11 replies to this topic

[Californian Anter]

I picked up 50 mealworms from Petsmart. This will document the colony and more importantly if they are viable for breeding. The first beetle just eclosed today. Currently, they eat only oatmeal, potatoes, carrots, and apples. Not sure if they are getting enough protein.

[LC3]

Tenebrio molitor are known to eat a wide range of things, it's because of certain bacteria found within their digestive track. In 2015, two papers were published around the end of September and found that mealworms can safely eat styrofoam.  They traditionally infest wheat grain so sticking as close to wheat should help. However feeding them really shouldn't be a problem. 

 

To my knowledge the act of "gut loading" is just stuffing them up with as much nutrients as possible, usually done before feeding them to something else since it's really to benefit the predator more then the mealworm.

Edited by LC3, January 23 2017 - 11:38 PM.

[Batspiderfish]

Oatmeal has plenty of protein. Gut loading is something you do if you buy your mealworms from the store, which arrive pretty malnourished. When culturing them, you ought to keep them as healthy as possible. One thing about Tenebrio is that they can be very cannibalistic to pupae, so if you need more adults, try to move these somewhere safe until they eclose.

Edited by Batspiderfish, January 24 2017 - 4:04 AM.

[Californian Anter]

Tenebrio molitor are known to eat a wide range of things, it's because of certain bacteria found within their digestive track. In 2015, two papers were published around the end of September and found that mealworms can safely eat styrofoam.  They traditionally infest wheat grain so sticking as close to wheat should help. However feeding them really shouldn't be a problem. 

 

To my knowledge the act of "gut loading" is just stuffing them up with as much nutrients as possible, usually done before feeding them to something else since it's really to benefit the predator more then the mealworm.

Thanks. I will keep this in mind.

 

Oatmeal has plenty of protein. Gut loading is something you do if you buy your mealworms from the store, which arrive pretty malnourished. When culturing them, you ought to keep them as healthy as possible. One thing about Tenebrio is that they can be very cannibalistic to pupae, so if you need more adults, try to move these somewhere safe until they eclose.

Whenever pupae form, I keep them in a box separate from larvae and beetles.

[Alabama Anter]

Mealworms can breed 100%. In my farm, this is my 4rth generation and they get bigger and bigger!

[Californian Anter]

2nd beetle eclosed, burrowed under the oatmeal.

 

Edit: Not even gonna count beetles anymore, there's like 8 now.

Edited by Californian Anter, January 30 2017 - 3:41 PM.

[Californian Anter]

I ran out of mealworms, they're all beetles or pupae. Now, I will just need to see if any baby mealworms appear in the next few weeks....

[dermy]

In about a few months you should have plenty of mealworms to feed your Colonies, just remember not to feed too many off. You'll also need to make sure you keep any frass, since that's where most of the babies will be.

[Nathant2131]

I find that Tenebrio molitor beetles love eating Pomelo.

[Martialis]

Would mealworms be partial to wheat germ?

[AntsMAN]

I'm getting this for mine. Zilla Gut Load Cricket & Insect Food - http://www.petland.c...able-in-2-sizes

Nature Zone Total Bites for Crickets & Feeder Insects - http://www.petland.c...able-in-2-sizes

 

I started with 500 from the worm lady and now 2yrs later still going strong. I have thousands, of worms and hundreds of beetles. I have way more than I'll ever use. I put in 250 or so once a year let them turn to beetle to add new blood in to keep the healthy.

I also have a super worm bin I start this year with 200, and now there's got to be close to 800-1000 now.

They are super easy to culture. All I feed them is a rotation of apples, potatoes, carrots, and leafy greens (kale, lettuce, sprouts, etc.)

Bedding of oatmeal mixed with cornmeal and all natural bran.

[gcsnelling]

Bran as a general substrate, wide variety of food including wheat germ should be perfect.