Breeding Meal Worms

[GregH]

In preparation for my diamond sparrows hatching I purchased ~100g of mealworms a couple of weeks ago but it seems that half of them have now pupated. I placed them on old seed for want od a better substrate and gave them carrot for water as I've seen this done at Cartimar where I purchased them. Perhaps I should have put them in the fridge. Anyway I've got few questions:1) are the pupae accepted as food; 2) how many do I need to retain to start a producive and sustainable colony; 3) Has any one got a good protocol for breeding & raising these creatures.

[Pete Sara]

hi ya greg .try also adding dry dog buiscuts as a food medium , helps load them up with goodies as they contain a lot of fat(the mealworms that is). u do need a few to get a good productive colony going, but we all have to start some where i still have to buy in every 2 months 1kg. i need to regulate the temp in the shed which is abig factor they dont like it cold i think 25 deg is the ideal but over 30 is a killer, it takes about 2months from egg to adult so you may need to have a few colonies on the go .and remember to keep some to pupate for the next batch , but as far them eating the pupae its like a lucky dip some will some wont ....pete

[gomer]

Greg I keep mine in the fridge for 3 months no problem.And have kept them for 6 months in the fridge getting them out for a feed once.I have not had any eat the pupae.And i would think a dozen beetles would be a good amount to start a colony.I find it easier to buy them then breed them.But keep a colony going just in case.
Heres a bit of info.
http://www.finchsociety.org/cfa/livefood/mealies.htm

[Mickp]

like Gomer I havent ever seen any of my birds eating the pupae.
at present I have 3 colonies on the go, started each with about 500 worms. from them approx 400 become bugs which leads to heaps of mealies a couple of months later. the most recently started colony was with 1000 mealworm. decided to increase the numbers as I have started feeding them to the birds once they are approx 1/2" long. feeding the worms out at the smaller size seems to have increased the birds desire for them and also improved the number of fledglings (none dead in nest and no birds with white flight feathers-a sign of malnourishment)

[GregH]

Thanks guys for the hints. The larvae are usually in good supply at Cartimar but at 120km and an unknown turnaround time because of the traffic especially leading up to Christmas (min 3h and up to 5hr roundtrip ) I may not have them available when I need them. How much space do you need for a colony of 1000 worms and what you you feed them. As a kid I raised a noisy miner chick on ones I found in a neighbours feed shed and they seemed to prefer dark areas where there were pollard spills and they lived under & inbetween hessian bags. Is that the sort of environment that I should be recreating?

[Mickp]

all I use is a medium size plastic crate from cheap as chips. I cut an opening in the lid (approx 2/3 of the lid size) and then cover this opening with fly screen. fill the container 3/4 full with either bran or pollard. then in go the worms. the containers are kept in a cupboard. I dont use a light to keep them warm. fresh piece of carrot or cucumber every 2nd day (removing the old stuff) and a few dog biscuits as well.
everyone does it differently though, need to find what is best for you.

[gomer]

One thing with plastic.If you live in a humid area.make sure they have sufficiant air hole area.Or you will end up with a pile of mouldy bran and dead worms.Some people also use timber boxes as timber breathes.

[GregH]

Well I'll remember the hint about the humitity & plastic boxes. I also have Super wormsfor the sugar gliders and I was told to feed them bananna skins. They are in a plastic terrrarium but I've notived the condensation building and the medium turn to smelly mush over the last few days. I didn't have a problem when I would only get 40-50 at a time but the 200 looks decidely unhealthy.

[Pete Sara]

i breed mine in the 40lt plastic tubs. with some of the lid cut out and fly wire siliconed in for ventalation plus 2 in each side towards the top with flywire as well so that they still have the strength in them to stack up. i use carrot or potato and bananna skins as the moisture. keeping them in the fridge i put them in old pillows slips tied up to stop them escaping and allows the mealies to breath. the smell you have got is the urea build up from them doing there buisness. i just siv them out and place them in some fresh bran or pollard. like gomer said the best place to keep them is in the fridge and a fortnight let them out to warm up for a day then put them back as they will pupate on you given the chance. i hope to one day get me some gliders when they allow us to. we in wa have only just got the ability to keep reptiles .......pete..

[Mickp]

is reptiles another description of 'in-laws'?