Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I would like to buy a bunch of mealworms and put them in a container..Will they die on my over time? Can i breed them? What should i feed them to keep them alive?? Thanks

I buy 5,000 at a time now and keep them in a large plastic shoebox/storage box in bedding of gutload. I use oatmeal, pressed barley, ground flax seed, green drink powder, soy protein supplement powder, plus slices of fresh veggies like carrots, yams, squash, potatoes, etc... I change out the veggies every few days so they don't get nasty and add food when neccessary. I don't refrigerate, and these last as long as I need them. Add food when neccessary and try ro remove/change out the bedding when it gets alot of poo in it (the poo usually is on the bottom).
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Sarah Stettler aka Starling
Sarah@stargecko.com
StarGecko.Com COMING SOON! Star Quality Leopard Geckos
Specializing in Hypotangerine Tremper Albinos

maybe this is a "duh" but whats this, the purpose? what kind? where did ya hear of it?? so on and so fourth
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-robin struck
Geckoheads And Geeks

She mentioned it a few posts down, I think in the thread about carrots vs cucumbers. If I remember right, it's from Trader Joe's which, by the way, is a really cool store but sadly, none near me.

Ah, I found the post:
http://forums.kingsnake.com/view.php?id=287627,288089

Mine is Trader's Joe's Very Green Drink powder, it has stuff like spirulina, dried wheatgrass juice, alfalfa leaf extract, blue-green algae, barley grass juice powder etc...

There is a product called Shizen Green sold in infomercials that I think might be similar (probably way overpriced though), and I think you can find other brands too, at your health food store or GNC. It's an easy way to add high-nutrient vegetables/phtochemicals without having to stock your fridge with all kinds of weird stuff you wont eat that will get smelly or rot in the gutload. If you can't find the mix, many health food stores have powdered spirulina which is good too. This is just a lot more diverse.
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Sarah Stettler aka Starling
Sarah@stargecko.com
StarGecko.Com COMING SOON! Star Quality Leopard Geckos
Specializing in Hypotangerine Tremper Albinos

Yes, some will die, and some will shed, and if you keep them long enough some will pupate and turn into beetles and breed and lay eggs and make baby mealies. Here's a good website (posted a while back by someone... maybe Britney???)

http://www.polliwog-design.com/mealworms.html

There are lots of people with lots of recipes for gutloading mealies. If you want more, search the archives of this forum, there are multiple threads on this very topic. Whatever you decide, make sure you also provide a source of moisture (carrots, leafy greens, potatoes, sweet potatoes,...).

Good luck.
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0.0.2 leos
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