Superworm questions

[Trogdorpheus]

Oh I won't breed the supers - that's just creepy!

I actually just grabbed about 20 out of my last super purchase to try to get them to pupate lol.

As for cleaning them, you need to change out the substrate whenever the bottom of it starts looking like it's a very fine sandy texture. That's basically all superworm poo, and you need to change it out at that point. There's a superworm breeding topic in the Feeders section, and I know you aren't wanting to breed them, but there's some awesome information on how you should keep their setup maintained as well. I'd check that out.

 

[Sapphire]

AHHH that quietness is nice, isn't it? LOL But if you listen ...really really listen, you can sort of hear the supers moving around too! My kids tell me they can! :lol:

These are the large supers I'm feeding - maybe 1 - 1 1/2 inches in size. They ARE wonderfully lower maintenance. As for cleaning ...I hope they don't need to be as I've not done that other than what you said, pick out the occassional dead one, shell, whatever. I have 1/2 a potato in there and some Hornworm food (in chunks) (got that from greatlakes). MAN o MAN did they do a number on that potato! WOW. I have mine in oatmeal too!

Oh ...as for the dish and putting them in there to leave them....... UMMMM they can get out. At least some of mine have and I've found one here and there later ....days later! Underneath something or the faux rock structure that doesn't sit flush for whatever flippin' reason. (sorry ...that has been a thorn in my side and why I'm gonna make a new one). LOL

I'm toying with keeping supers and roaches as main feeders. Both don't stink and are quiet! Can't ask for more than that! Oh I won't breed the supers - that's just creepy!

The worms I have are about 1" long max. I gave Vash some crickets today for dinner and he devoured them, so he hasn't got hooked on supers yet. If he's going to at all. He doesn't seem to be picky. Maybe as he gets older he'll change his tastes but for now I think I'm going to order worms and some extra roaches and get rid of crickets, because I'm at the point where the crickets he's eating are big and have wings and they're just so gross.... and noisy... And they've been dying off super fast now that they're adults. I cleaned up about 20-30 dead ones this morning, and by 7pm there were 10 more dead ones lying in there. All my crickets are gonna die off before I can feed them off... Just one more incentive to get supers and/or roaches instead. lol

As for them climbing out of a dish, I was kind of hoping they couldn't. Maybe a deeper dish? They can't climb smooth plastic, can they? I'd just be worried about my dragon stepping on the edge of the dish and flinging worms everywhere or something.

As for cleaning them, you need to change out the substrate whenever the bottom of it starts looking like it's a very fine sandy texture. That's basically all superworm poo, and you need to change it out at that point. There's a superworm breeding topic in the Feeders section, and I know you aren't wanting to breed them, but there's some awesome information on how you should keep their setup maintained as well. I'd check that out.

I'll check that topic. I can only imagine the fun involved in digging all the worms out of the substrate and cleaning it out and putting new stuff in...

 

[Trogdorpheus]

I can only imagine the fun involved in digging all the worms out of the substrate and cleaning it out and putting new stuff in...

Sifters are wonderful.

 

[Sapphire]

Haha, yes, I have two sifters/strainers. Both for use with fishtank gravel and feeder-insect-related tasks. I do not own a strainer/sifter for use in kitchen tasks.

I am not a normal girl. :-D

 

[jeschardies]

As for them climbing out of a dish, I was kind of hoping they couldn't. Maybe a deeper dish?

I purchased a small cat dish that is smooth, somewhat deep and has a beveled rubber type material on the outside. This works great for putting salad and worms in. They get close, but haven't had one escape yet. I think they were about $2-$3 at Petco.....