Meal Worms Eating Crickets?

[CitizenNumber9]

I've been taking my cricket boluses lately and tossing them into the meal worm pit where they have mysteriously disappeared....I'm guessing the little buggers are eating them nice new way to recycle!

 

[SamuraiSid]

I never realized they were detrivores. Thanks for the tip

 

[CitizenNumber9]

I never realized they were detrivores. Thanks for the tip

I googled it and did a little research, only one of the sites I checked has them labeled to eat dead insects

 

[Introvertebrate]

Maybe you could put some in with your crickets. They could serve as makeshift dermestids.

 

[korg]

I kind of get the impression that mealworms can/will eat any anything organic and somewhat moist. I can't say I like the idea of feeding old boluses to mealworms, though... why feed them something that's already been digested/had its nutrients extracted and is potentially tainted with mites, bacteria, or mold? You're saving about half a cubic centimeter of space in the garbage can and not doing the feeders any favors nutritionally or health-wise.

 

[CitizenNumber9]

I kind of get the impression that mealworms can/will eat any anything organic and somewhat moist. I can't say I like the idea of feeding old boluses to mealworms, though... why feed them something that's already been digested/had its nutrients extracted and is potentially tainted with mites, bacteria, or mold? You're saving about half a cubic centimeter of space in the garbage can and not doing the feeders any favors nutritionally or health-wise.

I thought blouses were just the leftover pieces of crickets that haven't been eaten? I haven't been feeding my wormies poop lol it helps my brain to know that the uneaten crickets aren't going to waste

---------- Post added 12-18-2013 at 01:43 PM ----------

Maybe you could put some in with your crickets. They could serve as makeshift dermestids.

That's a good idea to get rid of the dead crix, but is it possible that they'll eat each other?

 

[korg]

I thought blouses were just the leftover pieces of crickets that haven't been eaten? I haven't been feeding my wormies poop lol it helps my brain to know that the uneaten crickets aren't going to waste

When a tarantula (I assume this is what's eating your crickets?) fully consumes a feeder it leaves a black/grey ball of gunk (bolus) that is essentially just the indigestible remnants of the prey. If left sitting around a bolus can be a magnet for all the potential contaminants I mentioned above. I guess it's technically correct to call the bolus "uneaten cricket," but that's like serving someone a corn husk and calling it "uneaten corn."

 

[CitizenNumber9]

When a tarantula (I assume this is what's eating your crickets?) fully consumes a feeder it leaves a black/grey ball of gunk (bolus) that is essentially just the indigestible remnants of the prey. If left sitting around a bolus can be a magnet for all the potential contaminants I mentioned above. I guess it's technically correct to call the bolus "uneaten cricket," but that's like serving someone a corn husk and calling it "uneaten corn."

Yes I'm feeding tarantulas

Heheh that's pretty gross x) I was talking more about the extra half of a pre-killed cricket that a tiny sling isn't able to finish lest it explodes!

 

[Disquiet]

I was talking more about the extra half of a pre-killed cricket that a tiny sling isn't able to finish lest it explodes!

Freeze it for later?

 

[CitizenNumber9]

Freeze it for later?

I was considering making it into a nice broth and canning it

 

[Disquiet]

I was considering making it into a nice broth and canning it

I was being serious, I do it all the time! Freeze the live cricket, chop it in half, put the unused part back in the freezer. Only takes a sec for them to defrost and become nice and gutsy.

 

[CitizenNumber9]

I was being serious, I do it all the time.

Oh...heheh sorry x)
It's just not worth the work for half of a pin head cricket if I had a bunch of slings though, that is definitely a great idea!

 

[Disquiet]

Oh...heheh sorry x)
It's just not worth the work for half of a pin head cricket if I had a bunch of slings though, that is definitely a great idea!

I only do it because I have an odd number of little ones who won't take live prey. No offense taken

 

[CitizenNumber9]

I only do it because I have an odd number of little ones who won't take live prey. No offense taken

Heheh yeah I only have two that run for cover when the main course starts to move xD I was begining to think that I'd have to start BBQ-ing crickets for my N. Chromatus sling before he would eat lol