Return to the Bluebirding Forum
| Post a Follow-Up
tiny mealworms
| | |
Posted by gibby01 (My Page) on Fri, Feb 26, 10 at 11:04
| This moroning we looked with a magnifying glass and under a bright light and saw tiny little ones. Don't know how many, but we saw a few anyway, now do I need to put a carrot in there yet? When do they start looking for moisture??? I just got a new beetle today too and one more pupa, so at least will have a little variation in ages. Have only 2 more worms to turn into pupa, probably 100 or so beetles, maybe more. Those reptile heaters, could I use a heater for an aquarium? maybe just turn it on for a little while and then back off? How long now does it take for them to be big enough to feed at 70 degree temp? Thanks for info, curious as what the next step is! |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: tiny mealworms
| | |
| Isn't it fun to finally see the tiny mealworms? Yes, do put a moisture source in there for them. I use celery, but carrots are fine too. Put your carrot in, and check the next day, and I'll bet you'll see a lot of itty, bitty mealworms under it. I don't know how hot your aquarium heater gets, but you could try it and keep an eye on the temperature. I have some tiny, cheap thermometers that I can leave in the substrate if I need to check for temperature. However, if you turn it off and on, you will end up with condensation which could mold up your substrate, or even worse, encourage grain mites. If it heats up to a reasonable temperature and you could leave it on, then you could use it. I really know nothing about aquarium heaters, so I have no idea if they're safe to leave on or not. It usually takes mine about 3 months, at 70 degrees, after I can first see them for them to grow to a good size for feeding. |
RE: tiny mealworms
| | |
| kendra, or anyone, when do they start changing color? or are some a brownish color when they hatch? How long before you can see them without looking through a magnifier? I decided to just go with the natural room heat, don't want to cook them. sorry for all the questions, just don't know what to look for next! thanks |
RE: tiny mealworms
| | |
| Gibby, I'm a little worried that the brown ones are the dead ones....do you see them moving? I think the babies are pretty much the same colors as the bigger worms: ivory to tan. Maybe there are a zillion tan ones camouflaged by the bedding but you're only seeing the brown ones...? I judge what's going on in my bins by looking at the tunnels they dig near the surface. If there are lots of tunnels visible through the sides of the bins, things are good. Also, lots of shed skins on the surface need the food. I prefer celery too---seems to mold the least of the foods I've tried, although I use whatever's in the house that I didn't get around to eating. Ann |
RE: tiny mealworms
| | |
| I see some moving if i use a magnifying glass. I thought I saw a tan colored one moving, not sure, not too good eyesight. Can hardly see them and I've seen a few by moving a pencil through. Just have to wait and see I guess. I did put a piece of celery in, how big of a piece do you put in? I thought the pupa were dead, didn't think the beetles were laying eggs, now wondering about the teeny worms. Guess I just need patience,How long till you can visibly see the worms? I have mine in cornmeal, do I need to add anything else? Thanks. |
RE: tiny mealworms
| | |
| Mine are in cornmeal, though some people add other protein or Ca sources. I put a few scattered pieces of moist food. I put them on toothpicks to make it easier to tap off cornmeal/babies when I remove it. WHen the babies are tiny, you really can't detect that they're eating anything, but I just replace it when it's dried up. I try not to inspect too much...a watched pot never boils, you know? I just wait til there's something to see and go from there. Definitely don't plan on seeing eggs: just treat the beetle substrate with respect. I sift the beetles once a week. I assume eggs are there, and handle it like a nursery until proven otherwise. Does that help? Ann |
RE: tiny mealworms
| | |
| Thanks. I'm seeing more teeny worms in the first batch that I took the beetles from. When they get a little bigger, i will put them in where the mealworms were originally. Soon will take the second batch out then maybe have at least a few different sizes of worms going. Thanks for all help! |
RE: tiny mealworms
| | |
| Well I'm envious that you are finally seeing some tiny baby worms. I started my farm in January and am patiently (ha) waiting for movement from the baby bins. Keep the updates coming! |
RE: tiny mealworms
| | |
| I had to look through a magnifying glass to see them, but now they are darker in color and easier to see. I started mine in January too ( I think). |
|
|
|
|
