BSF care

[Rampagingraptor]

So we have some Black soldier fly larvae coming in today, and I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on storage and/or care for them. Is there anything I can do to prevent them from changing longer?
Also, if they require a certain degree of cold to prevent transformation, the only things I have are a fridge and a freezer.

 

[CooperDragon]

They like to be kept cool. If you keep them in their container in a basement or in a cool area (50s, 60s,) then they should last for several weeks. There is more info about there care available here http://www.phoenixworm.com/pages/faq

 

[Ed707]

From what I read on another post they need a dry area to morph into flies so if you keep the substrate semi wet (not soaked) they shouldn't change. Keeping them at 55 degrees or so makes them last awhile

 

[Rampagingraptor]

Thanks for the help. I didn't think I had a cooler, but apparently I do. Should be able to use that just fine.
Edit: Apparently these ones came in dirt. Should I take them out, and is there something I should do to remove the dirt easily?

 

[Ed707]

No leave them in the dirt while there on chill... to feed you can take them out and rinse then let dry on a paper towel if your worried about the substrate being ingested by your lizard... or you can just throw them on a paper towel straight out of the bin and let them warm up and wiggle the dirt off... I do the first... they will climb stuff if they are wet but not if there dry

 

[z0mbiebabykiller]

i keep mine in the original cup next to my beardies heat lamp and put soft veggies for them to eat (zucchini, strawberries, wilted greens) after less than a week they double in size. they won't eat or grow in a fridge.

 

[Ed707]

i keep mine in the original cup next to my beardies heat lamp and put soft veggies for them to eat (zucchini, strawberries, wilted greens) after less than a week they double in size. they won't eat or grow in a fridge.

I was thinking about feeding my next batch like this and sticking them in the fridge after they've grown. Do you have any problems with the substrate being nasty or any problems with smells? They usually eat all the food you put in there tub? Do you find they turn black or pupate to Flys quicker doing this?

 

[z0mbiebabykiller]

they usually eat everything completely. I change it out if it starts spoiling. when I got large bsf larva a few turned black but he eats them anyway. medium larvae all got big and were eaten before any pupated. my dragon eats up to 30 at a time so they don't stick around too long. you can boil greens/squash and let it cool off, they love that. just nothing high protein, they convert excess to acid that's not good for dragons. its definitely worth doing because you can triple the medium larva in a week.

 

[Taterbug]

they usually eat everything completely. I change it out if it starts spoiling. when I got large bsf larva a few turned black but he eats them anyway. medium larvae all got big and were eaten before any pupated. my dragon eats up to 30 at a time so they don't stick around too long. you can boil greens/squash and let it cool off, they love that. just nothing high protein, they convert excess to acid that's not good for dragons. its definitely worth doing because you can triple the medium larva in a week.

Do you have some more info about the protein bit? I've Not heard that before.

 

[z0mbiebabykiller]

uric acid build up. it would happen with roaches and crickets also I would imagine. basically don't feed feeders things you would feed your dragon, ie raw beef, chicken,seafood.
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12010-011-9530-6
http://tser.tumblr.com/post/126550460759/thanks-for-the-cricket-advice-unfortunately-i

 

[Taterbug]

uric acid build up. it would happen with roaches and crickets also I would imagine. basically don't feed feeders things you would feed your dragon, ie raw beef, chicken,seafood.
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12010-011-9530-6
http://tser.tumblr.com/post/126550460759/thanks-for-the-cricket-advice-unfortunately-i

Interesting, I had read that for roaches but not other feeders.