Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I had about 10-15 beetles in a container until they died now that the baby mealies are large enough to see it seems like its not many. I hear the beetles lay about 500 eggs but it doesnt seem even close to 100 babies, why am I not getting alot of babies? I now have another setup of mealies and now have over 10 aliens seperated with more turning to aliens on a regular, if the beetles lay 500 eggs shouldnt I be getting 1000's of babies?

Not all of worms are gunna live.
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I only know 3 ways to do things.
The right way.
The wrong way.
And my way which is the wrong way only faster.

Ryan: It's OK, I'll handle it. I read a book about something like this.
Mick: Are you sure it was a book? Are you sure it wasn't NOTHING?!

Ryan:Help me someone i have a mortal wound!
[Kyle runs over]Kyle:Where does it hurt?
Ryan:Oh i would have to say.....IT HURTS IN THAT BIG BLOODY HOLE STUPID!!!

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I feel your pain im trying to breed my own mealies to. Im still not sure what your supost to do with the mealies,aliens and beetles.

Yes each female does lay UPTO 500 eggs per laying. However the eggs can get eaten by the baby mealworms, they can get dried up, some don't hatch, etc etc. It's like salmon, they lay thousands upon thousands of eggs, but so many of they die or get eaten that a few ever hatch.

Also if you've been giving carrots/potatoes, etc, they could've laid their eggs on that, and if you change them out regularly, you throw away alot of eggs in the process (but this is sort of necessary since you don't want rotten veggies in your bins).

Don't worry so much, you sound like you're doing fine.

-Lemur 6

10-15 beetles is not too many IMHO. It should be like 50-100 beetles. Also, what are you feeding them? They need to be fed well to produce alot of eggs and mate.

-Lemur 6

I have them on oatmeal and give them carrots and potatoes. Well 50-100 I guess I will have to leave the colony just for breeding and not feed from it.

I've always been told that it's not a good idea to put mealworms in Oatmeal.. I don't recall why at the moment. I keep mine in Wheat Bran with mainly potatoes, and they seem to be doing just fine that way. Good Luck!
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Crystal Light (Yes..thats my real name)

*Whenever you lose a gecko, just think of it as God building on his own Leopard Gecko collection

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Hmm... was that because of mold? Or something else?

-Lemur 6