Mealworm farming

[OkChickens]

Okay my wife wants me to confirm that this Rubbermaid bin will keep the beetles inside. We definitely don't want to breed beetles for inside our home

http://www.organizingla.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/rubbermaid_container.jpg
Scott

We use these and they work well. I got 2 for $10 each on Clearance at Walmart. This Picture is about a month old but we now have the beetles in the bottom drawers on each side. the other 4 drawers are packed full of growing small meal worms. We added to the beetle drawers more bran to about 2-3 inches to each drawers. Each drawer has about 4-4,500 Beetles and they are doing well. I don't see very few dead but they will eat 1 apple cut into 1/3rds in about 4-5 days. We also have 3 old baby wipe containers in my incubator that have a BUNCH of baby works that are growing fast! They are on top of the left bins in this picture with Nemo and Cars on them!

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Nate

 

[ScottM]

K, glad to hear we are in the clear with these bins, I'm also using some free old refrigerator drawers

 

[gale65]

I don't heat mine and haven't at all so far. When we first got them they were on the kitchen floor and we keep it around 70 in the house. So it was probably a little cooler down on the floor. I had pupae and beetles and eventually baby worms in what seemed like the normal time. Now I have them in a different spot (because the place they were in was getting too much sun in the morning and I didn't want them cooking when it started warming up out) and the new place is right next to the heat registers. Once we start using the A/C I might find a new spot but we only set the A/C at 80 so I still don't think it'll be too cool even if they're near the register.

 

[galanie]

As far as getting out, they can't. The first time I grew some I used bins that were only 4 inches tall and none got out. So long as the sides are slick that's all you need. The adults can't fly at all.

 

[Kassaundra]

They can't get out, but other things can get in. (not dependent on short or tall sides but on lids or no lids) I was winging it w/ no lids for a while, but got wiped out w/ a rodent, so now mine are lidded. I just drilled small holes in the plastic lid but others have cut the center of the lid out and glued metal screening.

 

[ajlynco]

I've noticed in pictures of several mealie set-ups, that some of them have the vegies on paper and some are just placed on the substrate. Does it really matter as long as I keep a close eye on the vegies and replace them as needed?

 

[galanie]

It doesn't really but if you put it right on the substrate it'll mold faster.

 

[DMRippy]

I've noticed in pictures of several mealie set-ups, that some of them have the vegies on paper and some are just placed on the substrate. Does it really matter as long as I keep a close eye on the vegies and replace them as needed?

I don't have any problem putting veggies directly on the substrate. I don't use anything really wet. Carrot, turnips, celery.... the dryer stuff works best for me.

 

[Kassaundra]

I don't have any problem putting veggies directly on the substrate. I don't use anything really wet. Carrot, turnips, celery.... the dryer stuff works best for me.

X2

I used to put paper and cardboard egg cartons for them to hide under and around, but have switched to slices of bread, they dry out great and provide food and a hiding place and looks neater (as in more orderly not ness cool) but I have to add a disclaimer, I am not the most successful mealy farmer on this thread.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

We put carrots and apples directly on the substrate and the mealies gobble it right up. Tomato or cucumber or chunks of banana go on a piece of paper to keep the substrate from getting too gooey for them. they have dragged pieces off though and it wound up in the substrate without any problems. Thankfully I have not ever had any fungus problem but I am still a beginner. Granted, a beginner with millions of mealies and thousands of beetles but still I have yet to experience fungus or mold.