(09-04-2012, 12:06 AM)Ram Wrote: Mealworm is a common live food used in feeding pet birds and reptiles. They are quite available from many places. However they have a limited usefulness before they turn into their adult form - mealworm beetle.
For those people who have used mealworm quite often, how long before your mealworms turn into beetles?
What can you do to slow their growth without reduce their nutritious value?
What are some warning signs that the worms will start to turn?
What do you do with the mealworm beetles?
By the way in your opinion, are canned mealworms as good as live mealworms? They claim to be better than freeze dried which I know it's not as good as live worms.
i actually have a mealworm colony going at the moment, i started with adult worms, but it takes a few weeks until they even reach a large enough size to turn into beetles. i havent noticed any warning signs though, one day theyre worms, the next their pupae...then in a couple days, you got a beetle! the beetles can then be fed off, or kept in the colony to keep the life cycle going  unlike crickets, the beetles will not eat their young..i feed mine oatmeal and carrots :3
the mealworms can be kept in the fridge to slow their growth..they last a long time in there lol. not sure about the canned worms though, ive always used live.
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How long before mealworms turn into beetles?
