of that you can use with your houseplants. It holds about a bazillion times it's weight in water. Well, maybe I exaggerate on that, but I don't know the figures and I don't know what the stuff is called. It is a crystal or jelly like stuff. Has anyone tried this? If so, did it work? Is it worth a try?

It just seems like it might be a good source of moisture, especially if you have a lot of worms in one bin. It also seems like the size of the cryastal or jelly would be a good visual indicator for when more moisture is needed.

Any thoughts, anyone? I'm thinking of trying to locate some and give it a try, as long as there is nothing toxic or anything about it.

 

[hannakat]

(goofy font so I deleted it)

 

[hannakat]

The crystals were just discussed a few pages ago. Try starting at post #3413. Several people, over the course of the thread, have reported using it....this post is just the latest.

 

[Ivywoods]

The crystals were just discussed a few pages ago. Try starting at post #3413. Several people, over the course of the thread, have reported using it....this post is just the latest.

Whoa... Sorry I missed that. I thought I had been keeping up with all the posts, but must have missed some. I'll go back and check it out.

Thanks, Hannakat. You do a great job of managing this thread.

 

[hannakat]

Thanks Ivywoods...I feel like I just kinda skip through most of the time too and just hope most questions get answered by one of our members! So many people now have this mealie farming under control!

Kassandra is the expert on these water crystals since she also uses them for her d. roach colony (which I still covet!!!) She has another post at #3014.

I like to use what I have on hand so it's gonna always be carrots or such...no fancy, upscale stuff for my wormies

 

[zookeeper15133]

Question for those who use under the tank reptile heaters. Do you stick it on to the plastic of your bin? I bought one and read the instructins and warnings and ended up returning it because I was afraid of putting it on the plastic. They say it is for glass only. Seems like several people are using them and was wondering if you stuck it on or what brand you are using?

Thanks!

I looked today at the store. ZooMed makes a 1-5 gallon Terrerium heater, It is designed to be put on plastic. It says "Not for use on glass". It is onlt 4 watts. It is this one.

http://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-Repti...?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1331084781&sr=1-9

 

[Emily1220]

That's exactly what I think of wheat bran.... fiber.

I have a question for some of you worm farmers. I read a ways back that someone used sponges wetted down and set on a lid or something in the bins for water/moisture for the worms. She had to keep changing the sponges because they would start to "sour."

There's some stuff I have heard of that you can use with your houseplants. It holds about a bazillion times it's weight in water. Well, maybe I exaggerate on that, but I don't know the figures and I don't know what the stuff is called. It is a crystal or jelly like stuff. Has anyone tried this? If so, did it work? Is it worth a try?

It just seems like it might be a good source of moisture, especially if you have a lot of worms in one bin. It also seems like the size of the cryastal or jelly would be a good visual indicator for when more moisture is needed.

Any thoughts, anyone? I'm thinking of trying to locate some and give it a try, as long as there is nothing toxic or anything about it.

My feelings on this water crystal stuff is simply that it isnt a natural thing. It is chemicalized stuff of some sort, so why spend the money on it. Plus....is it safe for human consumption?? In a round about way you are eating that stuff too. The worms eat it, then the chickens eat the worms, chicken lays eggs and you eat the eggs and/or the chicken. I have no proof of anything but somehow it just doesnt seem like a good thing to do. Especially when tossing in a few carrots a couple times a week does the same thing. Just my opinion.

 

[Kassaundra]

Thanks Ivywoods...I feel like I just kinda skip through most of the time too and just hope most questions get answered by one of our members! So many people now have this mealie farming under control!

Kassandra is the expert on these water crystals since she also uses them for her d. roach colony (which I still covet!!!) She has another post at #3014.

I like to use what I have on hand so it's gonna always be carrots or such...no fancy, upscale stuff for my wormies

The water crystals are awesome w/ the dubias, wouldn't want to try and raise them w/o them, but they can't get all the water they need from fruits and veggies. I have tried the crystals w/ the meal worms, it does work they love them, but the crystals are messier w/ the mealies, they tend to bury the container in the substrate and fill the lid w/ frass. If the lid is small enough or you have enough insects they suck it all dry before any mold or anything develops, but while the frass gets wet (before they dry it) it does have an unpleasant odor. I would only use the crystals w/ the mealies if for some reason I didn't have access to fruit or veggies or was having a confirmed problem w/ lack of moisture.

 

[Kassaundra]

My feelings on this water crystal stuff is simply that it isnt a natural thing. It is chemicalized stuff of some sort, so why spend the money on it. Plus....is it safe for human consumption?? In a round about way you are eating that stuff too. The worms eat it, then the chickens eat the worms, chicken lays eggs and you eat the eggs and/or the chicken. I have no proof of anything but somehow it just doesnt seem like a good thing to do. Especially when tossing in a few carrots a couple times a week does the same thing. Just my opinion.

They are non toxic, and would not poison you if you ate them, if you ate enough they could dehydrate you, and if you breathed them into your lungs they could do some damage. Simply eating them, they would just pass through your digestive track and come out the far end.