Okay this is the second time I have bred mealworms. Those things do alot of shedding. With that said, and not to disturb the eggs is there any solution to make cleaning the sheddings any easier? I don't want to disturb the eggs, but I am wondering if there is an easier way to take care of these mealworm sheddings. Suggestions. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/agree.gif" alt="" />

Also I have been told that mealworms can be froze. If I were to freeze the mealies so that I could use them later would I be able to breed them so that I don't have a mealie lapse, or would they just be used for eating purposes?

I think if you freeze the mealies it kills them and they only can be used for feeding...

When I have too many sheddings to easily pick out with the tweezers, I just take the container outside and blow on it. The skins are so light, they just float away. However, if it's windy, blow downwind or you'll be covered. HTH, Ann & girls <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/littleglider.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/littleglider.gif" alt="" />

Wildernest you just crack me up. I never thought of blowing on the skins, and had you not said that I would have had skins all over me. The hubby and the kids would have laughed first, asked questions later.

Maybe I should just fridge the mealies huh? Then let them breed about 2 weeks after the other mealies so that I have a constand supply. I hate running out. My littles ones look at their dish like 'ma where's the mealies'. Then I have to go get more, and they aren't as healthy.

Blowing on them is deffinately the best way to solve the problem like wildernesst said. The best thing in my opinion is to buy in bulk and then freeze them. I don't know how many suggies you have but with my two I buy 1000 and freeze them and they last for months!

I blow on the sheddings too. Question since your a mealie breeder...how long does it take for a mealie to turn into a moth? Do I just let it sit out? When the mealies shed do some of them turn white?

If it is turning to a moth it is not a mealworm!

mealworms turn into beetles. Gradually their turn colors until they turn black, and then are mature. From my understanding the males are generally smaller than the females. I used to look in the bin and think that they were cute, now I am looking at them for food......singing to them didn't last for long.

I only have a few. Most of my gliders are males. I leave all my mealies out for fresh feeding. Well now I am running out and trying to find a better way. Plus last time when I started seeing sheddings I flushed the rest of the beetles down the potty. I thought that they would eat the eggs and didn't think to ask.

Now I see that I have more then enough. So I am wondering how to maintain the mealies all the time without having a lapse. Will refridgerating them work. Once they come out of there will they still be able to breed? That might be the best option for me. I don't like pet stores as the mealies just aren't as healthy.

i had 6 mealworm beetles in the little container.. they all have died the other day..so i fished them out and tossed them in trash...and waited and waited... now i see bunch of little babies.. so tiny barely able to see them... good advices on the skin removal ... i probably would be needing to do that as the mealworms get bigger..now... how long does it takes before the mealworms are the size that one buy to feed the sugar gliders and lizard???

sometimes today or tomarrow im going to get me them ziplock container and fix up another farm and get another farm going so i can make sure i have constant supply...

im going try do the same for waxworms.. what does waxworms turn into??

i am not going to buy superworms again for long time .. at least not til the sugar gliders get a little older... cause they didn't eat the ones i have them, i think they were as scared of them as i was :-) but fortunally they didn't go to waste cause i gave what left of the superworms i had in the container to the rats ... now, they love them!

The waxworms turn to moths i believe.

I remember seeing something about this at www.Wormman.com where there was an explanation about how to get the worms separated from the sheddings - I think you had to make 'em into a mountain and shine a bright light. You might check that website. It was very informational about raising mealies.

Alright you all got me good today. I had more sheddings so I went to blow on the sheddings in a downward angle so that I wouldn't get any on me. Up went the wind and it got all over me......

It worked...those sheddings were light. I had them all over me, and I laughed so hard I almost dropped my mealworm bin on the ground I laughed so hard.