Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've got two bins full of Superworm beetles and Mealworm beetles, they've been there for about a month, but I'm not seeing any worms. I notice that some of the mealworm beetles wings are spreading, their backs are yellowish, and some of these are dying.
Am i doing something wrong?

The mealworm beetle doesn't live all that long, but while it does it lays lots of eggs. You may not see worms yet but they are probably there. When they hatch they are very tiny, like a very short piece of hair. The best way to determine if there are any there is to take a large scoop of the substrate and pour it into the tub, then watch to see if any of the substrate particles move. If you see the substrate move, sort of like sand going down a hole, there are worms. You just have to be patient and let them grow. As for the dead beetles, just remove the dead ones and as the pupae morph add them to the beetle tub if it is separate from your mealworms.

I use a plastic three-drawer storage on wheels that I bought at Wal-Mart. I keep the worms in one, the beetles in another and the hatchlings in the third. I rotate them through the drawers as I clean them according to size. I a sifter and what goes through the that goes into the babies tub, the rest goes into the feeder size tub and the beetles get fresh substrate.

I don't know what medium you are using to raise them on but if you are using oats like so many do this may not work for you. I prefer to use the un-medicated layer chicken crumbles. I can see the activity of the tiny worms even before I can see them. It is also beneficial as it is formulated to increase egg production and that is what your goal is, lots of eggs = lots of worms. I have several lizards that I have to feed and I am able to sell some of the mealies off to some of the folk in town when they run short too. I also give them to my breeder mice once in a while.

Temps can have an effect but I don't use any supplemental heat, just room temp and my colony does fine. I have been working off of the same colony for over 2 years now without buying any mealies.

Make sure you give them some fresh veggies/fruit at least once a week and after 24 hours remove any that is uneaten. I have had the best luck using apple slices, carrots, summer squash and leaf lettuce. They seem to devour these leaving nothing for me to remove! I also have found that if I drop these into the drawer they will swarm to it and that's an easy way to harvest them for feeding you lizards.

Be patient, you will most likely see worms soon.

Marcia

The mealworm beetle doesn't live all that long, but while it does it lays lots of eggs. You may not see worms yet but they are probably there. When they hatch they are very tiny, like a very short piece of hair. The best way to determine if there are any there is to take a large scoop of the substrate and pour it into the tub, then watch to see if any of the substrate particles move. If you see the substrate move, sort of like sand going down a hole, there are worms. You just have to be patient and let them grow. As for the dead beetles, just remove the dead ones and as the pupae morph add them to the beetle tub if it is separate from your mealworms.

I use a plastic three-drawer storage on wheels that I bought at Wal-Mart. I keep the worms in one, the beetles in another and the hatchlings in the third. I rotate them through the drawers as I clean them according to size. I a sifter and what goes through the that goes into the babies tub, the rest goes into the feeder size tub and the beetles get fresh substrate.

I don't know what medium you are using to raise them on but if you are using oats like so many do this may not work for you. I prefer to use the un-medicated layer chicken crumbles. I can see the activity of the tiny worms even before I can see them. It is also beneficial as it is formulated to increase egg production and that is what your goal is, lots of eggs = lots of worms. I have several lizards that I have to feed and I am able to sell some of the mealies off to some of the folk in town when they run short too. I also give them to my breeder mice once in a while.

Temps can have an effect but I don't use any supplemental heat, just room temp and my colony does fine. I have been working off of the same colony for over 2 years now without buying any mealies.

Make sure you give them some fresh veggies/fruit at least once a week and after 24 hours remove any that is uneaten. I have had the best luck using apple slices, carrots, summer squash and leaf lettuce. They seem to devour these leaving nothing for me to remove! I also have found that if I drop these into the drawer they will swarm to it and that's an easy way to harvest them for feeding you lizards.

Be patient, you will most likely see worms soon.

Marcia

un-medicated layer chicken crumbles?
What is that and where do i find it?
Thanks for all the info, its all pretty much what i'm doing... except that i feed them basically everyday

This is chicken feed formulated for laying hens. It has added calcuim and other nutrients that increase egg production and quality. Most feed stores will carry some type of layer mash. I have been using Purina Layana but there are many kinds available. Right now I have pelleted and although the worms feed on it just fine I prefer the crumbles, sort of ground corn consistancy, as it's easier to see tiny worm activity in.

Marcia