Trouble raising meal worms

[farmerbrowne]

Nope superworms aren't sterile just weird and picky.Got to put everybody in their own cup and you can't feed them they won't beetle if you feed them isn't that awful? So once you separate they either beetle or starve! Once they beetle you put them together and they are magically normal. ..like I said pains in the butt.

Odd, mine are beetles for a long time. Lol maybe they just don't know how to make love lol

 

[azygous]

First of all, I would verify with the store where you got these "jumbo worms" whether they were just large meal worms or another species called "super worms".

That you were able to get them to pupate and eventually arrive at adulthood, makes me suspect they are ordinary darkling beetle meal worms and not super worms.

Second, carrots are better than potatoes because they don't mold, and mold can be deadly to your worms and beetles, causing die-offs and poor development.

Have you heat-treated your wheat bran? Moist substrate conditions can cause grain mite infestations and they can seriously damage pupae, resulting in deformed beetles and dying pupae.

Third, after three months time you should be able to see movement when you disturb the wheat bran around the water source. The new baby worms may be too small to see easily, but they will cause a very noticeable disturbance in the substrate when they are moved with your finger.

Fourth, if you keep your beetles and worms at temps above 75F, you will see much faster development.

 

[007Sean]

Nothing to add, everyone else has answered your question. I got my bugs from Uncle Jim's Worm Farm: www.unclejimswormfarm.com
Mine have about run me outta house and home.

 

[farmerbrowne]

Nothing to add, everyone else has answered your question. I got my bugs from Uncle Jim's Worm Farm: www.unclejimswormfarm.com
Mine have about run me outta house and home.

I'm definitely going to contact my customs and see if I'm allowed to bring over meal worms, at that price you can't go wrong!!

 

[farmerbrowne]

First of all, I would verify with the store where you got these "jumbo worms" whether they were just large meal worms or another species called "super worms".

That you were able to get them to pupate and eventually arrive at adulthood, makes me suspect they are ordinary darkling beetle meal worms and not super worms.

Second, carrots are better than potatoes because they don't mold, and mold can be deadly to your worms and beetles, causing die-offs and poor development.

Have you heat-treated your wheat bran? Moist substrate conditions can cause grain mite infestations and they can seriously damage pupae, resulting in deformed beetles and dying pupae.

Third, after three months time you should be able to see movement when you disturb the wheat bran around the water source. The new baby worms may be too small to see easily, but they will cause a very noticeable disturbance in the substrate when they are moved with your finger.

Fourth, if you keep your beetles and worms at temps above 75F, you will see much faster development.

How hot do I heat treat the bran? Don't want to over do it

 

[azygous]

By trial and error, I discovered this formula, error being grain mites surviving, I treat bran in the oven at 300F for 45 minutes, stirring halfway. Let cool in the oven to continue the drying out of mite eggs.

 

[Rick&chickTampa]

Happy to see this thread today. I read the article on raising meal worms yesterday and I was thinking I would like to give it a try. I looked on Craigslist and found a person locally that sells live meal worms and a farming kit with everything you need to start it for $45.00. Was thinking about taking a drive out into the country to get one.
It looks like several of you have tried and been successful.

 

[Jacquie Button]

Good morning. I bought 1000 (probably a little more) from a home grower for $8. I went to the Dollar store and got a Rubbermaid shoe box. I didn't get a fancy set up because I was just dabbling in this to give my Quails a treat and my chickens once I get them. The man I bought the worms from said his chickens go crazy for them.
Ok back to the worms, lol!
I try to separate the stages as they go and seem to be doing well.
Once I start seeing baby worms with the beetles then I will take all the beetles out and start all over. It's been interesting but I'm starting to think the $8 and a 5 minute drive is worth it!

 

[tigger19687]

I just started this too.
I should be getting my 2000 worms today and already have the bucket.

I would have to go back to see who did this but they had one big bin and a tiny bin on the inside of it for the beetles. Bottom of Beetle has screen for eggs to fall through.

I bought 2000 on Amazon because my son has Bearded Dragons and I have chickens so while waiting for them to turn to beetles...

 

[farmerbrowne]

I just started this too.
I should be getting my 2000 worms today and already have the bucket.

I would have to go back to see who did this but they had one big bin and a tiny bin on the inside of it for the beetles. Bottom of Beetle has screen for eggs to fall through.

I bought 2000 on Amazon because my son has Bearded Dragons and I have chickens so while waiting for them to turn to beetles...

I like that idea of having a small bin for beetles inside! Great idea