Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Welcome to kingsnake.com's message board system. Here you may share and discuss information with others about your favorite reptile and amphibian related topics such as care and feeding, caging requirements, permits and licenses, and more. Launched in 1997, the kingsnake.com message board system is one of the oldest and largest systems on the internet.

Click for 65% off Shipping with Reptiles 2 You
Click for ZooMed
Click here to visit Classifieds

Keeping mealworms

fun5oh Oct 23, 2004 12:57 AM

Hoping someone can help me, I posted in the feeding forum, but not alot of action there!
I am wondering the best way to keep and gutload mealworms. I really have no desire to breed them right now as I hate beetles! I buy them and put them in the fridge, but they get no nutrition while they are in there ( dormant almost, right?)
Could someone share with me how I go about keeping and gutloading about 100 mealworms a week?
Thank you,
R

Replies (4)

l_l3lackwolf_l Oct 23, 2004 03:44 AM

You can keep them in a small or medium size plactic container (one where you put in toys, or winter clothes, etc) and feed them a loaf of bread....Now, if you hate beetles, you´ll just have to check some times the mealworm´s "house" for any pupas ( stage between larva and adult beetle) and throw them away:D

Snarks Oct 23, 2004 12:49 PM

for gutloading go to leolovers website for a great reciept i'm not has diligent as her so i just use
Oats, bran, vit and cacl powder, powdered milk when i have it, and slices of carrot, leaves of veggies as moisture. I recommend leaving only enough moist veggie in there as they will consume in a night then you don't have to worry about mold.
As for container i have them in one of those big dairy land ice cream buckets. You don't need a lid if its high enough, other wise it will start reeking.
Don't throw the pupae/aliens out, my leos and even crested will eat them, they are usually freshly molted and can't bite so why not.
Also if you keep them in a cooler area like a garage that'll slow them down without having to freeze and thaw them.
Good luck

waldo Oct 24, 2004 12:21 AM

About ance a week a take my mealies out of the fridge,put them in a plastic tupperware container (a large bowl or cake pan will work too) with some wheat bran and fresh veggies & fruit like apples,cucumbers,carrots and bell peppers.I like to feed them for 24-48 before putting them back in the fridge and like snarks said,if you do end up with pupa then just feed then to your leo.
-----

(c) 2004 Neopets, Inc.

fun5oh Oct 24, 2004 08:52 AM

Thanks for all the replies! I think I'll stock up today and try the once a week gutload. How long does it generally take for a worm to turn into an alien if they are kept in the fridge?
Robin

Site Tools