Mealworm farming

[Kassaundra]

I was thinking of the potential for mold. Baking the bread bedding to about the same level of dryness of oatmeal. But if they could process it quick enough then that wouldn't be a problem. How quick could they eat a slice do you think?

Perhaps start with a layer of the dried bread crumbs and then just leave bread slices on the top with an apple slice or something?

I think if you do one layer let it completely air dry and then do the next layer on top let it completely air dry, etc.. you won't have a mold problem. The worms will tunnel through it and eat it both moist and dry. The dry air combined w/ the little water suckers (mealies) should dry it completely long before it has a chance to mold. But when you start I would keep a close eye on it just in case. There may be an added benefit of no mites to have to be frozen or nuked.

 

[Kassaundra]

Don't ask me, ask them!!

Maybe my carrots are too big or I'm not giving *enough*, or....I have no clue, can you tell?

The stuff I'm using is Fluker's Cricket Quencher from Petco....and so far, although they like it and use it, they seem to still prefer the carrots.

Maybe I should be whacking the larger carrots into disks or lengthwise halves??? Help appreciated!

I looked it up yes that is the water crystals, they are just already wetted w/ water and vitamins. You can also buy the dry and reconstitute it yourself w/ just plain water or whatever you would like for additives.

Mine don't seem to have problems w/ whole carrots at all, but if yours aren't thriving I would definately try cutting in half lengthwise, it would be such an easy fix. How many do you have and what exactly are the doing / not doing?

 

[Chicks Galore3]

Question: How do you get your worms water? (Besides a pistachio shell?

)

 

[Kassaundra]

That's what the fruit and veggies are for, carrots, potatoes, radish, turnips, celery, apples etc.....

 

[gale65]

One time I put a folded up damp paper towel in there and they got all over it. I need to do that again. Normally I try to put a fresh potato or some lettuce in there every day or two.

 

[gale65]

What is the best or easiest way to cut the bottom out of the drawer? I tried doing a search and came up with eleventy billion hits and don't really have the patience to read through 342 pages of posts. thanks

 

[Ivywoods]

I counted TWO beetles in my worm farm!

Now I am wondering if I should switch to a 3 drawer system. I haven't quite figured out how I can do it, though. Right now I have a rubbermaid tote with the center of the lid cut out and a window screen taped over the hole.

My problem is this: Once in a while I see a moth in the house. We had a real bad problem with them last year due to some parrot food that was infested. We thought we were rid of the problem and then we found a bunch in the basement in some old wild bird seed that had been forgotten. I don't want to take a chance on the moths getting into my worm farm. If I switch to the 3 drawer system, how would I make the drawers so that those little moths can't weasel their way in? They can squeeze into the tiniest places, and I 'm sure they would be attracted to the oatmeal I am using for worm food.

Any ideas? It sure sounds like it would be a nice system to have 3 drawers, but I'm a little worried to try it because of the occaisional moth. I saw one tonight, so I know there are still some around.

 

[gale65]

I've seen a few here too, and it's not because of the worm bins. We have had them before. Our bins are open and so far I've found no moths near it. As far as I know the only way to control the moths is with traps so I guess setting traps near the bins would help but you don't want to attract the moths either. So maybe wait until it's more of a problem?

 

[galanie]

I think besides having window screening tightly over each bin, that traps are the way to go. Even with the screening they can get in there, I don't know how but the Safer's traps are the best for me. I got another brand that looked a little different and never caught one moth while the Safer's one filled up.

There's a youtube video about cutting the bottoms out of those drawers but basically you have to use a utility knife and cut gradually. Like score it, then make the score deeper with each cut. It isn't easy but if you try to make a cut all the way through first try you'll shatter the plastic. Ask me how I know that

 

[Chicks Galore3]

where do you get the screening for the top and bottom?