Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Yup yup I'm raisin mealworms and I got a good colony goin too. I use carrots and oats and apples for a bit of change. My question is...How can I get these things to quit stinking? How often do ya change up the "litter"?

I know these things lay tiny eggs and then up and come these tiny mealies so I'm not trying to dispose of those guys...just the stink. I gotta get this question answered scented candles and stick ups aren't cutting it anymore! lol
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15 Leopard Gackos 5.10.0
2 Tokay Geckos 1.1.0
1 Standing's Day Gecko 0.0.1
1 Graybanded Kingsnake 1.0.0
1 Baird's Rat Snake (Thanks Vadoni!) 1.0.0
coming soon...
Corn Snake, Green Anoles, crested geckos, and Yellow Rat Snakes.

humm, my mealworm colony doesn't give off much smell at all...are you taking out the rotten food? that could be it. When i change the bedding i just start a new tank, leaving only they old barn where the eggs would be and transfer the beetles. Also if you have dead ones in there that would smell.
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Lauren
Leos and Uros
1.1 Saharan Uromastyx
0.0.1 Mali Uromastyx
1.1 Jungle Albino Leopard Gecko
1.1 Hypo/Baldy Leopard Gecko
1.1 Tremper Albino Leopard Gecko

Your colony should never smell of anything other than whatever you use for the bedding/gutload. If it stinks, it means you're not keeping things clean. Rotten veggies, too much moisture, too many dead worms, etc. All this has to be removed almost daily. Worm poop builds up also in time, so occaisionally sift the worms out and give them a fresh bedding in a clean container when needed. Don't over do it with fruits and veggies though. Just give the worms enough of what they can normally eat at a time, and avoid letting their bedding get damp otherwise this will kill your worms.

np
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chickabowwow

3.2.2 leopard geckos (Rosie, Locke, Lisa, Caesar, Tommy)
and 1 more egg a' cookin'

If it smells faintly of vinegar, could be old apple etc. One suggestion I've read and tried with pretty good success is to use a cardboard tube with a damp (NOT wet just damp) washcloth half in it. The beetles will use that to lay eggs on as they only lay in the bedding when they can't find a better option. You can start a new mealworm box every few weeks or so and give the worms new bedding since you won't have to worry about losing the eggs.

Also a heads up -- if the bedding gets even a little moldy it can cause liver problems in your herps when the mealworms eat it.

Good luck,
Andrea A.
www.friendlylizard.com
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Andrea A.

I can't stand raising meal worms. The most annoying thing that happen to me was the container fell over and mealsworms spilled all over my room. I remember once a bag full of 3 dozen crickets open the wrong way and they were a lost in my room. That was a nightmare.
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1.1.1 Leos
1 WTF
2.1 FBT
0.0.2 RES
Too many fish

Thank you for your suggestions. I will use them. I did notice today that there are millions of tiny larvae mixed in the oats. I guess I might take all of the finer "bedding" and dump that in another container with some new oats in there.

I was using carrots to feed my mealies. I will reduce the amount of carrot and dump them daily. This weekend I will change my oats over and clean the container. I now keep the lid off of the container due to moisture build up. I know how beautiful mold can be and luckily mold is not a huge problem in my house.

Again thanks very much.
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15 Leopard Gackos 5.10.0
2 Tokay Geckos 1.1.0
1 Standing's Day Gecko 0.0.1
1 Graybanded Kingsnake 1.0.0
1 Baird's Rat Snake (Thanks Vadoni!) 1.0.0
coming soon...
Corn Snake, Green Anoles, crested geckos, and Yellow Rat Snakes.