I'd just like to ask if anyone on here breeds their own mealworms. I put out dried ones everyday at the moment. I put live ones out in the breeding season. It seems quite costly and I have wondered if it would be possible to breed my own rather than keep buying them. Maybe then I could put out live ones everyday if I could breed enough. I just haven't got a clue where to start, I guess the suppliers wouldn't inform us of the tricks of the trade as it could affect them in the long run if bird lovers bred their own.
Unknown said: Hi Blackbird, I don't really get squeamish as I have got 2 gecko's & a cornsnake that need feeding. I had a bumper year for babies last year, even my blue tits successfully reared 2 clutches. Had lots of robins,great tits, greenfinches & goldfinches. I think the dried ones must be hard for the babies to swallow so I put out live mealworms in breeding season. It cost me a fortune in mealworms last year so I am just trying to think ahead and save myselff some money. I am buying my boxes, oatmeal & mealworms tomorrow, can't wait to get started and plan to feed those cutie babies that will be due in a few months time. I've never thought of soaking them in warm water before - thanks I'm gonna try that.
Hi Blackbird,
I don't really get squeamish as I have got 2 gecko's & a cornsnake that need feeding. I had a bumper year for babies last year, even my blue tits successfully reared 2 clutches. Had lots of robins,great tits, greenfinches & goldfinches. I think the dried ones must be hard for the babies to swallow so I put out live mealworms in breeding season. It cost me a fortune in mealworms last year so I am just trying to think ahead and save myselff some money. I am buying my boxes, oatmeal & mealworms tomorrow, can't wait to get started and plan to feed those cutie babies that will be due in a few months time.
I've never thought of soaking them in warm water before - thanks I'm gonna try that.
You could also try breeding waxworms for them too, they are top-notch bird food (though as you know not ideal to be fed to reptiles too often). They are meant to be a bit more difficult than mealworms but if you manage they would definately be worth it as they are pricy food (and you could feed the moths to your geckos).
Millie & Fly the Border Collies
Hi Kat Tai,
Yeh I have seen about the waxworms on u tube, but I am gonna start with the mealworms first to see if I can manage not to get mites on the culture. I've never tried my gecko's with the moths before, they are very fussy eaters. I got them from a reptile rescue centre and the vet thinks they are really old. They will only eat crickets and waxworms. I have to give her what she will eat. Glad to hear your babies are doing well.
I am all set up now and mealworms are in, I think they are fascinating. You can hear tiny little munchies on the carrot & celery sticks. Its a whole little society in there it's great. I have got another box set up ready to put the pupae & beetles in ready for nookie & the making of lots of little baby mealworms ready for Spring feeding to my nesting birds.
Very cheap to set up & care for, hopefully I will get hundreds of thousands of mealworms this year.
Now I have done that I fancy the challenge of composting worms in a Can-o-worms kit, but I don't think I should start that until the spring as it's so bitterly cold I think they would die outdoors.
Best of luck!
Thankyou Kat Tai,
I'll let you know how I get on.