Breeding your own live food for reptiles can be a cost-effective and rewarding way to ensure a consistent and healthy supply of food for your pets. Here are some common live food options and how to breed them:
1. Crickets
Use a plastic bin with a secure lid and ventilation holes. Provide a layer of soil or vermiculite for egg-laying or a tray full of soil. Include egg cartons or cardboard tubes for them to hide. Maintain around 80-90°F (27-32°C) for optimal breeding.
Offer a balanced diet of vegetables, fruits, and commercial cricket food. Provide moisture using water gel or damp cotton balls alternatively they will get moisture from the vegetables and fruit provided’
Female crickets lay eggs in the tray of moist soil. Remove the tray and keep in a moist and warm container. Eggs hatch in 7-10 days. Transfer hatchlings to a separate container and feed them finely ground food.
2. Mealworms
Use a shallow plastic bin with a lid and ventilation holes. Provide a substrate of wheat bran or oats. Maintain around 75-80°F (24-27°C).
Offer fresh vegetables like carrots, potatoes, and leafy greens. Vegetables provide moisture; no separate water source needed.
Mealworms go through stages: egg, larva (mealworm), pupa, and beetle. Keep beetles in a separate container for egg laying. Eggs hatch into larvae, which grow and eventually pupate into beetles.
3. Superworms (MORIO Worms Giant Mealworms)
Use a plastic bin with a lid and ventilation. Provide a substrate of wheat bran or oats. Maintain around 75-80°F (24-27°C).
Offer fresh vegetables like carrots, potatoes, and leafy greens. Vegetables provide moisture; no separate water source needed.
Isolate larvae in individual containers to induce pupation. Superworms pupate into beetles, which lay eggs that hatch into larvae. Provide the beetles with fresh food and substrate for egg laying.
4. Buffalo Beetles (Lesser Mealworms)
Buffalo beetles, also known as lesser mealworms (Alphitobius diaperinus), are an excellent addition to the diet of reptiles, birds, and amphibians. They are relatively easy to breed and maintain, making them a great choice for a live food source.
Use a shallow plastic bin with a lid and ventilation holes. Provide a substrate of wheat bran or oats. Maintain around 75-80°F (24-27°C).
Offer fresh vegetables like carrots, potatoes, and leafy greens. Vegetables provide moisture; no separate water source needed.
Buffalo Beetles (Lesser Mealworms) go through stages: egg, larva, pupa, and beetle. Keep beetles in a separate container for egg laying. Eggs hatch into larvae, which grow and eventually pupate into beetles.
5. Dubia Roaches
Use a plastic bin with a secure lid and ventilation. No substrate needed, but egg cartons or paper towel tubes for hiding. Maintain around 85-95°F (29-35°C).
Provide a mix of fresh fruits, vegetables, and commercial roach chow. Vegetables provide moisture; no separate water source needed.
Females give birth to live young (nymphs). Provide a warm, dark environment. Nymphs grow into adults in about 4-6 months. Separate adults if population control is needed.
Fresh fruits and vegetables (carrots, apples, potatoes) Dry pet food or commercial beetle food
General Tips for Breeding Live Food:
Regularly clean the breeding containers to prevent mold and bacterial growth. Monitor and control populations to avoid overcrowding. Ensure the live food is well-fed before offering it to your reptiles. Gut-loading the insects with nutritious food 24-48 hours before feeding them to your reptiles can significantly enhance their nutritional value.
Conclusion
Breeding your own live food for reptiles requires some initial setup and regular maintenance, but it can provide a reliable, healthy, and cost-effective food source for your pets. By ensuring the right environment, diet, and care for each type of live food, you can successfully breed crickets, mealworms, dubia roaches, and superworms at home