Mealworm farming

[nxb161]

Regarding the above post where you noticed the worms in the oat bran are lying on top. I've read that worms will do that when there's a mite infestation. Look very closely to the lid and sides of that container. If you see what appears to be white 'dust', look even closer. If they're moving, they're mites.

I heated all my bran in the oven before giving it to the mealworms. I just think it is the fine texture of the bran might make it a little more dense then they are used to. Thanks for the tip though

 

[LaBella]

Your mother? or your wormie?

Hehehe! Loved this post, i am still laughing! My moms worst experience with me was snakes. I sooooo loved em! I had caught several, talking dozens here!

The little black and white garter snakes. Hid them in my dresser drawer with tons of nightcrawlers. Welllll... mom had a major surgery, had been released and was on the couch watching a movie and resting. We had a spiral staircase that was in the corner of the living room. She looked up to see snakes running down the staircase

I was outside playing and heard shrieks and screams, then my dad comes out and grabs me up. uh ohh. OOOOOOH did i ever get the paddle for that oh man

She thought she was hallucinating, or dying then remembered who her kid was.

awesome pictures! Its addictive isn't it! I just keep adding more too, i really like the 3 drawers.

Ooohhh That sounds like me!!! Garter snakes, toads, red back salamanders, preying mantises, tent caterpillars, a giant cleopterous moth caterpillar, (I have no idea how you spell that) HUGE earthworms, You name it, I brought it home at some point in time.
My mom just learned to shake her head and tell me to take it somewhere away from her... This is after she realized she wasn't going to be able to break me from bringing home critters.
My elementary school bordered on woodlands. My teachers soon learned to NOT go in my pockets and have me empty them. This after an NTA went in my pockets and pulled out a hand full of garters, lolol.

 

[LaBella]

i'm about to start a mealworm farm. this question is probably very dumb. -- can i buy frozen mealworms to start with or do i need to buy live mealworms? thanks

The frozen ones are dead. You have to get live ones to start with.

 

[Lacy Blues]

Ooohhh That sounds like me!!! Garter snakes, toads, red back salamanders, preying mantises, tent caterpillars, a giant cleopterous moth caterpillar, (I have no idea how you spell that) HUGE earthworms, You name it, I brought it home at some point in time.
My mom just learned to shake her head and tell me to take it somewhere away from her... This is after she realized she wasn't going to be able to break me from bringing home critters.
My elementary school bordered on woodlands. My teachers soon learned to NOT go in my pockets and have me empty them. This after an NTA went in my pockets and pulled out a hand full of garters, lolol.

I used to build tadpole habitats in our wheelbarrow! My mom still rolls her eyes at me and says "YOU HAVE TOO MANY CHICKENS!"

 

[LaBella]

I used to build tadpole habitats in our wheelbarrow! My mom still rolls her eyes at me and says "YOU HAVE TOO MANY CHICKENS!"

CHESTER PARK!!!!
There was this pond a bit off from the creek. and we called it frog pond. I cannot tell you how many tadpoles we caught at frog pond. But my grandpop wouldn't let us bring any home

That why we brought home the snapper turtle

And TWO yellow orb weaver spiders

We did NOT bring home the "water moccasin" which now I think may have been an escaped or released boa. But when you're 7-8... ANYTHING larger than a garter in the wild is a dangerous snake. And if its in the water, its a water moccasin, even if they don't range there cause it's too cold for them.


OH and PAGE 300!!!!
Madness?
THIS
IS
MEALIES!!!!

 

[Mavrk]

i'm about to start a mealworm farm. this question is probably very dumb. -- can i buy frozen mealworms to start with or do i need to buy live mealworms? thanks

You need live worms. Frozen will not work. refrigerated might be okay, but can sometimes have problems. Feel free to ask questions without judgement. We are all here to learn.

 

[bilder]

Just started my worm farm.

Finding live mealies locally was harder than I thought. Finally found some, although I had my doubts when I looked at them. They were pretty motionless and skinny looking, but I was getting tired of looking around so I bought them. Once they warmed up and hit the wheat bran, they came to life and quickly vanished into the tub.

I am in it for about 8 dollars total investment. Just pray that my wife does not find them and open the box. She is NOT a bug person and when I told her what I was thinking about for my next wild project she was not too impressed. In fact, I am forbidden from having a worm farm in the house. Well..... as long as she does not know where it is, she will not mind.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Just started my worm farm. Finding live mealies locally was harder than I thought. Finally found some, although I had my doubts when I looked at them. They were pretty motionless and skinny looking, but I was getting tired of looking around so I bought them. Once they warmed up and hit the wheat bran, they came to life and quickly vanished into the tub. I am in it for about 8 dollars total investment. Just pray that my wife does not find them and open the box. She is NOT a bug person and when I told her what I was thinking about for my next wild project she was not too impressed. In fact, I am forbidden from having a worm farm in the house. Well..... as long as she does not know where it is, she will not mind.

My husband didn't want mealies in our house either until he realized they are the least messy thing we have around. They don't get out and they are relatively quiet. And mostly I think he's happy he doesn't have to scoop up after them.

 

[Mavrk]

Just started my worm farm.

Finding live mealies locally was harder than I thought. Finally found some, although I had my doubts when I looked at them. They were pretty motionless and skinny looking, but I was getting tired of looking around so I bought them. Once they warmed up and hit the wheat bran, they came to life and quickly vanished into the tub.

I am in it for about 8 dollars total investment. Just pray that my wife does not find them and open the box. She is NOT a bug person and when I told her what I was thinking about for my next wild project she was not too impressed. In fact, I am forbidden from having a worm farm in the house. Well..... as long as she does not know where it is, she will not mind.

Just make sure they get air. A good place to hide them is in a utility closet (like where the water heater is). They don't need light, and these closets tend to be warmer. Plus noone every goes there

 

[bilder]

Just make sure they get air. A good place to hide them is in a utility closet (like where the water heater is). They don't need light, and these closets tend to be warmer. Plus noone every goes there

Mine are in my closet. My wife never looks there, so I doubt she will even notice them.

Starting off with 100 worms. Will be interesting to see how they multiply.