Mealies

[HeatherRose]

Hey guys! I was just wondering how anyone here who breeds mealies finds it. Is it easy?

Heather

[nouserpif]

Here is my caresheet on mealworms... They are insanely easy, and I have about 50 pupae, 25 adults, and this was from the original breeding stock of 500 mealworms, which was only $15 here, and I'm turning out 3-4 more pupae a day now...
here it is:


Housing:
Larvae: Margerine/coolwhip/etc. tub will house approx. 1000 mealworms.You don't have to keep the lid on, but if you do, cut a small section (2" square) out of the ld, and hot-glue some fine screen over the hole, for vhentilation.

Pupae: An open lidded margerine/coolwhip/etc. container will hold about 200 pupae. no lid.

Adults: Margerine/coolwhip/etc. tub will house apprx. 75-125 beatles. Place a lid on them, with very small holes all over the lid, for ventilation, but not big enough for much light to get through. They will need a small peice of cork or other porous material for laying eggs.

Substrate:

Larvae: 1-3 inches of rolled oats, or similar, mixed with a very small bit of reptile calcium supplements

Pupae: 1" of rolled oats.

Adults: 1-2 inches of rolled oats.


Feeding:

Mealworms: They eat lots, so a baby carrot or two a day is good on a film canister lid (so the substrate doesn't mould), but if there is any left when you go to add another, do not give them any more.... wait untill they finish.

Pupae: a small slice of baby carrot on a film canister lid or similar (so nothing goes mouldy), so if they hatch, they won't try to eat other pupae. Just a tiny peice, replace every day or two.

Adults: About half a baby carrot on a film lid, and replace every day, or when there is none left. do not let much food sit around for long....

They will lay tiny tiny eggs on the cork, which will hatch in 2-6 weeks (i'm not quite sure) to almost microscopic worms. Dump the beatle substrate and cork (not the beatles! into the mealworm tub once a month, and give the adults new substrate... Do a full clean once every 3-4 months, to make sure there are no dead mealworms or mites or anything...

Hope that helps...
Dan conner

[HeatherRose]

Thanks a bunch! I love watching my crested gecko grab one and shake it lol....very helpful :D

Heather