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- Mar 7, 2012
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If you do decide to keep mealworms (out of the fridge), they're really not that much work if set up properly. I put mine on a bed of plain quick oatmeal and add diced carrots once a week or so, which they'll also eat as a source of food and moisture. (They eat other fruits and veggies too, but carrots last a while and don't smell bad.)You'll spend more time taking care of the beetles than your Ts. For now mealworms kept in the fridge is your best option, once your Ts grow you can switch to superworms, these won't pupate unless you separate them.
If it's warm, the mealworms (the larval state) will pupate and then turn into adult beetles. Both mealworms and pupae can be used as food. (Always crush the heads of both so they don't turn into adult beetles if not eaten.) I don't use the adult beetles as food (unless they're very freshly molted and soft); they just eat, mate, and lay eggs.
Once a year or so, I add more mealworms to increase genetic diversity. (I noticed when I never did this that I was seeing more bad molts.)
tl;dnr: A mealworm colony is overkill for 2 tarantulas, but it is pretty low-maintenance.