Mealworm farming

[azygous]

Hi, I've been reading the threads about meal-worm farming. Is it as easy as it seems? Don't get me wrong,.... I have a HUGE habit of over thinking things! T's crossed and I's dotted!! lol.
But you get a container, purchase meal-worms, wheat bran, carrots wait a few weeks- then start sifting, separating,... few more weeks then you basically have the farm started?

Well, it's more like a few months, but it is pretty much as easy as it sounds.

 

[tigger19687]

Sublight, tell her it isn't so bad. Show her all the research and the housing for them and keep them somewhere that she doesn't have to see/hear them.

Then buy her something she has always wanted to butter her up

 

[Judith M]

I have a quick question, hopefully you guys can answer it!
I received my order of 5k mealworms today from rainbow worms... I am really happy with the order. I found 2 beetles, one promptly flew off so I guess if wasn't the right kind. I also have found 5 of these guys. Does anyone know what they are? They have hair, 6 legs, light colored bellies, dark brown backs with a light colored broken strip.

 

[Judith M]

I have ordered from rainbow mealworms but never seen anything like that.
Hopefully, someone knows what that is.

 

[aart]

I have ordered from rainbow mealworms but never seen anything like that.
Hopefully, someone knows what that is.

Was answered a few posts later.

They are dermestid beetle larvae. Pull them out as you find them.

 

[tigger19687]

Mine came with a tiny beetle, I tossed him out the window only because I didn't know what it was
I also tossed a teeny cricket but my son said I should have given it to the Lizard. No crickets allowed in the house here

 

[Kusanar]

I'm waiting for my husband to have to work late so I can take my mealies outside and sift them out... They have a ton of frass built up.

 

[iluvsedward]

Ok question, can i just throw some mealworms in the feed bucket and let them do their thing, or do i risk feeding my ducks their waste with the feed? Also does anyone have luck raising those big "super worms"?

 

[Kusanar]

Ok question, can i just throw some mealworms in the feed bucket and let them do their thing, or do i risk feeding my ducks their waste with the feed? Also does anyone have luck raising those big "super worms"?

Super worms are another critter entirely with a different life cycle and different care requirements (such as they can stay in the larval "worm" stage for around 3 years before pupating if they want to).

As for putting them in the feed bucket, I would probably try not to dump a whole lot of frass in there, but I doubt it's going to hurt the birds to eat some frass.

 

[tigger19687]

I just dumped the bucket in the run and they ate not only the shed skin but the oats and bran