Mealworm massacre

[MisterGribs]

lovezebs Only three made it, three white ones. For some reason, all the pharo and argentina were upside down in shell and died.. Buty we have 3 now. The other two are named Diglett and Hulahulabarb.

[lovezebs]

MisterGribs

Woo hoo!

Three babies to watch tv with .

It is really quite funny, because I was at my Pet Shop yesterday, and they had 3 Button Quail there but these were adults (2 white, and 1 sort of black and gray). I thought about you and your egg babies, and now I hear that you have 3 as well.

I'm very happy for you .

[MisterGribs]

lovezebs We love them, they're wonderful. We decided to go with imprinting, and it's really paid off. They're so laid back like you wouldn't believe.

They lay on their sides with their legs all stretched out and just stay loose and relaxed when we pick them up, not even bothering to stand or curl their legs up.

Some chicks I've had in the past would just panic and run almost nonstop if they saw you. The only downside I've noticed so far is that they cry if you won't sleep with them, or stay out of their sight for too long.

[lovezebs]

MisterGribs

I'll have to check out what their calls sound like.

So what happens when you go out anywhere? Do they sit byy the door crying, until you return home?

Now Iv'e heard of seperation anxiety.... but really????

[Denise]

OK, I love you guys!!!! I am not the only crazo with a worm farm! (darkling beetle) I too got tired of buying an over priced cup of half dead meal worms. I went big and started with 2000. I wanted some to feed now. I also have 6 turtles who eat the little buggers. So...I now have a large number of pupae. Some have turned into the beetles and some are in the process of making the transformation. It looks like I am loosing way too many pupae though. I do separate them out of the mature worm drawer-keep a carrot with them for if they turn into beetle overnight and need a snack... Any advise on the matter??? My birds also bite the heads off and suck them dry. Weird!

[Ricardo Ronsini]

I was told that when they eat the pupae it is due to a lack of humidity.

It is good to keep a piece of wet paper towel on a shallow pot, so they can drink without drowning.

[Denise]

Well, the pupae aren't getting eaten. They are in a separate container. Quite a few of them are just not making it thru this phase on into the beetle. Looks like they dry out or shrivel up?? I expect they can't all make it. Just wondered if you all had any helpful hints. Sooo much weird advise on youtube. I watched all those clowns and said, " any idiot could do this"! Well.....

[lovezebs]

Denise

There are several members who raise their own mealworms on here.

I tried a few years back without any success. I ended up with these almost microscopic spiders instead of mealworms, and ended up giving up on it when other things came up.

For the last month now, I have been given it another go, this time with some better success.

I finally have some tiny little mealworms growing in my container. Beetles galore in another, and it would appear that I'm now on my way.

I keep them in wheat and oat bran, and add some potatos, carrots, and apple. I cover a portion of the area with a damp paper towel for moisture, and hope for the best.

[MisterGribs]

lovezebs If we have to go out somewhere, and one of us can't stay home, we bring them. They are crying less and less as time goes by. We are really careful to rush over to them the instant they start crying whenever we can, even in the middle of the night, and give them a bit of affection. Doing so will make sure they're secure adults.

If we let them cry for just a bit too long, we can immediately notice them doing it more often.

[MisterGribs]

Denise Sounds like your humidity is too low! I have some get dry now and then. I've noticed that the smaller the pupae are, the more likely they are to just dry out.

[MisterGribs]

lovezebs I keep mine in rye crackers and shredded, non-dyed paper. At the bottom, they get rye flour, oats, crushed wheat and the occasional bread crust. I have given them vegetables in the past, but it seems that every time I do, it destroys my entire colony.

[lovezebs]

MisterGribs

Mine this time around seem to be ok, knock on wood. The tiny wormies, are about on quarter inch long, but still very skinny.

The pupae, are nice and juicy, and my birdies will eat them too, if some end up on their plate.

[MisterGribs]

lovezebs My quail love the pupae, but I hesitate to sacrifice those. For some reason, my mealworms are breeding SOOOOO SSSLLLOOOWWWWWWWW at this rate, I go from egg to adult beetle in like six months.

I'm considering switching to crickets for the quail. They breed a lot faster and are hilarious to watch

[lovezebs]

MisterGribs

I know, it does seem to take considerably longer, that what they (whoever they are) mention in the videos and information articles which I've read. I thought it was only me, lol.

I have loads of pupae, and LOADS of beetles, but so far few wormies, but at least I'm finally on what appears to be the right track.

I have three containers going, one for fully grown worms, one for beetles, and one for the baby worms and the pupae. I think I'll introduce a fourth container and seperate the pupae into that one.

I had considered tiny crickets, but am worried of them getting all over the house.

[Denise]

OK, guys...help me here. The pupae don't eat, correct? So you keep them on rye crackers, oats & wheat because... WHY? I thought mayb they needed more humidity so I did put some bread in with them as well as their carrot. That was a trick my mother used to keep cookies from drying out. (sorry, mom- I am a weird girl! worm farm! Really!) They are are at room temp. 68-79 . Some say keep them warm- some say keep them cool. One guy evn said to put the pupae in the freezer overnight to boost the success. But then, he also cooked the little buggers up and ate them himself. Sooooo...hummm. It would have to be a zombie apocalypse B4 I could evn consider such a thing!