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Old 01-30-2014, 04:47 PM   #31
DrKMcK
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Default Re: I don't know what to do.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Pollaay! View Post
I know you've decided to set up a breeding tanks, but for anyone else who might be reading:

The beetles are fine to feed to your reptile
Most won't eat them in large amounts though, they're not as tasty as mealworms (apparently )

Also for breeding, I would stick a heat mat to half of the back of the tank. They need warmth to breed and a deep layer of bran flakes usually gets them breeding well.
They can be fed any vegetable scraps, dog biscuits, cat biscuits, cereals, non-acidic fruit such as apple, strawberry etc. and don't put water in, no matter how shallow the bowl is they always manage to drown themselves. Put slices of carrot in instead

Don't mist the cage, the bran will get mouldy & they won't breed. Don't let any of the food get mouldy, the bugs smell bad enough as it is lol!

I started off with about 20 mealworms & now have around 200 beetles breeding. Supplying food for my bearded dragons & chameleons I regularly chuck a few beetles in as food for the reps, keeps the numbers down so I don't get over run. The beetles will also kill each other, then eat the body. If you notice that your numbers are decreasing then give them some crusts off of bread & a few more bits of dry dog food.

Oh & try to separate the beetles from the mealworms, the mealies just love to devour their parents. :/

Hope I've helped!

Xx
Holy Smokes! You do know your stuff! Great info for anyone who wants to do this. I can definitely see this as keeping food costs down for the other pets. Who knew?
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Old 01-30-2014, 05:07 PM   #32
Colby and the Dwarfs
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Default Re: I don't know what to do.

Awwwwww, thanks guys! There's an expert on HC for everything, I love it! My little guys are doing fine, they love the big open space! Oh and Pollaay! my gecko has overbite and other mouth problems and can't eat anything she has to chase as she has no aim and misses when she pounces every time I will put a heater in tonight, I'm so excited! Thank you soooooo much!
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Old 01-30-2014, 06:02 PM   #33
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Default Re: I don't know what to do.

Colby! Your back!
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Old 01-30-2014, 06:50 PM   #34
coolhamster044
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Default Re: I don't know what to do.

Hi I would put in Dirt,Twigs,and Leaves and put in some water and vegetation.
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Old 01-30-2014, 07:22 PM   #35
Colby and the Dwarfs
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Default Re: I don't know what to do.

So I just found out my iPad skipped like ten posts... So I didn't see a bunch of what people put! Celmoy, slatted, chinese, I can't feed them to my gecko. The mealies death is quick and painless, my other option for these beetles was to let them freeze to death, which I imagine is slow and painful. And I agree with just killing bugs for just killing them is cruel. Mio NEEDS these mealworms. She would DIE if she didn't have them, and she is my pet and I adore her and I will do ANYTHING so she can live as I love her with all of my heart my soul and my mind as she is my "baby"! Also geckos can't see things that don't move so she would die without the live food

And Basil don't worry, I'll always come back! Just been busy lately
And thanks coolhamster044, I'll go get some twigs tomorrow
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Old 01-30-2014, 09:06 PM   #36
NewHammiMom2014
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Default Re: I don't know what to do.

lol this post reminds me that I have mealworms in my fridge for my baby turtles.. lol out they go tomorrow in the tank.
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Old 01-30-2014, 11:13 PM   #37
HollyHamster
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Default Re: I don't know what to do.

With what has already been said, darkling beetles, the species of beetle that a mealworm is a larvae of will mate and lay eggs too small to see with the naked eye. These eggs will hatch and the newly hatched larvae are called mealworms.
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Old 02-01-2014, 04:52 PM   #38
Pollaay!
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Default Re: I don't know what to do.

Ooh another thing I thought of today:

I have a 8/9 year old bearded dragon who can't see very well as he's blind in one eye. I put his big in the freezer for about 5 minutes, then take them out & pop them into a bowl in his viv or feed direct via tongs.
Freezing the bugs makes them fall asleep & then when they are put into the warm viv they are a LOT slower & easier to see/catch
Sometimes I get really sad thinking I've kept the bugs in the freezer too long & killed them all... But after 10 minutes or so they are all alive & kicking lol!

This works well for crickets, locusts & Dubia cockroaches as well (:

Just thought I'd post this if anyone else happens to have disabled lizards lol! xx
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