Breeding and Maintaining Mealworms....Part Deux

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Well I ordered 2k mealworms. Their here. Got them yesterday and didn't think to check the mail, but they can withstand cold temps. so all were fine. They came in a canvas type bag. The GF didn't like that I was holding 2k mealworms in a tiny bag and throwing it around the apartment at the dog. She deals with me somehow, lol. We also tried to feeding a few to our 9 hamsters since they would eat them in the wild, they sniffed them then batted them away the 2 rats we have took them and took it back to the end of the cage and dropped them for later dinner I would supppose. After that fiasco I put them in a tub.

I just used oats ATM since I didn't go and get any egg layer pellets or anything. After putting the oats in you can already see them starting to eat it. I just need to go to the store and buy some potatoes for their water source.

Considering it's about 70ish most of the time in the basement and I need around 80F I bought some Flexwatt heat tape. Just a smaller section to test it out. If it works I'll purchase more. That should be here in the next few days.
 
packer43064;4651371; said:
Well I ordered 2k mealworms. Their here. Got them yesterday and didn't think to check the mail, but they can withstand cold temps. so all were fine. They came in a canvas type bag. The GF didn't like that I was holding 2k mealworms in a tiny bag and throwing it around the apartment at the dog. She deals with me somehow, lol. We also tried to feeding a few to our 9 hamsters since they would eat them in the wild, they sniffed them then batted them away the 2 rats we have took them and took it back to the end of the cage and dropped them for later dinner I would supppose. After that fiasco I put them in a tub.

I just used oats ATM since I didn't go and get any egg layer pellets or anything. After putting the oats in you can already see them starting to eat it. I just need to go to the store and buy some potatoes for their water source.

Considering it's about 70ish most of the time in the basement and I need around 80F I bought some Flexwatt heat tape. Just a smaller section to test it out. If it works I'll purchase more. That should be here in the next few days.
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wow, you started off with a lot. oh well, i'm sure you'll find something to do with em! i started off w/ 100 and ended up with way more than i needed!

potatoes will work but if it matters to you, i prefer carrots for the extra nutritional value.
 
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ScatMan;4651399; said:
wow, you started off with a lot. oh well, i'm sure you'll find something to do with em! i started off w/ 100 and ended up with way more than i needed!

potatoes will work but if it matters to you, i prefer carrots for the extra nutritional value.
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I figured with 12 tubs that I could hold alot! The 2000 mealworms seemed like nothing in the tubs. Hopefully I can get them pupating and breeding soon with the warmer heat from the flexwatt tape.

Yeah, idk why I didn't say carrots too. They don't get as moldy as the potatoes and seem to just shrivel up really compared to the potatoes.
 
packer43064;4651473; said:
I figured with 12 tubs that I could hold alot! The 2000 mealworms seemed like nothing in the tubs. Hopefully I can get them pupating and breeding soon with the warmer heat from the flexwatt tape.

Yeah, idk why I didn't say carrots too. They don't get as moldy as the potatoes and seem to just shrivel up really compared to the potatoes.
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:thumbsup:
 
I just recieved my flexwatt tape...like 6 minutes ago.

They even hooked this baby up for me, which I didn't check the box that they had to....can't complain though. It can get up to 120F if you don't use a thermostat or rheostat. I'll have to get one.
 
I hooked the Flexwatt up, the temperature on the bottom of the tub was 86F with just the tub laying on the flexwatt tape. This is a little to high, so I put the tub into two more tubs and put a metal grid on the tape so there's a 1/4 inch between tub and tape. It ranges from 79-82F, pretty good to me. I still need a rheostat and foil tape to make it secure and less chance of a fire happening. I don't think metal or plastic can burn into a fire at 120F(the most the flexwatt can get), but still.

I also picked up some potatoes(GF said they were on sale compared to carrots), 2 pounds of russets. I'll have to get pics of the sliced pieces in the tub. There's honestly a good 20-50 on each piece, they just hang there when you pick the potato up. One in each corner.

I added up the total cost of everything so far and it's $141.23. Not too bad, I won't need anymore mealworms though. I'll need more flexwatt, but when it gets warm, they can all go in storage and can be re-used every year.
 
Man its been awhile since Ive been on this page. You still raising worms?
 
How many you up to?
 
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