Superworm Breeding Questions!

[Nicholasdeaan]

My superworms that I'm currently trying to get to pupate are at the stage right now where they seem dead. What do you do next when they hit this stage? Anyone who's successfully bred they guys before??

 

[absolutbill]

Have you separated the superworms out from the rest of them? They will turn into "aliens", and look whitish almost like a cocoon. After about a week or so like that they will hatch into beetles. From that point put the beetles into a new container with bedding, water, food, and some egg crates and let them go. They will breed like crazy, lay eggs in the substrate and then those will hatch into tiny baby superworms. When you start seeing them hatch you can just move all the beetles into a new container to let those worms and eggs hatch and grow. Good luck!

 

[Nicholasdeaan]

Have you separated the superworms out from the rest of them? They will turn into "aliens", and look whitish almost like a cocoon. After about a week or so like that they will hatch into beetles. From that point put the beetles into a new container with bedding, water, food, and some egg crates and let them go. They will breed like crazy, lay eggs in the substrate and then those will hatch into tiny baby superworms. When you start seeing them hatch you can just move all the beetles into a new container to let those worms and eggs hatch and grow. Good luck!

They don't look quite like you described yet! Will the beetles use the same bedding as the worms? I hope they breed and hatch like crazy!

 

[urawrath]

can you take a picture so we can see what you mean? Breeding Supers is quite easy once you've done one run through soon you will have thousands breeding like crazy! Yes they can use the same bedding. I keep my beetles and worms on oats

 

[Nicholasdeaan]

Yes I can! Just a moment.

 

[Nicholasdeaan]

It did so as soon as I moved them some where dark and where. I have fresh veggies on top of the bedding to keep them hydrated and moist.

 

[urawrath]

Do you have them separated into their own tiny containers? Superworms are different from mealworms when breeding super have to be separated and removed from their food source they will not pupate in large groups. look at post #6 https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/superworm-breeding.108749/
Here is a video explaining everything also, Hope this helps.

 

[Nicholasdeaan]

So if I'm understanding this, separate them without bedding, place them some where dark and warm, and then they'll pupate correct? I'm a fishing nut I've got piles and piles of tackles boxes that would be perfect for this!

 

[urawrath]

Correct and thats what I use. I place them in the closet where they wont get disturbed much

 

[Nicholasdeaan]

I just grabbed an empty tackle box and am placing them in it in their own slots. How often should I check on them?

 

[urawrath]

i check mine only like once a week

 

[Nicholasdeaan]

Alright. I got them set up. Then once they pupate put them back into their substrate?

 

[wodesorel]

They will breed like crazy, lay eggs in the substrate and then those will hatch into tiny baby superworms.

This. This is where mine crashed. I had 36 beetles in a bin and they were breeding like crazy but it's been two months and no baby superworms??

 

[MSMorgan]

Yes, once they pupate into beetles, put them into a substrate of wheat bran or blended/ ground oats with a moisture source and food such as carrots (something that doesn't mold easily) From there they will breed and lay eggs. You can pull the beetles every two weeks +/- and then put the beetles into a new container to continue breeding. Make sure you keep the carrots fresh in the original bin, so the newly hatched supers have something to eat/have a moisture source. You can do a google search or Youtube search on breeding supers and get a lot of advice, plus a step by step video.

 

[MSMorgan]

This. This is where mine crashed. I had 36 beetles in a bin and they were breeding like crazy but it's been two months and no baby superworms??

Ah, the beetles may have eaten the eggs. Next time, pull them after about 2 weeks. Keep the "egg bin" (no beetles) at about 80* and put in carrots for moisture/ nutrition. You should see the substrate start to "wiggle" in the next week or so once pulling the beetles. The "wiggle" is/are the micro supers hatching out and moving around.

 

[Nicholasdeaan]

Yes, once they pupate into beetles, put them into a substrate of wheat bran or blended/ ground oats with a moisture source and food such as carrots (something that doesn't mold easily) From there they will breed and lay eggs. You can pull the beetles every two weeks +/- and then put the beetles into a new container to continue breeding. Make sure you keep the carrots fresh in the original bin, so the newly hatched supers have something to eat/have a moisture source. You can do a google search or Youtube search on breeding supers and get a lot of advice, plus a step by step video.

This was all very helpful! I appreciate you taking the time to explain thoroughly how to properly breed! You should write a blog on breeding them. I'll let you know how it goes and if the beetles end up pupating. I'll be glad, it would save me money and trips to the store and/or ordering them.

 

[MSMorgan]

This was all very helpful! I appreciate you taking the time to explain thoroughly how to properly breed! You should write a blog on breeding them. I'll let you know how it goes and if the beetles end up pupating. I'll be glad, it would save me money and trips to the store and/or ordering them.

Glad I could help. I believe there is already a blog on breeding them, although I can't remember who has it. I tried to attach a vid of the "wiggle" I'm talking about, but when I try to upload, it won't. Maybe to big. I'll inquire.

 

[wodesorel]

It was about 2 weeks when I moved them to a second bin. I wasn't even thinking about them eating the eggs, but of having staggered harvests. It's been nada.