How To Breed: Waxworms

[Duq]

Want too say thanks for this post checked on mine today and have 3 moths hanging around and eggs galore

Many thanks!

[Juzza12]

I'm going to try this soon, i have heard of other people mixing glycerine in with the culture. Is this not necessary then?

[mad baboon]

Originally Posted by Juzza12

I'm going to try this soon, i have heard of other people mixing glycerine in with the culture. Is this not necessary then?

i dont think so mine do fine without it, i dont really know why people put it in. if you find out i would be glad to know why.

[Juzza12]

Apparently the glycerine is used by some people to prevent mould. Don't see the need for it as long as the mixture isn't too wet

[mad baboon]

yh, thanks for filling me in... also im wondering if anyone knows how to stop them making the web like stuff... because its annoying opening the lid and hving to unndo all the web to get to the worms

[Mouki]

ugh! its gone wrong
the mixture's gone mouldy and all the waxies went under the mixture and turned into cacoons under there...so how do the moths get out?
i have one moth atm (YAY) but...no more moths and they only live 10-15 days. its already been there about 5 days! so it might die without mating if theres no more moths....grrr...need more stupid moths!!!

[mad baboon]

Originally Posted by Mouki

ugh! its gone wrong
the mixture's gone mouldy and all the waxies went under the mixture and turned into cacoons under there...so how do the moths get out?
i have one moth atm (YAY) but...no more moths and they only live 10-15 days. its already been there about 5 days! so it might die without mating if theres no more moths....grrr...need more stupid moths!!!

um, some times i wait till they make cacoons in the lil waxy pot they come in and i just chuck them in there... and that sorts that problem, it should be fine they will normaly get out, dont worrie about it.

[messengermatt]

good idea, like the potential

may be an idea for getting my leos nice and fat for breeding next year

[vashe]

I have I guess u can call a wax worm assembly line.lol I have 3 containers I use so i can keep the process going cause the edible bedding will start to rot.

First i have a 10 gallon aquarium with a screen top 5 gallon will work better if u dont want super bulk.
I put the edible bedding on the bottom of it and just toss the worms on top.
The bedding i use is made with a box of gerber mix baby cereal, honey, glycerine(make sure its not made with rosewood oil) and water. but any bran cereal will work just crush it fine.
basically put a small box of baby cereal i usually buy a bigger box incase the mix looks alittle soggy.
half a cup of honey
half a cup of glycerine
half a cup of hotwater.
mix it all up till its firm and spread it on something to cool and dry out a bit for about 24 hours.then i will drizzle more honey on top of it half way.

The Glycerine works good to keep mold at bay also i like to put orange slices in there the worms seem to love it since they are always all over them everytime i look. make sure not to make the slices to thick cause the bedding gets mold under the slices.

then When they pupate i pull those out and stick them in a smaller container with wax paper and a paper towel that way they dont have to go far to mate and they lay there eggs in the wax paper. i lay a paper towel on the bottom incase some die out cause they really stink when they die so it makes it easy to clean. I took a picture of it so u all can see what the container looks like real easy to make.

then as they die off i will put the wax paper in a 1 gallon glass jar. This makes it easier to collect the tiny worms. I put some edible bedding in that and wait till they get alittle plump before putting them in the 10 gallon aquarium again. after they get plump in that i will pick them and store them in the fridge they usually stay good for 6 to 8 weeks inn the fridge crisper.
I usually leave about 100 to 150 in the aquarium that way i know i can get a good chance at alot of females.

Alittle info i forgot to add I mainly use waxworms for fishing so i make alot. I usually can go though 200 or so everytime i go fishing in the creek. SO i want alot lol. last batch i had i got maybe 3000 or so worms. and there about gone lol. I will be starting a pet project with a natural aquarium set up with local creek fish wish me luck lol. I will be useing waxworms as fish food to plump them up.

Hope this added info helps anyone
here are the pics i know alot of people dont know what the pupae looks like people i talk to seem to think they spin silk cocoons.lol well enjoy
the moth tank i made with a old storage bin, old window screen and some caulking.

[Juzza12]

Folllowing this guide i srarted my culture on the 10th of last month and found tiny babies today. I was going to put the tub in a dish of water to drown any escapees as i noticed they were getting through the mesh lid, thought i'd try putting a vaseline barrier around the top instead and they can't get past it.