Mealworm farming

[wattsjadajoe]

Yes! The bran is good for the metal strainers...thus the reason I use only bran!!


Joe

 

[furbabymum]

Do I really need to sort them? If I just put them in a 50gal fish tank and forget they exist except veggie adding will they populate just fine. I'll mealworm farm for my chickens if I don't have to sort. I've got enough going on without sorting bugs.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Do I really need to sort them? If I just put them in a 50gal fish tank and forget they exist except veggie adding will they populate just fine. I'll mealworm farm for my chickens if I don't have to sort. I've got enough going on without sorting bugs.

Yes. You don't have to sort.

 

[DMRippy]

Yes! The bran is good for the metal strainers...thus the reason I use only bran!!


Joe

Thanks! Just the kind you can get at the coop.... any particular kind at the coop? Is it in the horse section for feed?

 

[bobbieschicks]

Do the beetles look dried out brown before they turn to dark black? Some of my pupa seem to be changing to beetles but I guess I thought they would emerge overnight as the dark black beetle instead of change slowly. Like butterflies out of a cocoon.

 

[DMRippy]

Do the beetles look dried out brown before they turn to dark black? Some of my pupa seem to be changing to beetles but I guess I thought they would emerge overnight as the dark black beetle instead of change slowly. Like butterflies out of a cocoon.

The colors change. When the worms shed... they are lighter color, they change color again when they pupate, and then change while they are pupating and are light brown when they change to beetles and will get darker.

 

[bobbieschicks]

The colors change.  When the worms shed... they are lighter color, they change color again when they pupate, and then change while they are pupating and are light brown when they change to beetles and will get darker.

Okay so I won't panic about them yet. Thanks!

 

[DMRippy]

Quote: They are bugs... don't worry about them AT ALL! That is the JOY of MEALWORMS...... you can make them hard or easy. They take care of themselves and seem to do better that way.... JMHO

 

[ChickieG'ma]

Do I really need to sort them? If I just put them in a 50gal fish tank and forget they exist except veggie adding will they populate just fine. I'll mealworm farm for my chickens if I don't have to sort. I've got enough going on without sorting bugs.

When I first started about a year ago I was trying to sort but that has gotten to be unrealistic for me. I now have six containers with all stages in them and there is movement constantly in the substrate from so many worms and beetles. I just make sure there is bran in there for them (not all frass) and when the frass gets to be too much then I get as many as I can into a new container with fresh bran. I've read the frass is good for plants.

 

[DMRippy]

I found this website yesterday.... just thought I would share if anyone wanted to read on mealworms...... or share with someone new to mealworms.

http://www.godsc.com/care-guides/raising-mealworms/