Have you ever had this happen before?

[HollyHamster]

So, I was spot cleaning Celeste's cage when I notice a darkling beetle scurrying around as I disturbed the bedding. This isn't the first time I've noticed a darkling beetle living in Celeste's cage. Apparently, whenever I feed Celeste a few mealworms, she eats the first two or so, and hoards the other one ( I don't squish their heads when I feed them, and never had a problem with them biting the inside of a hamster's cheek pouches either).

So, the mealworm is hoarded alive and then apparently, feeds off of the seeds and other bits of foodstuff in Celeste's hoard til it pupates and turns into a darkling beetle and I see it scurrying around (I then pick it up and put it in the mealworm colony I have going). I am thinking of only feeding one or two to her from now on so this doesn't happen anymore.

Have you ever had this happen before?

[velma]

No, I only feed dried mealworms & that's bad enough so can I just say ewwww!

[SpaceMouse]

I'm terrified of insects and don't feed my ham live mealworm for this reason.

[velma]

I'm super squeamish so the though of finding anything alive.... Argh! I have to brace myself to handle the dead mealworms

[Pebbles82]

Eek! I'm still trying to pluck up the courage to handle dried ones.

[HollyHamster]

Maybe I'm just bold and brave as live mealworms and adult darkling beetles aren't disgusting to me.

[Piebald]

Mealworms are creepy. And what a terrible name! Lol.
You have your very own colony?
I'm intrigued now. How do you manage that?

[HollyHamster]

It's quite simple, really. Just keep them on wheat bran and toss in a carrot, lettuce or some slices of potato. They practically grow themselves.

[Pebbles82]

Holly has a link under her signature! Her Micro Farm.

[Dwarf hamster lover]

No, I haven't have this happened before because I fed Twichy( on occasion) a cricket. Sometimes he doesn't even know it's there. He once sat on it!