Mealworms are a nutritious meal choice for pets like amphibians or reptiles. These worms are a good source of protein, fats, and fiber and help your pet maintain a good health.
However, as a pet owner, you may face a common dilemma: Should you breed the mealworms at home or buy them online?
Breeding mealworms at home offers a low-cost option but requires the space to maintain a healthy insect colony. On the other side, online mealworms for sale options provide easy access to the mealworms without any hassle of maintaining live insects.
You must understand both of the options to make the best decision. Therefore, we have researched the process of breeding mealworms and the convenience of online meal purchases for you.
By the end of the blog, you will have enough information to decide the best approach for your pet’s feeding routine.
Keep reading to know more.
Mealworm Breeding: The Habitat Setup, Care, And Cost
Breeding mealworms at home means having a constant supply of feeder insects at your home. But it’s not as easy as it looks; after all, we are talking about insects that creep out most of us.
What Does Habitat Setup For Mealworm Demands?
Setting up the habitat for beetles will require the following things:
- Beetles
- Container
- Substrate
- Temperature control device.
Container:
Mealworms need a warm and dry environment to thrive, so choose a container that supports proper ventilation and low moisture buildup. You can use a transparent plastic or glass container with holes for a DIY mealworm breeding habitat. Add a layer of oatmeal to the bottom of the container, put beetles in the container, and keep the lid closed to prevent chances of escaping.
Temperature:
- The perfect temperature for mealworm breeding is between 25°C and 31°C.
- Too high temperature will cause overheating and death of the beetles, and too low temperature will interfere with their growth.
Substrate:
The mealworms can be reared on grainy foods like wheat bran, oatmeal, or cornmeal, and their diet also needs organic foods like carrots, potatoes, and cabbage.
Humidity and light:
The required humidity level for right beetle growth is between 50% to 70%. Otherwise, too high humidity produces dangerous mold and mites, and too low humidity can dry out the eggs, stopping reproduction.
Secondly, mealworms dont like bright environments, so keep their container covered and in dark places.
Breeding Cycles Of Mealworms:
Mealworms are the larvae of the darkling beetles. They need over 10 weeks to complete their life cycle and reproduce new worms.
The cycle goes from Larva>Pupae>Mature Beetles> Eggs.
The beetle eggs hatch around 1 to 4 weeks later. So, while you wait for the beetles to copulate and lay eggs, follow these ways to take care of the mealworms:
- Keep the habitat dry and properly ventilated so your insect colony remains disease-free.
- Clean the container weekly by removing waste, uneaten food, and dead beetles.
The Pros And Cons Of Mealworm Breeding:
| Pros | Cons |
| A constant source of food for your pet. | Not everyone has space and time for mealworm habitat setup. |
| Healthy Pet Meal at Home. | Without proper care, mealworm breeding can lead to mold growth or infections. |
Mealworms For Sale Option:
Breeding mealworms at home requires expensive setups and high maintenance efforts. But, not every pet owner prefers to deal with the complexities of breeding.
Many pet owners prioritize convenience and buy ready-to-feed insects for their pets.
Luckily, online suppliers offer healthy and nutritious mealworms for sale. These suppliers breed the beetles following best practices in hygienic environments. So, online ordering offers you a healthy pet meal at economical costs.
Steps To Find A Mealworm Seller:
- Type “mealworm for sale near me” on the internet.
- Find local sellers with reliable reviews and ratings.
- Purchase one box of the worms as a trail.
- If your pet likes it, apply for a subscription.
The Pros And Cons Of Purchasing Mealworms For Sale:
| Pros | Cons |
| Ready to use mealworms without any effort. | Can be out of stock (subscription can help to manage). |
| No need to dedicate space for breed them at home. | Finding a trustworthy supplier may take time. |
| No worry about breeding or maintaining a colony. | Regular purchases will add to the cost. |
Takeaway:
The deciding factor between breeding mealworms at home or purchasing mealworms online is time investment and convenience. Home mealworm breeding needs a setup, constant care, and maintenance, and online purchases offer convenience without any effort.
If you are a busy pet owner with no time and space for breeding, purchasing
mealwoms online is right. So, what are you waiting for? Start shopping for mealworms for your pet now!