BSF

[jajeanpierre]

They might be able to climb out between the slats on the lid. If there is any humidity or moisture they can pretty much climb up anything and even stick to the underside of a lid and if there is a hole they will happily climb out

Thanks for your tips for raising them, JaxyGirl.

They will definitely get through the slats of a critter keeper. I think they can go through a slit less than 1/16th of an inch.

 

[Peachypink]

I really do like this thread. I keep a variety of feeders but just never thought to try and pupate anything and I've been keeping chams for years a other replies for years before that. I should have!

So the cricket keeper is out....good to know, lol.

 

[Gbetts1986]

Will they eat silk worm chow?

 

[JaxyGirl]

Ok. I put some kale in there, they didn't seem to keen on that. I got plenty of baby food though.

It will take forver for them to eat kale, spinach, etc. because there is too much cellulose for them to break down. It needs to be super soft. If you cook the kale they could eat it. If you put an apple or a patatoe in there they won't eat the peal.

 

[JaxyGirl]

Fruits are high in phosphorus and this cancels out calcium. Try feeding small amounts of organic baby food, lightly blanched greens, frozen/thawed produce, and baby cereal, and other soft foods, including, but with small amounts of fruit.

Actually that's not true regarding fruits w phosp canceling out calcium. Soldier Fly Larvae are natural composters that can virtually eat anything including manure. No matter what you feed them they still produce tons of calcium with a perfect calcium to phosphorus ratio.

 

[JaxyGirl]

Will they eat silk worm chow?

Yes they will eat silkworm chow. Make sure it is slightly moist.

 

[JaxyGirl]

Black Soldier Flies (the flying adults) can't be gutloaded because they dont eat. They don't have mouth parts like regular flies. They live to breed which is 5-10 days. All the nutrition comes from the larvae stage.
However the flies will drink so if you mist them with water it can slightly prolong their life.

 

[jpowell86]

Black Soldier Flies (the flying adults) can't be gutloaded because they dont eat. They don't have mouth parts like regular flies. They live to breed which is 5-10 days. All the nutrition comes from the larvae stage.
However the flies will drink so if you mist them with water it can slightly prolong their life.

Thanks for sharing all your info! That is awesome of you!

Funny, the times I have let them pupate...I get nothing. I placed some larvae in a dish for a young veiled last year. I thought she ate them all. Apparently she just knocked them over. I had BSF everywhere in the enclosure the next week. When I try nothing....when I don't try...success.!! Lol.

 

[Extensionofgreen]

Actually that's not true regarding fruits w phosp canceling out calcium. Soldier Fly Larvae are natural composters that can virtually eat anything including manure. No matter what you feed them they still produce tons of calcium with a perfect calcium to phosphorus ratio.

I agree that the feeder's calcium to phosphorus ratio will not change, but the gut contents will cancel out some the available ration of calcium, if it is high in fruit. It may be negligible and not of real concern, but if fruit alone were used heavily as a gutload and significant amount of the diet were BSF, I suspect it would make an impact.

 

[JaxyGirl]

Thanks for sharing all your info! That is awesome of you!

Funny, the times I have let them pupate...I get nothing. I placed some larvae in a dish for a young veiled last year. I thought she ate them all. Apparently she just knocked them over. I had BSF everywhere in the enclosure the next week. When I try nothing....when I don't try...success.!! Lol.

Lol! The larvae are super hardy especially after they reach the pre pupa stage. They can withstand high temps and lack of moisture. Their needs are pretty simple.