raising feeder worms?

[phaemas]

So i've been keeping super worms and Mealie worms. Most of my mealies have turned into beatles. Anyone ever fed the beatles before?

Stevie LOVES the worms how about beatles? though at the moment I want the beatles for breeding more mealies any thoughts?

Also has anyone ever turned Supers into beatles? I tryed once and it died...

[Linnea]

*beetles

Sure you can keep the beetles too, but most reptiles find the beetles taste really horrible. you can read up on keeping them simple by googling superworm and caresheet.
you keep a moits sponge to give them water without drowning them and you give them dried dog food and veggies. make sure to clean the cage every two days to prevent mold, as this can kill all young beetles and eggs.

they should multiply fairly easy, but its just such a hassle to breed these larvae when theyre so cheap to buy and smell to bad to keep.

when i read this i thought you meant earthworms....whereas what you speak of are insect larvae wouldve been better to keep earthworns n__n

[WanderingChai]

Plus, in addition to what Linnea said, Meal worms aren't the best staple(according to the caresheet, that is.)... Try silkworms instead. Earthworms are fairly easy to keep. Get a 5 g. tank for $10 or less, fill it with dirt from outside, and some grass and you'll have some happy, breeding worms.

[phaemas]

I breed em for my baby miles who LOVES EM as well as giving marcie the odd one is she'll touch it (She's never liked live food:|) and Stevie a few every now and then (He's worse than my beardie when it comes to wormsXD)

I'll have to try earthworms...

[critterguy]

I've found bluetongues love the mealy beetles. In fact, they will even eat superworm beetles. However, both these beetles possess powerful chemical defenses in the form of quinones. Superworm beetles can smell up an entire cage when attacked. I've fed them before, but did some research into the components of the defensive chemical and decided against it...also I observed if they were not eaten on the first attack the crushed/wounded beetle would be refused and the whole cage would reek. This all being said, Zach-site owner at least used to feed these frequently to his as treats.

[WanderingChai]

I've found bluetongues love the mealy beetles. In fact, they will even eat superworm beetles. However, both these beetles possess powerful chemical defenses in the form of quinones. Superworm beetles can smell up an entire cage when attacked. I've fed them before, but did some research into the components of the defensive chemical and decided against it...also I observed if they were not eaten on the first attack the crushed/wounded beetle would be refused and the whole cage would reek. This all being said, Zach-site owner at least used to feed these frequently to his as treats.

If you fed them the beetles outside, this may not be a problem?

[Richard.C]

So i've been keeping super worms and Mealie worms. Most of my mealies have turned into beatles. Anyone ever fed the beatles before?

the beetles eat the same as the mealworms

[Leigh]

It's true Super/Morio worms have less fat content than mealworms, they also smell a lot less, that's why I use 'em, the black beetles they grow into are eaten by Mr Blue but he prefers them almost or even dead he'll crunch 'em down without any complaints, I've found that the in between stage is well relished, you know... at the some what alien looking larval stage