Breeding Mealworms for Leos

[Jay_Bunny]

I was wondering how many of you breed mealworms for your leopard geckos. Also what is the best set-up to breed them?

Would a drawer system work? I could get a cheap one at walmart and seperate the stages.

Basically, what do I feed them? How do I provide water? ect.

[mlededee]

mealworms are super simple to breed. i'll refer you to this post by april for instructions: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showp...89&postcount=4.

[Jay_Bunny]

Thanks. Just set up the larva 'tub'. Its a little plastic container about as big as a large cereal bowl. Filled it with oats, semi-crushed cheerios, bran flakes, and slices of strawberry for moisture.

I can't wait till I get my drawers in a few weeks. So then I can seperate the stages.

[Flagg]

I just started the breeding attempt a month or so back. I'm using 3 sterilite shoebox tubs.
It took a couple weeks for the mealworms to pupate, and a couple more to turn into beetles. I've got a lot at all 3 stages now, but no new larva noticed as of yet. I've had the earliest beetles for 2 weeks now I think.

The majority seem to be in pupal stage right now.

[Jay_Bunny]

I just got my mealworms on Sunday, so no pupae (sp) at this time. They love the move to the new bowl. More room and more stuff to burrow into. And they love the strawberry. I'll be switching out the fruit every day to every other day to something different to give them variation.

[Flagg]

I would worry about mold with strawberries.

I use slices of carrot, which is convenient since my rats get fresh carrots every day or 2.

[Jay_Bunny]

I will be removing the strawberries every 1-2 days so there is no mold. Any pieces of food that start to mold will be tossed out and replaced. If I start to get a serious mold problem, all food will be tossed and replaced.

[Jay_Bunny]

Ok, I got a three drawer system for the mealies. There are a few problems though.

A) There are small gaps at the top of each drawer. While I know the mealworms can't climb the slick sides to get out, I'm worried that ants or other insects could crawl IN. I had an ant problem a week or so ago when I set up my new 10g tank for my molly fry. After setting down some ant traps, I don't really see any more ants, but I'm still worried.

B) The drawers do not lock into the frame. My cats have learned how to open these types of drawers and I need to figure out a way to keep them shut. I was thinking of drilling small holes in each of the 'handles' and the bar going across the top of the drawer and using either some kind of small chain (like on those fake metal necklaces) or somthing like that. String would just entice my cats to play with it and it is cut too easily.

Other than that, I'm very excited to be starting my own mealworm 'farm'.

[RichardA]

I have been breeding mealies for quite some time now.....I do not bother with separating the stages.....they go like rabbits anyway......LOL

[Jay_Bunny]

I got my first pupa. I have it in a seperate drawer with no substrate. Should I do anything with it? Or just let it sit there. I'm going to check tonight for any more.