Keeping and Raising Mealworms
Regular or King mealwormsI decided to create this page because I'm often asked how to keep and breed regular and king mealworms. The following information is a compilation of how I keep and breed these insects, and how others have told me that they keep and breed these insects. You may ask "Why would anyone want to keep, let alone breed, mealworms?" Well when you consider that both regular and king mealworms are very easy to keep, and that most species of reptiles or amphibians will eat them, then it just simply makes sense that you would want to keep some on hand to feed your herps, and if you are successful at breeding them you might just save yourself a lot of money too. :) Regular Mealworms - Tenibrio MolitorI call them regular mealworms, you may just call them mealworms, but if you really want to be sure that we are talking of the same type of insect- lets call them by their Latin name- Tenebrio Molitor. The larvae of the Tenebrio is most commonly used to feed to a wide variety of reptiles and amphibians, and birds kept in captivity. You can purchase Tenebrio in the pet store or by mail order. The larvae are about an inch long, and they are a golden yellow colour. Mealworms are the larvae of the darkling beetle. Darkling beetles undergo complete metamorphosis, and have an egg, larva, pupa and beetle stage. The female beetle lays 500 to 1000 bean shaped white eggs. These are seldom seen because they are sticky and rapidly become coated in substrate. Eggs hatch in about one week but the larva are very small so it may take a few weeks before the larvae are large enough to be seen well. As a larva grows it moults several times- shedding its exoskeleton. After a period of approx 3 months the larvae eventually becomes a pupa. The pupa stage lasts about two weeks. The beetle that eventually emerges from the pupa is a light beige, darkening to red, brown, and finally black after about two days. Keeping and Breeding TenebrioWhen you purchase Tenebrio from the pet store you may be instructed to keep them in the refrigerator. You may do this if you like- but the growth of the larvae will slow down and you will likely never be able to breed the mealworms while they are in the fridge. :) Also, if the mealworms are kept at room temperature they will eat, and if you feed them a good diet you can be sure that your pet is getting a nutritious meal when you feed him the mealworms. :) Here is how I keep and breed mine:
Keeping and breeding (Zophobas) King MealwormsKeeping King mealworms is very similar to keeping Tenebrio at room temperature. Please follow items 1-5 as above except that if you will be keeping large quantities of mealworms on hand you may want to use a deeper tupperware or rubbermaid container. :) Breeding them is, however, a different story. :) Here is how I breed mine:
SuppliersHere is a link to a web site that lists cricket suppliers The information is organized in table form and it's very easy to compare prices, shipping charges, and other ordering information. Mealworms, superworms, etc. are also listed. is: Mail- order insect suppliers.
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Bug Books
This book is a guide for owners of reptiles and amphibians who feed insects and other live foods to their pets. Advice is offered for selecting , ordering and raising your own supply of live invertebrate foods. More than a dozen species of live foods are discussed. The book includes instructions on keeping cultures of insects, and recipes & diets for insects.
Countless pets are poisoned each year, either suffering a sudden illness or death or encountering toxins on a daily basis that erode their health slowly and shorten their lifespan. This helpful guide tells how to guard against both kinds of poisoning and explains how to identify and remove such causes as cleaning products, paint and varnish, fumes, certain houseplants, and more.
A quick reference guide written for veterinary practitioners and students featuring complete information on animal exposure to toxins in common and uncommon situations. Murphy (toxicology, U. of Minnesota) supplies treatment regimes, and one to two page summaries of each toxin's attributes, diagnosis, and treatment. The guide also provides extensive bibliographic materials, and resource listings that include veterinary diagnostic laboratories and poison control centers in every state. Water Dragon Books
Basic but detailed information about the care, diet, and health of green water dragons, sailfin lizards and basilisks.
Discussion of the general care of many species of anole, basilisks and water dragons. Excellent information regarding enclosures, cage building, and insect care and breeding.
This book is a guide for owners of reptiles and amphibians who feed insects and other live foods to their pets. Advice is offered for selecting , ordering and raising your own supply of live invertebrate foods. More than a dozen species of live foods are discussed. The book includes instructions on keeping cultures of insects, and recipes & diets for insects. |
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Eat This
Bug : A Guide to Invertebrate Live Foods for Reptiles and Amphibians by Lynn
Davis 
Are You Poisoning Your
Pets?: A Guidebook to How Our Lifestyles Affect the Health of Our Pets
A Field Guide
to Common Animal Poisons 
Green Water Dragons,
Sailfin Lizards and Basilisks (General Care and Maintenance of Series) by
Philippe De Vosjoli
Anoles, Basilisks and
Water Dragons : A Complete Pet Care Manual (More Complete Pet Owner's Manuals)
by Richard D. Bartlett, Patricia P. Bartlett (Contributor)