turbosteve
Member
I have a question regarding mold. I'm breeding almost all feeders and an issue that often comes up is mold. Now with silks mold is really really bad. But what about with superworms and soldier grubs (phoenix worms)? The darkling beetle that produces the superworm generally feeds on decaying and moldy plant matter:
Food
The beetles and larvae eat decaying leaves, sticks, grasses and occasionally new plant growth. As general decomposers, they also eat dead insects, feces and stored grains.
Habitat
Mealworms live in areas surrounded by what they eat under rocks, and logs, in animal burrows and in stored grains. They clean up after plants and animals, and therefore can be found anywhere where "leftovers" occur.
The soldier grubs and the flies are used in composting, the biopod for example. Now there is definetely going to be mold and other yuckies in there.
Now I understand we don't want to pass on mold and other harmful things to our beardies, and gutloading 24-48hrs prior to feeding with fresh fruits/veggies/gutload is the best. But for the months prior to being eaten by our reptiles, is mold really that harmful to things such as mealworm/superworm breeding? I try to clean out all my feeders regularily, but is it really needed? Or is this just a human thing, us not liking molds, that we don't want to see it in our feeders? Cuz I'm having a problem finding it scientifically documented other then peoples care sheets and such. Maybe I need to hit up an old fashed library I think it's called? lol
Any insights you can provide will be appreciated.
Cheers!
-Steve
Food
The beetles and larvae eat decaying leaves, sticks, grasses and occasionally new plant growth. As general decomposers, they also eat dead insects, feces and stored grains.
Habitat
Mealworms live in areas surrounded by what they eat under rocks, and logs, in animal burrows and in stored grains. They clean up after plants and animals, and therefore can be found anywhere where "leftovers" occur.
The soldier grubs and the flies are used in composting, the biopod for example. Now there is definetely going to be mold and other yuckies in there.
Now I understand we don't want to pass on mold and other harmful things to our beardies, and gutloading 24-48hrs prior to feeding with fresh fruits/veggies/gutload is the best. But for the months prior to being eaten by our reptiles, is mold really that harmful to things such as mealworm/superworm breeding? I try to clean out all my feeders regularily, but is it really needed? Or is this just a human thing, us not liking molds, that we don't want to see it in our feeders? Cuz I'm having a problem finding it scientifically documented other then peoples care sheets and such. Maybe I need to hit up an old fashed library I think it's called? lol
Any insights you can provide will be appreciated.
Cheers!
-Steve