Getting at least two (three, if you want to start a very large colony) is essential because you’ll need to separate the beetles from the larvae a few weeks into the process. If you fail to separate them, they will eat one another. Do not use wooden containers, as mealworms are able to eat through these.
Depending on the needs of the pet you are feeding, you can add bone meal, cricket chow or other ingredients to change the nutritional profile of the mealworms.
If you don’t mind waiting a few months for new mealworms, you can start with as few as 150 mealworms.
A heated garage or basement would be the optimal place to keep your mealworms. You can buy a heater to use near the containers to keep the temperature steady for your mealworms. If you keep the mealworms too chilly, they won’t reproduce. Mealworms prefer a little bit of humidity in their environment—just make sure it isn’t too humid, or else fungi might begin to grow. You can get a humidity meter online to help maintain a good balance.
Change out the cut vegetables if they appear to get moldy. Keep the temperature stable at 70 to 75 °F (21 to 24 °C). Remove dead mealworms or beetles and discard them. [6] X Research source
Prepare the second container by lining it with 2–3 inches (5. 1–7. 6 cm) of substrate. Pick out the beetles and pupae by hand and place them in the new container. Use gloves if you want to. The beetles won’t bite and rarely fly. Put a few slices of carrots or potatoes in the second container, then cover.
You can store mealworms in the refrigerator to make them keep longer if you want to set some aside for feeding your pets.
