Mealworm farming

[gale65]

I mostly use carrots, celery, lettuce leaves and potatoes and put them all right on the oatmeal. So far no problems.

This summer we'll be gone for about 2.5 weeks on vacation. Any suggestions? I don't have anyone who can come over (dh's brother will take care of the livestock but won't come in the house). How long does cricket water last?

 

[galanie]

I've heard to people completely forgetting them for a month or more and they're just fine. They grow better with the moisture but they won't die if you go a few weeks w/out giving them some.

To clarify my earlier statement, I just meant that mold was more likely if you put the vegetables right on top of the substrate, not that you would absolutely get it. I've done it and not gotten mold, and then again I've done it and have. Depends on the fruit/vegetable mainly.

 

[gale65]

I've had apples go moldy. So far that's the only thing.

 

[Ivywoods]

Kassaundra-Remember my question about reusing the cricket quencher. I have used it now, and when it is dried up there are some tiny orange granuales left on the lid. I took them out, put them in some water and in a few hours they were as large as they were to begin with. Some of the yellow color in them leached out into the surrounding water, but the granules swelled back up. Not that I intend to do that a lot, but thought I would experiment with it. The place that I sold me the cricket quencher cautioned against it and said it might be more prone to growing bacteria if used over and over, which I imagine is probably true.

I thought I had one of those plastic stacking 3 drawer things stuck away in storage, and was going to drag it out for my mealies. I was wrong. It's a smaller, narrower, taller 5 drawer thingy that I don't really want to use. I guess if i want to switch to a 3 drawer system I will have to buy a set.

 

[bluespotted]

Kassaundra-Remember my question about reusing the cricket quencher. I have used it now, and when it is dried up there are some tiny orange granuales left on the lid. I took them out, put them in some water and in a few hours they were as large as they were to begin with. Some of the yellow color in them leached out into the surrounding water, but the granules swelled back up. Not that I intend to do that a lot, but thought I would experiment with it. The place that I sold me the cricket quencher cautioned against it and said it might be more prone to growing bacteria if used over and over, which I imagine is probably true.

I thought I had one of those plastic stacking 3 drawer things stuck away in storage, and was going to drag it out for my mealies. I was wrong. It's a smaller, narrower, taller 5 drawer thingy that I don't really want to use. I guess if i want to switch to a 3 drawer system I will have to buy a set.

A reviewer on the petco page said, that the cricket quenchers are basically just polyacrylamide copolymer, a bit of water and calcium. Of course, that's all that's needed, so the yellow dye leaching out shouldn't be a problem, I think. maybe it's even better?

I think the bad point about reusing the little balls is that after a while all the calcium and stuff will be leached out, so they won't be nutritious any more. But if you give other veg to the lil'uns then it shouldn't be too much of a problem. With those few ingredients it might even be possible to make it yourself...Too much effort? Don't know

 

[Ivywoods]

A reviewer on the petco page said, that the cricket quenchers are basically just polyacrylamide copolymer, a bit of water and calcium. Of course, that's all that's needed, so the yellow dye leaching out shouldn't be a problem, I think. maybe it's even better?

I think the bad point about reusing the little balls is that after a while all the calcium and stuff will be leached out, so they won't be nutritious any more. But if you give other veg to the lil'uns then it shouldn't be too much of a problem. With those few ingredients it might even be possible to make it yourself...Too much effort? Don't know

Thanks. I really just wanted to use it for moisture. I think I have plenty of other stuff in there for them to eat. They sell cricket quencher that supposedly has all kinds of nutrients in it, but I didn't buy that kind. I think if I reuse my little granules once or twice it won't hurt anything and that little jar of it that I bought should last a LONG time!

 

[TonySorrento]

We cover our worms with paper and spray it with water .... our worms are THRIVING!!!

 

[Kassaundra]

Thanks. I really just wanted to use it for moisture. I think I have plenty of other stuff in there for them to eat. They sell cricket quencher that supposedly has all kinds of nutrients in it, but I didn't buy that kind. I think if I reuse my little granules once or twice it won't hurt anything and that little jar of it that I bought should last a LONG time!

What I buy is just the dry granules in a bag in the garden section of the store, they are clear and have no added Ca or vits.

 

[Homegroanacres]

Has anyone tried using a metal container to raise meal worms?
I'm thinking something like one of those aluminum throw away that you might
cook a turkey in.

John

 

[TonySorrento]

Has anyone tried using a metal container to raise meal worms?
I'm thinking something like one of those aluminum throw away that you might
cook a turkey in.

John

Aluminum will give your worms Alzheimer's ...