Mealworm farming

[farmhand]

I also read that dry-roasted mealworms are good as a salad topping.

I'm already afraid to tell my friends I'm worm farming.

 

[farmhand]

Serious question; has anyone tried to place a standard heating pad under your plastic bin? The type you would use for yourself. My setup gets around 45 to 50 at nights which I know is ok, but trying to hurry up production. Thoughts?

 

[showbarnmom]

Serious question; has anyone tried to place a standard heating pad under your plastic bin?  The type you would use for yourself.  My setup gets around 45 to 50 at nights which I know is ok, but trying to hurry up production.  Thoughts?

 

I tired this when I was raising roaches. It works, except the heating pads turn off after a certain amount of time. A reptile heating mat is about the same price and won't shut off.

 

[Lacy Blues]

 

[Mavrk]

I'm already afraid to tell my friends I'm worm farming.

Like they would ever know. They'll probably like the salad and ask what the secret topping is

 

[Mavrk]

I tired this when I was raising roaches. It works, except the heating pads turn off after a certain amount of time. A reptile heating mat is about the same price and won't shut off.

Also, I think that most of the reptile heating pads say they are for glass. But I don't have experience with them. I know some people have used them on acrylic tanks, not sure about rubbermaid containers, etc.

 

[Lacy Blues]

Serious question; has anyone tried to place a standard heating pad under your plastic bin? The type you would use for yourself. My setup gets around 45 to 50 at nights which I know is ok, but trying to hurry up production. Thoughts?

I use a standard heating pad. You really have to look for one that doesn't have auto shut off. That auto-shut off might be a nice feature for some applications but I have no use for one of them.

 

[MBWeber]

Great idea, it is extremely cold here in Winter(Montana) I would love to do this.....I think haven't looked into it as of this post

 

[Mavrk]

I think the low on the heating pads for people runs at least 100 F. After all, our bodies are 98.6, so any heating pad would have to be above that. If your substrate is deep enough,I would think that would be fine though.

If you have a soldering iron, you can also disable the timer on the heating pad. This is of course a warrantee breaker and is done at your own risk. Here is an example:

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

X2

NOT eating them not happening