| Superworms or Zophobas Morio as they are | | | | ventilation. |
| otherwise called, can be great feed for reptiles. | | | | They say that the bigger the larvae is the better |
| The best way to go about feeding your pets on | | | | and this is true as they tend to have a better |
| superworms is to purchase a batch and continue | | | | survival rate. So much so that they can survive |
| with breeding them back home. The complete | | | | without food or water during this stage, making |
| guide to superworms is going to explain just how | | | | the otherwise complex breeding process a little |
| to do that - to take care, house and breed your | | | | more bearable. It isn't because we want to starve |
| new pet food! Before we continue, you have | | | | them, rather (and sometimes surprisingly) larvae |
| probably already heard that this type of feed is | | | | without food and water will pupate more rapidly. |
| not the easiest to breed, especially when being | | | | After a few days you will notice that the |
| compared to the mealworm. Being larger than | | | | superworms are curling up - a good sign that they |
| their counterparts is not the only reason either - | | | | will start their next stage of growth. If you spot |
| but you will need to prepare for some special | | | | any that are poker straight and dark colored then |
| considerations. One word of warning - they can | | | | they may not have survived. |
| grasp your fingers which causes minor pain - so | | | | At the time the superworms have pupated, you |
| use gloves or a tool to maneuver them safely. | | | | can continue to take them into their large |
| A common misconception to superworms and the | | | | container together - making way for a fresh |
| reason behind brief absence in popularity is that | | | | batch to complete the cycle. Around two weeks |
| they can put your pets at risk To make it clear - | | | | later, the beetles will emerge from their morphing |
| this is a misconception and your pets will incur | | | | stage and be a creamy color with dark red legs |
| absolutely no harm from offering them the | | | | and face. Time for another home change for |
| superworm as feed. A good size batch to begin | | | | breeding. A good container will have smooth sides |
| with is around five hundred - far less in number as | | | | so that they can't escape and once more, |
| opposed to mealworms. | | | | ventilation holes if you should choose to have a lid. |
| Now going back to that part said about the | | | | You can use some cricket food as a layer of |
| breeding being more complicated. Before you | | | | substrate in the container, about two inches in |
| head on out to buy your batch of superworms, | | | | height - a food source and an ideal place for |
| you are going to need to setup multiple containers | | | | burying eggs. You can provide water by adding |
| as each one will need its own personal space to | | | | fresh fruit, potatoes or salad leaves to the |
| reach the final stage of growth - a species of | | | | housing - never a bowel of water which they |
| Darkling beetle. It is only when they become a | | | | could drown in. |
| beetle that they have the anatomy to breed and | | | | The final stage is removal of beetles once eggs |
| reproduce. You will also need some patience | | | | have been delivered. Set up a new container for |
| thereafter as pupation is lengthy - around five | | | | adult beetles so that they don't interfere with the |
| months. To give them a good head start you will | | | | eggs and larvae - sometimes they may choose |
| have to aim for container temperatures of | | | | to have a nibble! This whole process seems |
| around 75 - 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Favorable | | | | difficult at first - but once you have gone through |
| containers include small glass jars, film containers, | | | | one or two cycles it will be like second nature. |
| plastic cups and so on. Always remember to have | | | | The benefits of breeding your own reptile feed is |
| some small wholes punctured in for air supply and | | | | worth the effort you put in! |