Meal Worm
Meal worm
are the larvae of the tenebrio molitar beetle. Their diet is
vegetarian which means that they are safe to feed to animals
and birds without passing on the potentially fatal diseases present
in meat fed larvae such as maggots. Meal worm consist of 48%
crude protein and 40% fat.
Meal
worm are a clean, odourless and relatively inexpensive livefood,
rich in protein and easy to store. Regular meal worm are popular
as livefood for many species of cage birds and garden birds.
Mini Meal worm are fed to smaller species of cage birds and baby
birds. Giant Meal worm are fed to larger birds and reptiles.
The movement of Meal worm has the effect of bringing lizards
to the feeder and stimulates feeding. As a fishing bait Meal
worm can be used to catch course fish and are particularly popular
for fishing Trout. Meal worm may also be fed to small carnivorous
mammals.
Meal worm should be stored in a cool, dark, well-ventilated
space. Prolonged exposure to temperatures below 5 C will kill
Meal worm, but if they are stored at the ideal temperature of
8 - 10 C in adequate food (bran or Progrub) they can keep for
several months. Mini Meal worm are young Meal worm. They will
inevitably grow as they are fed, eventually to the size of regular
Meal worm. The rate of growth depends on temperature. At 8 C,
the rate of growth is almost unnoticeable - it would take many
weeks for the worms to grow. At 22 C the Mini Meal worm will
grow to full size in probably as little as three weeks. If stored
at above 22 C Meal worm will do what comes naturally and pupate
very quickly. Up to 500g of Meal worm can be stored in our own
storage box, which has a mesh bottom to provide ventilation and
a reversible lid to capture waste (which makes great organic
fertilizer). Over 500g of Meal worm can be stored in an open
plastic container such as cat litter tray. A lid is unnecessary
provided that the sides of the container are clean and it is
stored where it won't be knocked over, preferably on a cool,
concrete floor. Meal worm fed on Progrub are likely to be more
nutritious and will be gut loaded with calcium. It is not necessary
to feed carrot, potato peelings, apple etc to full sized or Giant
Meal worm. However, this vegetable nutrition should be provided
to Mini Meal worm for moisture. Over-feeding should be avoided
as this encourages mites.
Bulk Meal worm must be unpacked on arrival. The shipping container
can be placed in a refrigerator for an hour or two in warm weather
before unpacking to slow the Meal worm down. To prevent escape,
open the bag or box outdoors and tip the contents into a large
plastic bucket or dustbin. Shake the Meal worm off the crumpled
newspaper taking care to hold the paper below the rim of the
bucket. The Meal worm are then ready to be transferred to their
storage container
Meal worm don't come any fresher than those supplied by Livefoods
Direct. The Meal worm are taken straight from the fattening rooms
where they are then prepare for sale to ensure maximum freshness.
Only a breeder has such total control over product and is thus
able to guarantee both quality and freshness.
Meal worm are available in clear plastic tubs for easy feeding
and storage or you can buy Meal worm in bulk sacks which is more
economical
