superworm bedding...

[ChamOh]

what is the (sawdust like) material that superworms come in from the pet store? Will superworm beatles eat this?

Additionally, can superworm beatles fly or climb? thanks

 

[ghettomike]

i know that when i buy supers here they come in oatmeal that they do eat. I usually give them a carrot or somethin for some hydration. Im not sure about their climbing/flying abilities.

 

[boj3434]

I just go to the store and get wheat germ but I know you can use a few otehr simialr things

 

[yoza717]

Wheat Bran... You can buy it at any feed store cheap. (50 lb bag is $12) you only need 1 to 2 pounds for a big tub. Some store will sell by the pound (usually 50 cent /lbs).

As far as beetles, I never seen one fly. I keep mine in several shoe box size plastic tubs with a vented cover. Each colony has about 10 beetles and I move the beetles to a new plastic tub once I see mini worms moving in the bottom of the tub and start a new batch. When the worms get to a size of a small meal worm, I move them to a larger tub.

 

[kinyonga]

I have a "colony" of superworms living in one of my turtle cages. Its self-sustaining. I have an old piece of rotting wood in there for them...they seem to like it. I feed the turtles fresh greens, veggies, etc. which the superworms also eat. If I dig through the soil, I find the white pupae and I see the dark beetles sometimes too, so I know the cycle continues there. I have seen the odd beetle flying around the room where the turtles are...but not often.

(I also have a cricket "colony" in my prehensile tailed anole's cage. Since I rarely have to add crickets to the cage, I dust the greens and veggies with the supplements to make sure the anole gets his supplements. He's been with me for over 10 years now, so it must be working!)

 

[iLik3LIzards]

they can fly and they can climb, but they generally wont if theres enough food.

 

[mc9423]

I have a "colony" of superworms living in one of my turtle cages. Its self-sustaining. I have an old piece of rotting wood in there for them...they seem to like it. I feed the turtles fresh greens, veggies, etc. which the superworms also eat. If I dig through the soil, I find the white pupae and I see the dark beetles sometimes too, so I know the cycle continues there. I have seen the odd beetle flying around the room where the turtles are...but not often.

(I also have a cricket "colony" in my prehensile tailed anole's cage. Since I rarely have to add crickets to the cage, I dust the greens and veggies with the supplements to make sure the anole gets his supplements. He's been with me for over 10 years now, so it must be working!)

How do you get worms to pupate while they're together?

 

[jojackson]

The worms will naturally pupate given the right conditions, IE something to burrow in, like soil. Have never had mine pupate in the oats but the occasional few homer misses do burrow into the plant soil and pupate naturally.
I have not encountered the beetles flying or climbing smooth surfaces yet, but they have wings, so when in rome..

 

[kinyonga]

There is deep soil in the turtle cage...I don't do anything...in the environment of the cage substrate it just happens.

 

[chrisw]

Everything I've read about superworms says they won't pupate when together but need to be separated. Find some small plastic cups and put one worm in each cup - you should use hard plastic not dixie cups. A small blue plastic cup like you might buy a jello shooter in...(not that I even know what those are. In each cup add a small amount of bran. cover the cups with a piece of cardboard. you can layout a bunch of cups and cover them all with a single "top". Anyway - once separated they will pupate in a week or so - maybe two. Some will die. I'm pretty sure that superworms don't eat the wheat bran bedding - they just burrow in it but providing a piece of apple or potato allows them to get moisture. I would not try and add potato to the individual cups - too much of a risk of mold. But big groups of superworms need moisture or they'll eat each other for it. Once they pupate, move them all into a tupperware container with a lid. They will emerge as black beetles, mate, lay eggs and die. I have not done this in years but i think i used wheat bran as a substrate for the beetles as well. you can find it in feed stores or in the grocery store next to the oatmeal - or in the baking aisle maybe next to the muffin or cake mixes. The eggs will hatch in a couple of months and temps need to be 70 degrees or so. Don't let the bran get wet or it will grow some funky mold. Try it once just to say you did it. Bit of an effort and you'll need extra room. might be more worth it if you have multiple chams. good luck

 

[kinyonga]

You said..."Everything I've read about superworms says they won't pupate when together but need to be separated"...well then, they must be getting enough space in my large turtle cage to feel separate.