Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

[Scott W]

My giant mealworm colony has now started to produce so I have increased g/mealworms in my lizards diet, also using slightly smaller giants to feed to the leopard geckos etc. I have found these much better than normal mealworm as they are far more nutrious and better still DON'T turn into beetles in the cages.

So if you use mealworms, give giant mealworms a try instead (you might have to ask your shop to order the smaller giant size).
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[serpent]

Just being nosy Scott

How much space is needed for a decent sized colony and how long does it take for one to start being productive. I know that the larva wont pupate unless they are alone in a seperate container but thtas about it
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People laugh at me because I am different
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[Scott W]

I use a floor area of around 6ft by 3ft, this is then made into racking to hold large contico type trays, each tray yields about 5kg. They take approx 12 weeks from egg to adult size, and they will pupate within 2 weeks if fully grown. The beetles then start laying eggs within 2 weeks and last up to 3 months.
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[mark_w]

Scott

I'm trying this, but on a much smaller scale...

Everything seems to be happening really/too slowly. Do you heat yours Scott? Mine are just at warm (reptile room) temp. Also, it is possible that you need threshold numbers/densities of adults before they really get going (which seems to be the case with some roaches)?

Cheers
Mark.

[Scott W]

Hi Mark,

The main rack is unheated in a heated room, room temp is 28c - 32c. I also had a few trays sitting on heat pads and these grew even faster.

Not sure how many beetles you have for breeding but they do seem to like to congregate in large numbers. I would suggest adding a few more to your colony, then if you find you are producing too many mealworms put the excess out for the birds
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Please DO NOT pm orders for reptiles, send email instead scott@captivebred.co.uk

[mark_w]

Thanks Scott. Mine are prob. cooler than that, with temps, in the low 70's, i.e. 21 - 25 C. I might try sitting them on heat strip and adding some more beetles. As you suggest, better to over produce than produce none at all!

Cheers,
Mark.

[Pollywog]

I'm just setting up a culture at the moment, do you have them just in oats or are you providing any soil for them?
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Andrew Tillson-Willis
Pollywog
www.pollywog.co.uk
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[Scott W]

I use a soil mix, slightly damp.
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Please DO NOT pm orders for reptiles, send email instead scott@captivebred.co.uk

[Insectsunlimited]

It pays to keep them above 80f for best results. I found 85f is about optimum. Regards... Dave @ Insects Unlimited
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Dave Messer @ Insectsunlimited.

It may be the early bird that gets the worm but it`s the 2nd mouse that gets the cheese.

[Jas]

I keep mine in trays with about 3 inch deep of ground dried food(nuts,seeds,grains,etc) and give carrot for moisture, and have layers of egg carton on top of that. When the worms are full size they seem to congregate in the hollows of the egg carton and can then just be tipped out, the smaller worms have to be sieved out of the substrate.
The trays are all heated from underneath with heat cables,they do seem to do better at the hotter temps.