Mites in superworm oats

[Chameleman22]

Hey all,

I was just cleaning out the bin of oats I keep super worms in and discovered a ton of mites living amongst them. I was wondering if this is something to be concerned about? And if so, what should I do?

Thanks!

 

[Lindasjackson]

I think I would get rid of the oats and mites and start over.

 

[kinyonga]

Why are you using oats in with the superworms?

 

[Chameleman22]

Why are you using oats in with the superworms?

Helps to cut down on any smell, provides a substrate for the worms to live in, and it’s also a good food source for them. Plus it’s super cheap

 

[nightanole]

Sorry you are doomed. Release the horde into the wild and start over. Its really hard to get rid of them, and takes weeks with hours worth of work, to save like $15 in worms...

 

[Thatwizard420]

take the worms out and microwave the oats
Before adding oats always microwave them

 

[nightanole]

Helps to cut down on any smell, provides a substrate for the worms to live in, and it’s also a good food source for them. Plus it’s super cheap

Bran is a better choice, mainly because you dont get "grain" flies and mites. Also if you have horses nearby, non pearled barely works too.

 

[Chameleman22]

Sorry you are doomed. Release the horde into the wild and start over. Its really hard to get rid of them, and takes weeks with hours worth of work, to save like $15 in worms...

Rip lol, why are they bad though?

 

[nightanole]

take the worms out and microwave the oats
Before adding oats always microwave them

Got confused, microwaved worms before putting them in fresh oats

 

[Chameleman22]

Bran is a better choice, mainly because you dont get "grain" flies and mites. Also if you have horses nearby, non pearled barely works too.

Didn’t know that, thanks! Just been getting oats from bulk barn, but I’m sure they’ve got bran too

 

[Thatwizard420]

Got confused, microwaved worms before putting them in fresh oats

Lol. my English is broken today

 

[kinyonga]

Oatmeal is not really a good source of food for them...greens, veggies are better for them. Oats contain phytates which bind the calcium and other nutrients and make them useless for the chameleon.

 

[nightanole]

Rip lol, why are they bad though?

Its fine (buit gross) to keep them as is, but they will never breed now. Mites in a "meal worm" colony is a death sentence, dead men walking. In a super not so much, but they will never reproduce, the mites will kill and eat all eggs.

 

[Chameleman22]

Not really a good source of food for them...greens, veggies are better for them. Oats contain phytates which bind the calcium and other nutrients and make them useless for the chameleon.

I give em fresh carrots, and dark greens every other day

 

[jamest0o0]

Oatmeal is not really a good source of food for them...greens, veggies are better for them. Oats contain phytates which bind the calcium and other nutrients and make them useless for the chameleon.

Yup, along with bran and other grains/corn.

mites are harmless, just gross. No need to panic

 

[TayloredExotics]

Mites won't hurt the bugs, but can cause irritation in large enough quantities. Pea flour kills grain mites, though you need it to make up roughly 10% of the mix. Your best bet is to microwave and toss.the current substrate, then move the worms to a new one of your choice. As mentioned above, many of the typical grain substrates are counter indicted with nutrient binding, so keep that in mind. Supers do fine with a coco coir substrate and fresh veggies laid on top

 

[jamest0o0]

Mites won't hurt the bugs, but can cause irritation in large enough quantities. Pea flour kills grain mites, though you need it to make up roughly 10% of the mix. Your best bet is to microwave and toss.the current substrate, then move the worms to a new one of your choice. As mentioned above, many of the typical grain substrates are counter indicted with nutrient binding, so keep that in mind. Supers do fine with a coco coir substrate and fresh veggies laid on top

What do they irritate? Not that I disagree, just curious

 

[TayloredExotics]

I guess I shouldn't say they do, only that they can. There are studies that show common hissers decline when their mite populations explode, as they can cause irritation in the spaces between the exoskeleton plates. They also cause death when an overwhelming number of mites begin to clog the 'pores' (I forget the actual term) through which roaches breathe. To be more correct, I should say high mite populations have the potential to cause irritation

 

[Snuits]

Can I put bsfl in bran as well?

 

[Snuits]

Also is it wheat bran or oat bran?