BSFL gut loading and substrate???

[Sykou]

found a local source for some Black soldier fly larvae. Planning on feeding them along with crickets to my Cham.
A few questions....
What type of substrate is recommended for BSFL and what in the world do I feed them as a gut load? I have some "Cricket Crack" bought from a fellow member here.
I will be buying them in a 100 count if it makes a difference.

I do not intend to breed these, just want to make them healthy and last for the duration until they are eaten. Any help is appreciated.

 

[nick barta]

There are BSFL forums that will give you good ingredients, and show you all sorts of cool containers that have the larvae climb out of the food container into a catch receptacle. The food gets to be a smelly slurry, so it is nice not to dig through it, and many will tell you decomposing food for the BSF colony smells...better outside/garage.

CHEERS!

Nick

 

[Crashbandit05]

I keep my bsfl in coconut substrate, I think it's called eco earth or something. They seem to eat apples, banana, squash, etc. The only 'problem' is that they like spoiled food so it attracts fruit flies. I keep them in a small cricket keeper and the adult flies never seem to climb through the slots in the lid. I'm sure there are better/easier ways but this works for me.

 

[Sykou]

There are BSFL forums that will give you good ingredients, and show you all sorts of cool containers that have the larvae climb out of the food container into a catch receptacle. The food gets to be a smelly slurry, so it is nice not to dig through it, and many will tell you decomposing food for the BSF colony smells...better outside/garage.

CHEERS!

Nick

Hunting around other forums now. Thanks for the tip

 

[Sykou]

I keep my bsfl in coconut substrate, I think it's called eco earth or something. They seem to eat apples, banana, squash, etc. The only 'problem' is that they like spoiled food so it attracts fruit flies. I keep them in a small cricket keeper and the adult flies never seem to climb through the slots in the lid. I'm sure there are better/easier ways but this works for me.

I think I remember seeing that. It comes in a huge brick and you add water to expand it. Will flies be attracted to the larvae themselves? If I don't use rotting food, will I be able to avoid flies? In the house or outside is still up in the air.

 

[Crashbandit05]

I think I remember seeing that. It comes in a huge brick and you add water to expand it. Will flies be attracted to the larvae themselves? If I don't use rotting food, will I be able to avoid flies? In the house or outside is still up in the air.

No, they are not attracted to the larvae. I usually replace the food every few days or so to minimize the fruit flies but still let the food break down.. If you live where the weather is ideal, I'd definitely keep them outside. Or start your own compost, that opens up a whole other feeder selection.

 

[Sykou]

No, they are not attracted to the larvae. I usually replace the food every few days or so to minimize the fruit flies but still let the food break down.. If you live where the weather is ideal, I'd definitely keep them outside. Or start your own compost, that opens up a whole other feeder selection.

Gotcha. Other feeders? You got my attention....

 

[jajeanpierre]

No, they are not attracted to the larvae. I usually replace the food every few days or so to minimize the fruit flies but still let the food break down.. If you live where the weather is ideal, I'd definitely keep them outside. Or start your own compost, that opens up a whole other feeder selection.

I often raise them up to adults in the house. I will keep them in big tall deli cups with the fabric lids or mason jars with a paper towel instead of the metal cap--just screw the lid on over the paper towel. I don't ever feed them as larvae because they really LOVE the flies.

 

[nick barta]

Quad Queen,

Give us your recipe for food that doesn't stink in the house!

CHEERS!

Nick

 

[Peachypink]

I often raise them up to adults in the house. I will keep them in big tall deli cups with the fabric lids or mason jars with a paper towel instead of the metal cap--just screw the lid on over the paper towel. I don't ever feed them as larvae because they really LOVE the flies.

So, from the minute you get the larvae you don't feed them? I just ordered about 200 large BSFL and am wanting them to turn to flies. DZ loves the flies. I feed dubia, silk worms and hornworms too so the flies are the only thing he gets to hunt down. I have put them in a shoe box size container with pinholes for air. The last ones I had I fed a few times and just left them in the container they came in. Most turned but there were about maybe 10 that didn't, I'm pretty sure they kicked the bucket as I haven't seen any movement for a few weeks.

 

[jajeanpierre]

So, from the minute you get the larvae you don't feed them? I just ordered about 200 large BSFL and am wanting them to turn to flies. DZ loves the flies. I feed dubia, silk worms and hornworms too so the flies are the only thing he gets to hunt down. I have put them in a shoe box size container with pinholes for air. The last ones I had I fed a few times and just left them in the container they came in. Most turned but there were about maybe 10 that didn't, I'm pretty sure they kicked the bucket as I haven't seen any movement for a few weeks.

Yes, I feed them otherwise you get poorly nourished flies. Make sure there is enough humidity, too, or they will have crinkly wings.

When the larvae are ready to pupate, they crawl up the sides to find some dirt to bury themselves in. They get through incredibly small spaces, which is why I use things that have a perfect seal. They need air, so I use something like a paper towel screwed onto a mason jar. Don't underestimate their ability to crawl through the tiniest of openings. The first time I had them, in the house, I had them in a tote and they all escaped. I found hundreds in my pile of laundry--I lost about a pound of fly larvae in my house..... They roamed everywhere--the whole length of my house!--looking for a nice safe place to develop into flies. It was a BSF nightmare!

 

[Peachypink]

Yes, I feed them otherwise you get poorly nourished flies. Make sure there is enough humidity, too, or they will have crinkly wings.

When the larvae are ready to pupate, they crawl up the sides to find some dirt to bury themselves in. They get through incredibly small spaces, which is why I use things that have a perfect seal. They need air, so I use something like a paper towel screwed onto a mason jar. Don't underestimate their ability to crawl through the tiniest of openings. The first time I had them, in the house, I had them in a tote and they all escaped. I found hundreds in my pile of laundry--I lost about a pound of fly larvae in my house..... They roamed everywhere--the whole length of my house!--looking for a nice safe place to develop into flies. It was a BSF nightmare!

NASTY!! Thanks for the tip. I'm gonna go check on them right now!!

The bin I have has a locking lid and the holes I put in are needle small but I'm gonna really check it over!

 

[Sykou]

What is everyone feeding their BSFL? Cricket Crack? The usual veggies oats etc for gut loading crickets?

 

[jajeanpierre]

What is everyone feeding their BSFL? Cricket Crack? The usual veggies oats etc for gut loading crickets?

They eat fruit and vegetables. Think of your compost heap and that's what they like. They seem to love coffee grounds but I never feed them that once they are out of the compost heap because I don't think my chameleons need to eat coffee grounds or caffeine. I also throw in paper towels as they will hang end up in the damp paper towels and be a lot cleaner. They are composters--they eat rotten food. If I am feeding out larvae (the worms) I will feed them really fresh fruit or veggies. If I am growing them out to be flies, I let them eat rotting food. They are incredible composters, turning a compost bin full of fresh produce waste into black gold in weeks rather than the usual months.

 

[Sykou]

Do you rinse prior to feeding? Or just feed straight from the bin?

 

[Sykou]

Just got my hands on a dozen larvae. They don't look ready to pupate yet as they were pulled from the bin. Being that these guys were inside the rotting decaying food, should I wash them off prior to feeding? Or are they good to eat right from the compost bin?

 

[Sykou]

Any experienced soldier fly larvae feeders/farmers out there?