Growing Mealworms
If you own pets such as birds and reptiles, you no doubt feed them mealworms. Mealworms can become
pretty expensive when you have to purchase them at pet stores every few days. It is much more economical
to raise them yourself, and are very easy to breed.
Here are some easy tips to raising mealworms at home.
Housing
· Make sure you have a plastic container big enough to house them, for they multiply pretty quickly. One with
a removable lid works best, making sure to poke holes in the top so they can breath. You can also use a
plastic aquarium.
· Depending on your preference, if you would like to watch them, chose a clear container. Otherwise, a
colored or opaque one will work just as well.
· Build a base by adding substrate, which is a material where they will thrive.
· Substrate can be made out of equal measures of wheat bran and oats, or whole wheat flour & dry powdered
milk.
· Fill the bottom about two inches deep.
· No special lighting is needed
· Keep the container out of direct sunlight but in a warm area, between 60-80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Food
· Peel and slice a potato into large chunks.
· Scatter them on top of the substrate.
· The potato keeps the substrate from drying out, as well as provide nourishment for the mealworms.
· Replace the potato pieces every few days, or if they begin to get moldy.
Welcome home
· After purchasing the mealworms from the pet store, simply put them in the tank and let them make
themselves at home.
· Mealworms will populate the tank pretty quickly and mature into an adult beetle.
· As the beetles breed, they lay eggs which are the baby mealworms.
You should wait about 4 weeks before starting to feed your pet the mealworms, allowing them time to
populate the tank or container. Patience will create a mealworm colony that is strong and plentiful. Remove
the adult beetles from the colony after they die, which shouldn't be very long, as they only live about two
weeks when fully grown.
Make sure you replace the potato and add more substrate or they will starve. To be hygienic, it would be
wise to dump the whole mixture of substrate and start fresh about every 12 months.Raising mealworms is a
fun project to do with your kids and doesn't require a lot of time or supervision. They are a fun and
economical way to feed your pet.
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