meal worm culturing question

[WithCerberus]

Is culturing meal worms pretty much the same as the superworms and is there any problems that arise from a culture (smell, explosive breeding, ect.).
Anyways thanks for your help.
Bobby

 

[Wade]

Culturing meal worms is easier than superworms, there's no need to split them up for pupation, multiple generations do fine together. They can be raised on pretty much any grain product, but many keepers prefer bran. The occasional slice of potato or orange is all that's needed for moisture.

The only problems I ever run into is when meal moths invade the culture. Although the moths are also useful as feeders, they tend to really foul the culture media, and the catepillars silk tends to stick everything together.

Wade

 

[WithCerberus]

thanks for the info. How does oatmeal work and how long should it take to get one going?

Bobby

 

[jaijjs]

I've used a number of things for bedding material for mealworms. Oatmeal will work. But. if you can go to a store that sells wheat and oat bran in bulk. Like a health food store. This can be mixed 50/50. You'll find that the standard mealworms will thrive like crazy.

 

[Brak]

Mine took about 2 months to get any worms of a size you could feed. My 2nd generation has worms now, almost microscopic, after a little over a month. Very easy. I use carrots or potatoes for moisture and bran with some oatmeal and multi grains as the substrate. I keep them at 72 - 80 F so there is a shorter duration as worms. I feed the beetles too so I don't really care. You could separate your feeder worms and keep them cold (45 F)to slow their development. Enjoy

John

 

[Wade]

Bran has the advantage that it's easier to sift out the worms when you need them, but oatmeal works, the worms/beetles don't seem to care.

Wade

 

[WithCerberus]

Thanks a lot for you help guys. I think i'll put one together today.
Bobby

 

[krtrman]

you can also add wheat germ, corn meal, cheerios, and other fruits to the oatmeal mixture. i stay away from the citrus fruits because they tend to mold quicker than the other fruits. potato is good as well as cucumber and squash. it took me a bout a month or so for the colony to really get going on a starter group of about 100 mealworms from a reptile show. i would keep them in a container without a lid to keep the fruits and veggies from molding as the mold will kill the babies. also leave any pieces of dried fruits and veggies in the tank as the beetles will lay their eggs on the dried pieces. and do not throw away any of the bedding/substrate/food supply as the smaller worms are microscopic just add new oatmeal/bran/cornmeal/cereal every month or so.

 

[Immortal_sin]

I even have mealworms and superworms mixed together in my bin LOL
I haven't had any problems, as far as I can see. I just use oat bran that I purchased as bulk. I give them fresh carrots every few days, since the old ones just dry out and don't mold. I don't use a lid either.
I also have a big piece of corkbark in there, they burrow into it and seem to love it.
The hard part is getting the small ones out of there, they are the same color as the substrate, and impossible to see!

 

[krtrman]

to get the small worms our of the substrate try a spoonfull of the substrate on a paper towel and move it aroud until the substrate is spread out and the small worms will try to burrow into the paper towel. thats how i find the small ones. they do not like being exposed.