How To Breed Mealworms! Mealworm Farming 101

[@Geckos664]

❤❤ i love your videos please pin this you are the best keep making videos you are the best🎉

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Thank you very much 😁

[@chanceknight8592]

This might be a stupid question but will flavored oatmeal work

[@Nephilim63744546]

Starting a mealworm farm was soooo easy. Now i sell mealworms to my buddies with chickens. Originally it was just to have free food for my leopard geckos. Now it's a whole side hustle.

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

That’s what I love to hear! Yup it’s very easy and you can definitely make it a side hustle congrats on your success!

[@ShriekinWizard]

What's the going rate for live mealworms?

[@CriminalonCrime]

So easy that when I released a few in my lizards tank, they dug into the damn styrofoam I had on the bottom of his tank and have survived for months under the styrofoam layer eating nothing but moss and styrofoam I didn't even intend to start a colony, it was entirely inadvertent and I never realized that these little guys can consume just about anything! I wonder if their bodies can break down microplastics and clean up our mess... I'm starting to think that alternating the species into my crop soil every 3-4 years to purify the soil of unwanted micros is feasible!? I think I've discovered another use for the little buggers that might have a huge positive impact on the environment!

[@dupiop]

@@CriminalonCrimeit might be dangerous for your gecko to eat worms with styrofoam in them, just make sure it’s safe 😀👍

[@Genoil_]

@@ChiefSweetsUniverseis it possible to spend no money on food for an leopard gecko if I breed multiple type of insects?

[@linniecolt]

Thank you for a short, simple and non babaling video. This was great information and easy to understand

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

I’m glad you enjoyed thank you

[@Alex1996Scream]

Thank you so much for teaching me how to make a mealworm farm! I feed them to my jumping spider Pumpkin!!🙏🧡

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Happy to help

[@mondraymondo]

Thank you for this clear video! I was overthinking on how to design a tub that can separate adults from babies but thanks for assuring us we don’t need to overthink! Glad to know they lay tons of eggs that will more than replace any worms the beetles cannibalize hehe

[@DoorsToHideBehind156]

So basically once you see the mealworms in the "beetle bin" you transfer them to the mealworm container and vice versa with the pupae. Great info 😊

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Yes and the pupae is really the only thing that you have to take care of. Cause the worms and the beetles will eat those

[@AshAndCream]

​@@ChiefSweetsUniversebeing the middle child sure is difficult

[@tomsgreengallery]

Bro, thank you. Made my life a hell of a lot easier after watching this 😊

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Happy to help!

[@missstormchaser1]

This time a month ago I never thought I'd find myself searching "breeding mealworms" yet here I am 😂 I bought mealworm online for my garden birds, the birds loved them so I bought some more, and some more and yup, some more! So I had the idea of breeding and ended up on your video. Wish me luck, I'm gonna give this a go 😳 not sure how I'm gonna deal with the beatles, cross that bridge if I ever get to it. Thanks for the amazing advice

[@pandoamessi4079]

If you put the worms in a freezer, it slows down their metabolism. Basically, they'll stay worms for longer (not an expert tho, but i wish you luck and hope it helps!)

[@stillblastin642]

Straight to the point and relevant information! Nice video! 👍 I'll do a mealworms farm to feed my razorback turtle. Is it safe to feed my turtle with the beetles?

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Thank you I appreciate it. You can but as a occasional treat.

[@josepacheco4119]

Thank you ! Helps more than you know when it comes to fathering reptiles on a budget

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Happy to help

[@AndyCandyZeroSugar]

I'm so grateful for your videos! For a very long time I've been dreaming about keeping tarantulas, but I realise it will unlikely to happen due to the work required to keeping the live feed. I'll be checking your roaches video, though it would be the least appealing choice for me. These guides are super cool though, and I can see how easy it is. Maybe if I had many tarantulas it would be worth the effort of keeping live feed. Thank you for your work, I appreciate it!

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Happy to help!

[@richwilson7017]

Dude. Thank you. Meal worm madness.

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Happy to help

[@DavidAlvarez-xy3mj]

Great way to always have bait for fishing 👍

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

That too!

[@OlivatorXL]

Very helpful tutorial for my ants food. Thanks!

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Happy to help

[@angelabergman4086]

great video, thank you!! I am just now starting to get beetles in the last couple weeks but wasn't sure why I had so many dead pupae. I just moved all the pupae into my beetle box and am hopeful for more success going forward! My ducks thank you :)

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Happy to help! Yes the worms will eat those pupae fast!

[@YeguesSchettini]

Going to save this video, just got my supplies and this was much easier and clearly than some of the longer videos! Great job explaining.

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Happy to help!

[@misschris325]

You are a beautiful man! I am up to my neck in work- too many animals, and feeling burned out. I got a shipment of Vermont meal worms ahead of schedule. Their arrival was another wrench in my cog. But I think I got this❤

[@trevorbeckenhauer]

Celery is really good for the food too

[@justinermiger6734]

You are so encouraging buddy! Thanks man

[@changesomthing9874]

Thanks I started breeding meal worms and I keep them as pets there cool to look at

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

They are pretty neat

[@paulholliday8172]

You're awesome. Always appreciate your help.

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Thank you happy to help

[@sagestaymagical7487]

Thanks dude! I have a dubia colony for my critters and wanna try mealworms again to have another consistent staple always on hand. The first time I didn't know I was supposed to separate them WOOPS! 😅 I'm an overthinker so you saved me a mental spiral or 10 🙏

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Happy to help! Yeah definitely seperate the pupae and you will be golden

[@EarthsGeomancer]

My main issue is that the carrots still make thr oats mold even when i have really good ventilation. Im having to completely replace the oats every 4 to 6 weeks since part of them mold and the rest stale and get hard.

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Use whole carrots. They don’t have the juicy outside. I only have to replace oats like once a year.

[@chasegreenland4715]

I've mixed vermiculite with my oats to help prevent excess moisture, lmk if this is a bad idea, also a small fan or breeze can help influence ventilation. It may be getting stagnant.

[@dartagnanv8der613]

I use a small temp/humidity sensor that monitors this. Govee makes a decent one and can give you daily to monthly readings on the app

[@JohnDoe-xq8sk]

Sounds like you live in high humidity or need more ventilation to both.

[@mabelnickner9260]

Great video! I have whole oats. It looks like a big grain of rice. Will that be good for bedding?

[@AnaDMTL]

hahah it's like "do it and that's it, duh" and it really is like that. I'm excited.

[@yoomythegod]

Im scared of insects… and as soon as i saw that they evolve into beetles, i dont think its an option for me anymore 😂 theres a pupa thingy in my container from petco im getting rid of that immediately

[@Ryomen_Sukuna2935]

bro your videos are so dam helpful

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Thank you that means a lot

[@Ryomen_Sukuna2935]

@@ChiefSweetsUniverse no orovlamjsnszk problem

[@Ryomen_Sukuna2935]

@@ChiefSweetsUniverse how treat tail rot

[@gabriellapadua5308]

Very helpful video! Thank you!

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Happy to help!

[@basidan4488]

u too cute to be out here making maggot 💀

[@robertdobie8680]

I’m weird, I know, but I’m considering keeping some mealworms as pets, and so I’m planning to create a naturalistic environment for them. A few questions: (1) Do you think a dry sand substrate would work well for them (or maybe moist potting soil?) ... and have a separate feeding area/dish? (2) some people mention that smell is an issue. How often would you recommend cleaning to reduce smell? (3) How long do the adult beetles live, approx.? BONUS QUESTION: I’m thinking of starting with a very small population ... what do you think of the following names for my mealworms (baby pet beetles): George, Paul, John, and Ringo? 😃

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

That sounds awesome! I feel like my roach colonies are my pets at this point. Names are great. Beatles is a good band haha. Now smell only occurs from old substrate they don’t smell themselves really. You could use a special mix substrate I think sand alone wouldn’t be good. Peat mixed with play sand at 70/30 ratio would be good.

[@robertdobie8680]

@@ChiefSweetsUniverse Great, thanks! I’ll try that. 😄

[@SaukAyala]

Thanks for the advice

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Happy to help

[@SandycatalinaBonillaMedrano]

Thanks!!❤

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Happy to help!

[@RT_FILMS_100]

Bro your the best :)

[@greg5466]

thank you thank you thank you!!!!! your video was awesome!!!

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Your welcome happy to help

[@Joellarainbow]

Thank you

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Happy to help

[@RT_FILMS_100]

This is the most helpful video

[@LindaSchroeder-im2jh]

Do the bins ever get placed in the fridge? or left at room temperature? Thanks!

[@Platinum_Aquatic_World]

Hi chief I have actually started with 100 mealworms Should i feed the mealworms before they turn into pupae Or should i not feed the mealworms until they turn into puape and after that when they emerge as darklings bettles then feed the beetles ?

[@ConnorSR]

Thank you so much I just got my first bearded dragon named spike and he loves meal worms thankyou

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Happy to help!

[@Prepper_Raider]

FTR, ideal 'conditions' for mealworm farming is really important for fast growth and premier breeding conditions. 74 deg. to 81 deg. w/ approximately 40% to 50% humidity levels is ideal, out of direct sunlight. Will they breed in 'not so perfect' conditions? Yes, 100% absolutely! Nearly as good / fast? Not even close. A lot of people get caught up in mealworms only being for birds, fish, reptiles... I dry mine out, add them to salad, energy bars, blend as an added ingredient. Mealworms is one of the best things in the world to consume, believe it or not. Extremely high source of protein and an excellent healthy fat source. Want a badass energy bar? I should patent my recipe :)

[@DoorsToHideBehind156]

How long do the mealworms last if they aren't refrigerated? Keeping them cool keeps them in their mealworm state so they last longer and don't pupate. Do you transfer them to a fridge at all or I guess you have enough reptiles to feed so you don't have to

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

They last pretty long in the mealworm state I’d say about a maybe two months. I don’t refrigerate any of mine

[@lonniegreen8822]

Can you use millworms casting ths same way you use worm casting for isopods ?

[@MelonBlocks0]

fun fact: using crested gecko powder witha. small amount of water ( with bugs inside ) can actually cause baby mealworms to hatch after 2 days!

[@brittanya3703]

What's the timeline from worm to pupae to beetle to egg back to worm?

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

That’s a good question mine will take about two months.

[@imsophalgeneralknowledge6371]

thanks lots brother ❤ I like your speak so much

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Thank you

[@LGWMN]

I started a mealworm farm a couple months ago. Mealworms are turning to pupae, pupae are turning to beatles, but have had no eggs hatching; beatles container has a mesh screen bottom so eggs fall into separate container with cornmeal, but I've yet to see any little mealworms mealworms...any ideas?

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

It does take a while for the eggs to hatch they will be super tiny as well. Once you have beetles pretty much will be a month or two before you see baby worms

[@vargramite3278]

I’m looking into getting a bearded dragon. But we also have some chickens. How fast do they lay eggs and how fast do the eggs hatch? Cause I’m worried I may get too many. I don’t know many people who need the meal worms for any other pets.

[@carlismycat]

I feed the robins and mocking birds in my back yard. They have their own bowl they can grab them out of. And if I'm outside, I keep a container of them so when they fly down and “ask” ( chirp at me or walk up to me ) for some I have some to throw on the patio for them to eat.

[@kiettrinh8704]

Nice videos so far easy to understand ,

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Thank you! I’m not a teacher but I think I’m getting better at teaching the more I make videos 😁

[@rodinunez5967]

Thank you for the video. Honestly i was overthinking it. I did seperste the pupaes from mealworm and adults. I accidently squished an egg trying to tranfer adults to bigger bin😂. They are all ruthless cannabals..some adult bettles were eaten. Im starting small. 15-30 adult bettles and puppaes each. Mixed two diffrent mealworms from diffrent areas. Im breeding for my future 200+ Jumping spider slings and 6 adult Jumpers atm.

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Happy to help! No worries everyone overthinks it as well. Yeah you’ll definitely have enough food breeding the mealworms

[@beautybyamber1021]

May I ask what is the material u used to mesh the middle drawer.. I keep looking for the exact thing at stores with mo luck.. I just want to make sure I have suitable holes.

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Sorry my bad it’s aluminum screen you can find it at Home Depot or lowes for windows

[@Platinum_Aquatic_World]

How much is the depth of the substrate

[@JJ-nc9kl]

When you say replace the food every 2-3 days do you mean just add new food? Or do you have to separate the worms from the food? And replace it with new food?

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Just the food like carrots for the worms

[@colinfarrell7457]

Cool vid,what temperature to make the pupae at?

[@ebonysamm3690]

I’ve got loads of pupae that I’ve transferred to another tub but they don’t get to the beetle stage they just go dark brown and black and die! But I gut load the worms before they turn to the pupae

[@waypay1]

The pupae turns brown and then black before the beetle emerges. That's normal.

[@trishafisha5900]

oh these are my pets !!! 🥳📣🎂😉

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

😁

[@glorias.2930]

OMG you're the best!!! What if we just want to occasionally bring some home from Petsmart? Can you pls make a video on how to store and care for those? I was told to put them in the fridge again so they remain "dormant". Can you please make a video on this option? How/when would these be "gut-loaded"?

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Will do that’s a great idea!

[@glorias.2930]

@@ChiefSweetsUniverse Thank you! I've been binge-watching all your videos. Best channel to learn how to care for bearded dragons. I just recently got a baby bearded dragon and want to give him the best life possible!

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

@@glorias.2930 happy to hear that glad I could help!

[@Phaserdeath]

Bro, I just recently found your channel. I’m about to get a leopard gecko. Your videos have been super helpful. Thank you.

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Happy to help!

[@michaelstudio579]

I got started on my own mealworm farm a month ago for my gecko and im gonna grow them to adult beetles. Unfortunately i didnt have any oatmeal. So i came up with an idea to Crush a loaf of bread into coarse pieces as substrate.

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

You could also use top soil from Home Depot

[@michaelstudio579]

@@ChiefSweetsUniverse yeah infact one time i used water on frass and all of a sudden. It turned into soil before my very eyes

[@SnakesMask]

Thanks I need this for my praying mantis

[@kirstyblachut5007]

Great video. I have had my mealworm farm for about a year and I’ve spent time cleaning what I believe was Pooh from my original mealworms. Using unprocessed bran as a medium I would sift the Pooh that the bran and worms would not fall through. You didn’t mention it as a requirement. Do I stop doing this. Now that my farm is established I’m worried it will be eggs that I sift out.

[@cathyhanley8658]

After I sift a bin, I keep the frass for a couple months. I sift it every couple weeks and have always found tiny worms. Just keep sifting until you don't have any more worms. I don't know if it is neccassary, but I leave a handfull of oats and a carrot or stalk of celery. You can sell the frass or use it in your garden as a fertilizer (NPk222) Don't forget to where a mask. Some people develop allergies from the dust.

[@Nonsequitoria2010]

The American school system: we're still not sure how to pronounce pupae, but we DO know they make a lot of money. XD Srsly, tho, very helpful video!

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Haha happy to help!

[@zhongyaliu4592]

How to deal with their poop? I can’t separate the babies and their poop.

[@alexaguilar6324]

Question bro those Beatles aren't good to feed bearded dragon? She ate 2 pupas😢

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Yeah totally fine

[@Dorpsservices]

Is humidity important ... If so how to keep humidity up and not have them die with 80 degree heat?

[@escapetherace1943]

you could probably make a sifter to filter the worms from the beetles too

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Yes definitely could

[@dannysan626]

I accidentally had meal worms appear in my Dubia Roach enclosure. I think a beetle from the first bag I bought the first month of caring for my roaches, mated with another beetle from a second bag I had bought when we ran out of dubia roaches like a month later. I know its a long time, but they came from somewhere lol. Now I am taking my adult dubias out of the container, and moving them to a new setup away from the meal worms lol

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Lol that’s crazy! Kind of lucky 😂

[@dannysan626]

@@ChiefSweetsUniverse That's what I am saying! So now, watching more and more videos, I want to maybe getting into selling them locally so I can help sell cheap Meal worms to reptile owners or whatever eats them. I also just made some recent local connections, and I will be seeing them soon and talking about this with them.

[@AntBlue]

Some say the beetles fly, some say they dont. Im unsure. Whats your experience with this?

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

I’ve never seen one fly at all.

[@AntBlue]

@@ChiefSweetsUniverse Im probably just paranoid, but what species are your mealworms? I've read that ceartain species can rarely fly.

[@fortheloveoftimer]

I've heard they have wings which are used as a mating ritual, if the enclosure gets too crowded and they can't get food they use the wings to jump and not fly. I may be wrong though!

[@wolfmangosan539]

No wings to fly it's impossible

[@andrewderrick9457]

So I just entered the reptile world with our first beardie. If we only Have the one would it be simple enough to just throw them in a box and never sift or move them? Even if the Beatles eat some I’m assuming we could get enough meal worms to feed one beardie?

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Yeah you could totally do that. Sometimes I get lazy and just leave em. You wings get as much back but they will still reproduce

[@Albie_yt]

So do the beetles go to the bottom of the container to lay the eggs ?Im confused on where they lay them

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Yes they lay them on the bottom

[@Albie_yt]

@@ChiefSweetsUniverse thanks

[@jerricojane]

If u use a 3 layer plastic shelf,beetles on top cut rectangle and hot glue screen. Eggs fall to next bin with mealworms then hand pick larva ,place in bottom bin. New beetles are white then brown then turn black..place into top container.

[@cvspvr]

the eggs vaporise, you breathe them in, and they hatch in your lungs

[@Albie_yt]

@@cvspvr good to know lol

[@johnwest3036]

Don't forget to bake your outs at 175 for 20 minutes. Even store bought oats can have mites on them

[@Platinum_Aquatic_World]

What is the substrate depth needed ?

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

2-3 inches

[@Platinum_Aquatic_World]

Can I start them with 100?

[@r.j.lindzee6432]

Well that's one way to keep chaia and Keenu out of your room when we go over! 😂. They couldn't stay out of your room when you only had all the gaming computers set up!

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

😂😂😂 they might think it’s cool you never know!

[@ColossalSwordFormAndTechnique]

So basically just protect the pupae. 👍

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

You got it! Protect them at all cost! 😂

[@creatorofheathens2484]

Good thing to know comod oatmeal is good for something! 😂

[@mariao9613]

Do I have to bake the oatmeal? I’ve been reading online..

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

No I never have never had a issue however some people do to make sure they don’t get grain mites

[@RT_FILMS_100]

But I didn't quit understand how to separate the eggs from the Beatles

[@metsman81]

What’s the mesh screen size (tiny holes) that you used so the eggs can fall thru. Please and thank you.

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Just basic window screen. Idk the size because I believe all window screen for houses are the same size.

[@davidciurea6261]

How often u have to change the oat meal?

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

About every 3-4 months

[@fltook]

Late to the conversation but will the bearded dragons eat the beetles?

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

They will. They don’t like them as much tho

[@warrenfeenando8704]

How can i prevent ants going to my beetles?

[@rastareptilerescue]

Clean yuh house

[@DoorsToHideBehind156]

So how do you change the oat substrate when there are tons of mealworms in there? Do you just pick the bigger ones out of the bin and throw the rest away?

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Now that is a great question and usually I have a sifter like screen mesh kitchen strainer and just pour it through that and it will catch most mealworms and all the oats usually go through the sifter

[@TheAilaS]

Hi, I have very small baby mealworms. I got all the beetles out of the container. What vegetables do you feed the babies with? I think carrots are too hard for them, they are very tiny

[@waypay1]

They eat the oatmeal. The carrots are just for hydration.

[@virusO1OOOOO1]

can you use rolled oats?

[@Euro.Patriot]

Yes, I have mealworms that I'm pupating now and they eat them fine.

[@pugzwow]

How long do the beetles live. I’d like to feed those to my green tree frogs before the beetles die get extra free food

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

They live a couple months but sometimes they do die quickly

[@4000marcdman]

this seems much easier to do than breeding other insects for feed.

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

I think so myself

[@DoorsToHideBehind156]

The beetles can be fed as well? I've tried offering the beetles before and my reptiles weren't interested in them

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Yeah they can but that is true most reptiles are like na don’t want it. My uromastyx like them though haha

[@theMegalodonMystery]

I want to ask if the oatmeal needs to be in the blender, or it's not so important, because when i put the blendered oatmeal there is something like dust and it sticks onto the worm's body and is this a problem like they can't breathe or something else.

[@rastareptilerescue]

Not too fine, more chunky eh

[@tacstok]

So one the baby mealworms hatch in the beetle box you just move them over to the mealworm box?

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Yeah you can you can just also leave them if you want. The pupae is really the only things you want to move.

[@Adeeel_csw]

Mealworm farming is insanely easy, i thought it will be a little hard😂

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Oh no it’s superrr easy haha.

[@larissaronk2910]

I have started my mealworm farm back in November of 2023

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Very nice!

[@bakeybooboo]

Another banger appreciate it bro!

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Thank you glad you liked it

[@antoniovolpe9837]

What are the black bugs in there

[@BamaBrit1989]

Beetles. It’s what the mealworms evolve into

[@sarahmarie3167]

Hmmm sounds like heat is going to be a bigger challenge when we have winter half the year

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Yes that is very true when they get cold they will not breed fast if at all and will slow growth tremendously

[@thegoodwife144]

What do you do with your beetles? Leave em? I want to feed my gecko the worms and perhaps the beetles can go to my chickens

[@nazila1976]

Thanks alot,,,,,can I feed my chickens with mealworms???

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Of course! Chickens love mealworms just make sure to breed a lot more than I did in this video haha. Might have to start with 3,000 mealworms cause chickens will eat a lot

[@shaunneal9981]

I'm having trouble with mites in my meal worm bins. Have you had any issues or ideas on how to get rid of them? I used oats as the base and baked it in the oven first to ensure it was mite free to start with but eventually the mites showed up.

[@cathyhanley8658]

I put a bead of vaseline about an inch from the inner top. I sprinkled organic green pea flour in the substrate. The green or yellow pea flour kills the newly hatched mites and the adults get stuck in the vaseline. Voila! No more mites

[@shaunneal9981]

@@cathyhanley8658 thank you - I pretty much did exactly as you stated after researching the mites and it worked really well. They are all gone now!

[@cathyhanley8658]

They are so nasty. I'm glad you had success.@@shaunneal9981

[@brandonlasvegas]

😎

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

😁

[@keon4883]

I used to keep mealworms and super worms and I kept getting mites how do I prevent that from happening?

[@Jesusisnumberone5740]

Mites only come in if too high moisture i think.

[@roisinr407]

Can the beatles be fed to chickens or are the worms better for them?

[@ChiefSweetsUniverse]

Yeah they can the chickens might not like em as much but they do eat them