henward Posted February 5, 2009 Report Share Posted February 5, 2009 I am looking at breeding mealworms for personal use, not large scale for retail. just because i go through lots of it. ineed to speak with someone who has done it before got some questions thanks I have googled this bu need experienc how long does the beetles live for? how often do you move the beetles to a new laying container? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulldogod Posted February 5, 2009 Report Share Posted February 5, 2009 That about sums it up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henward Posted February 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2009 Ok so i just take out the beetles, once they die after matin and laying - i just kep the dead beetles in there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henward Posted February 6, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2009 soudns easy enough i have a feeling i will go through trucks of them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henward Posted February 6, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2009 do the beetles fly? or are they pretty timid and just crawl around Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henward Posted February 6, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2009 cool you know where i can get masses and cheap amounts of bran>? how much do they sell for bulk? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
repto Posted February 6, 2009 Report Share Posted February 6, 2009 go to farmlands or places like that with horse stuff,you can get a huge sack for $20 or so?lasts ages. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Insect Direct Posted February 6, 2009 Report Share Posted February 6, 2009 i second that farmlands is the go Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henward Posted February 8, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2009 how long does it take in terms of timeline worms to beetle beetle to laying beetle death eggs hatch eggs turn to mealworms mealworms to beetle again can someone break down the rough timeline? also when the beetles are moved to a new container, how long do i wait before i put them to another one. how do i know they have laid one clutch of eggs? what colour does the beetle have to be to lay eggs, i konw that they are initiall white, then brown then black, then dead. so do they lay whn brown or only black how long do they live for when they turn black? thanks just wanting ot know when to transfer and etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Insect Direct Posted February 8, 2009 Report Share Posted February 8, 2009 worms to beetle - about 12 weeks kept at 25 C? beetle to laying - within day or so of been a beetle beetle death - 4wks maybe more? eggs hatch - 10-14 days so move beetles every 14 days eggs turn to mealworms - same as eggs hatch mealworms to beetle again 10-12weeks? when the beetles are moved to a new container, how long do i wait before i put them to another one. - 14 days intervals how do i know they have laid one clutch of eggs? - theyre always laying theyre a pest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henward Posted February 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2009 can i put mealworms in a thinner layer of bran, then change it more often or maybe put bran and bread? or just thin layer of bran and make sure there is always veges in there? or does the bran have to be thick? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Insect Direct Posted February 10, 2009 Report Share Posted February 10, 2009 less is best i use about an inch deep, add more bran as mealworms need/eat it. too much bran just makes collecting mealworms a mission or you end up with heaps of bran left over once mealworms have all grown and been fed out. also if culture gets too moist - adding fresh dry bran helps get the balance right again only add more vege once last lot gone as too much can result in mites - mites thrive on moisture so dry out good and proper and they should go away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henward Posted February 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2009 i use carrots i figure carrts wil enhance the colour of my reptile:D but in saying that its not really the biggie, just cheapness whas the dryest best vege to use? kumara? pumpkin? or bread has moisture? can i use bread instead of veges? but mould from bread might make the bran mouldy too how often do you change the bran? so you put half inch, do you just top it all the time or do you take worms out and change bran too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Insect Direct Posted February 10, 2009 Report Share Posted February 10, 2009 carrots my favorite but also banana skin they seem to love, also sliced apple sometimes can use potato but carrots my preference read just the other day about bread been used - sprayed with water first but im not sure i like the idea dont change bran just add an inch, let beetles lay then take out or let em die and once mealworms get of size they will consume all the bran (turns into powdered frass/poo) and i just add more bran as they run out every couple of days etc ....sieve out frass every few days/weekly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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