What would you like?

[packer43064]

Have been messing with this for awhile now. Now that I got my tax return back I want to give this a go. I'm going to start a insect feeder business. Nothing huge (at least for now), just something where I devote a room to raising and breeding insects for feeders for reptiles and etc. Right now I have FF's (Fruit Flies) and mealworms. With my tax return coming in the next 2 weeks, I can actually give this a go. I've always been interested in bugs and raising them. Just like raising fish, they need specific requirements to breed and prosper. Plus who doesn't like to walk into a room knowing there is probably more insects in this single room than a square block outside....and that's saying alot. lol

One thing I want to expertise in is having the feeders that the customers want. There's plenty of sites selling roaches or mealworms/supers or crickets, but not many selling all of those. I'm not saying I will have every insect feeder, but I want to try to. Tall order, but it can be done if done in steps. So with that being said, here is the list.

FF's -Wingless mels, flightless mels,curly wing, turkish gliders, Hydei, golden hydei, buzatti (already have most of these)

springtails-blue temperate,silver temp, white tropical, white temp, pink tropical, black temp

Isopods-dwarf white, orange, striped, others
Bean Weevils
Crickets
Mealworms-the beetles also
Superworms-the beetles also
Waxworms
Silkworms
Hornworms
Roaches-various diff kinds
House Flies
Blue Bottle Flies

I would also like to sell pet bugs. As in mantids.

Anyone have anymore suggestions for insect feeders or "pet" bugs?

I know how to raise most of them. House flies, BB flies, and the silk/waxworms would need a little more researching though.


I will have the FF's up for sale within a few weeks though. PM for prices.

I also have a website which I purchased about a week and a half ago. Very exciting for me! My GF will be making it since she has a 2 year degree in graphics arts. Bugwarehouse.com

Another thing, what do you like to see in a wesbite selling insect feeders. I'm sure most people have been to at least one website selling insect feeders, what did you like about them?

Thanks for looking.

Jeff

 

[Toby_H]

Bug Warehouse, Your One Stop Bug Shop!

Sounds cool...

I'm sure there is a nitch of hobbyists who have multiple animals that eat a variety of insects. Adding pinkies (rat and/or mice) would probably increase the scope of potential buyers.

It would be very difficult to compete with some of the larger established businesses in regards to being the cheapest, but supplying a wide variety at competative prices may allow buyers to save on shipping (single source).

have you connected to any reptile shows that come through town? From what I gather there is a pretty big reptile community as well as a few strong fish clubs in Ohio.

I guess there's not much else to do in Ohio ( )...

 

[CLDarnell]

That's awesome! I wish you the best of luck Sir!

 

[jungledriver]

Sounds like a cool idea. Might think twice before telling you neighbors.

 

[andyjs]

You could maybe add some actual worms like night crawlers and redworms too. If you end up at some future All Ohio Reptile Shows, I might give you some business (although my only current herps are turtles and they don't require live food, it's always nice as a little treat)

 

[packer43064]

Bug Warehouse, Your One Stop Bug Shop!

Sounds cool...

I'm sure there is a nitch of hobbyists who have multiple animals that eat a variety of insects. Adding pinkies (rat and/or mice) would probably increase the scope of potential buyers.

It would be very difficult to compete with some of the larger established businesses in regards to being the cheapest, but supplying a wide variety at competative prices may allow buyers to save on shipping (single source).

have you connected to any reptile shows that come through town? From what I gather there is a pretty big reptile community as well as a few strong fish clubs in Ohio.

I guess there's not much else to do in Ohio ( )...

Good slogan, lol.

Agreed I won't be able to keep up with prices of certain feeders. Crickets, mealworms/supers would be the hardest IMO. Still I think I can stay reasonable. My FF cultures are $5 each. Cheaper with the more you buy. That's not bad when you look at prices online. Like you said though, you could get crickets, mealworms, FF's, a few hornworms, and then some blaptica Dubia's (roaches) all in one order. Now that's not as easy. Even if prices were a bit higher on some feeders, it would make up with shipping or just the ease of getting multiple feeders at one site. That's the plan at least.

I'll need alot of racks and rubbermaid tubs!

There has been quite a few people mentioning going to a reptile show. There's one every month in Columbus and one in Cincinnati recently started. I think that would be a good idea, after everything pans out.

With Ohio weather there isn't much to do in the winter. One day it's 40, the next it's snowing.

That's awesome! I wish you the best of luck Sir!

Thanks.

Sounds like a cool idea. Might think twice before telling you neighbors.

I'm wondering what the apt. office is going to think when I have 4-5 packages a week coming in of supplies and insects. I'm not home usually when they arrive so the office usually gets it until I'm home.

You could maybe add some actual worms like night crawlers and redworms too. If you end up at some future All Ohio Reptile Shows, I might give you some business (although my only current herps are turtles and they don't require live food, it's always nice as a little treat)

Good ideas. Their easy to raise. There has been a few people suggesting going to reptile shows. After things get going, it would be nice to show off some of my insects for sell.

 

[logo]

Have you thought about ants? There aren't a whole lot of these offered that I see and it could also be something sold as a feeder or a pet.

 

[brich999]

im so relieved to see you live 1000 miles away. jk, but go for it if it is something you will enjoy and hopefully make something while you are at it

 

[Lepisosteus platyrhincus]

Cool!! GL with it!!

 

[ReelBigFish]

For silkworms, you'll need a neverending supply of mulberry to maintain them year round.

Also, check the legalities. Alot of times you need permits to legally ship inverts(I see weevils and hornworms on your list, and these are serious agricultural pests. You'll probably need a permit to raise and sell them).

Something I like to see on invert dealer sites is Latin names. Common names are too confusing with inverts, so I like to see people make an effort to accurately ID what they have for sale.

Another thing I'd like to see more people selling/breeding are African giant millipedes (A. gigas). Ever since the importation ban the prices are too high, and we need more and more people to breed them to help bring prices down again.