Mealworm farming

[collingwood]

I've got five thousand live mealworms!

 

[Sidhe13]

How often do you change the carrot/apple/whatever?

 

[Latestarter]

Change it? no need, they suck it down into the substrate and consume it. Sometimes I'll find shriveled up apple peel, but it's completely mummified so I just leave it till the next time I sift out frass. I give them baby carrots about every week or so. I hate to admit it but it's more an afterthought as they seem to do just fine over time. I'm just getting over a massive pupa stage and am presently over-run w/beetles. the substrate is also loaded with baby worms. now, so I'll need to give carrots more often.

 

[kubotafoot]

It all depends on how thick they are and how much you have given them. My thin slices are all "eaten" and there is nothing to change. Chunks of Potato seemed to dry out on the cut end or mold. Obviously if there is mold remove it right away. Slices are easier broken down by the worms and usually just disappear but don't wait for them to be gone before you add more, or they will be very thirsty. As I said in a previous post, when I started I looked at photos of colonies and saw large pieces of carrot and/or potato. I kept waiting for them to disappear or mold. They didn't, they just seemed to dry up, especially at the ends. As this is not "food" but a water source, they were getting little or nothing from the dried chunks in the colony. Once I started cutting things thinner (think surface for them to drink not chunks of water that dries up on the outside and they are still there but get little) mu colony flourished. I have also used a banana peel, inside side to feed and they go under it and hang on with joy. The peel, however, will not disappear, as they do not eat the outer skin, so know in a few days, its worth is spent and shake it off and throw into compost.
It really is touch and go. Warmer weather and fruits cause fruit flies and mold. Thinner vegetables (not fruits) are easy and no fruit flies. Play around with different ways.....They will let you know if they like it or not, by drinking from it (mass of worms on item) or not (bare and left alone). Have fun!!!

 

[Sidhe13]

Thank you!

 

[Bugseye]

No kidding. I've put carrots, potatoes and other things in. The next day they were gonzo. What? Those little monsters made the veggies do a disappearing act? They're thirstier than I thought.

 

[ladyearth]

Going to order from Ebay.. is that good?? is 1000 too many to start with > should I get the medium or large size???
Just bought a 3 drawer plastic unit.... an Iris brand unit... put the small container of mealworms(prob just a dozen) in it with a box of Oat Bran and an apple core,,,,,,
now do I need to give them air holes??? the plastic drawers are about 8 inch tall...about 12 inches wide....
will put in a carrot afterwhile.. also a bit of folded newspaper
Oh also have rice bran big 50 lb bag.. and a small bag of whole grain "oat flour"
want to send for a large amt of mealworms. but afraid its too cold right now. they may freeze in shipping thru the mail
anything else???? thanks yall

 

[dstinett]

Going to order from Ebay.. is that good?? is 1000 too many to start with > should I get the medium or large size???
     Just bought a 3 drawer plastic unit.... an Iris brand unit... put the small container of mealworms(prob just a dozen) in it  with a box of Oat Bran and an apple core,,,,,,
 now do I need to give them air holes??? the plastic drawers are about 8 inch tall...about 12 inches wide....
 will put in a carrot afterwhile.. also a bit of folded newspaper
 Oh also have rice bran big 50 lb bag.. and a small bag of whole grain "oat flour"
  want to send for a large amt of mealworms. but afraid its too cold right now. they may freeze in shipping thru the mail
anything else???? thanks yall

the cold may send them into hibernation but shouldn't kill them. I would use potato over apple. Apples draw fruit flies. 1000 is more than enough. I started my colony with 100 worms

 

[ladyearth]

SO should I order large or medium???

IS 1000 to many to start out with???????
will I get beetles sooner????? so they will lay eggs sooner ????
yeah I plan on using carrots organic ones,,,,, I just happen to eat a part of an apple most nites after supper... so it was handy.. Yeah, I have real problems with fruitflies during summer when I bring in or eat my fruits... I grow esp, since they have no pesticides....>..
SO thank yall

 

[azygous]

It doesn't matter the size. It's just that with the larger worms, you're just a few days closer to pupa stage. The longest wait in the various stages is during the egg stage. It can sometimes take a good while for eggs to hatch unless the temperature is good and warm.

I would just go with the most worms for the money.