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Mini Mealworms

AlienFirefox

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I was reading about the mini mealworm aparently its a much smaller version of the normal mealworms we use. Its not very well known but I was thinking it would make a great food source for baby axolotls. any ideas?
 

Mark

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Here in the UK "mini mealworms" sold commercially are just juvenile mealworms rather than a different species. If you feed them well they'll grow and shed resulting in a daily supply of white, freshly shed worms. These are the best ones to feed because their exoskeletons are soft and present less impaction or nipping risk to your axolotls. Bewarned that larval mealworms aren't a nutritionally complete food item and are quite fatty - not to be used as a staple.
 

Mark

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Nice. I've not seen those for sale here. As the same genus as regular mealworms the nutritional content and feeding care is probably still applicable.
 
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Helena

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speaking of mealworms, i have regular ones, and i was wondering what i can feed them to keep them living longer?

-Thanks!
 

AlienFirefox

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@Mark
the normal Mealworms are Tenebrio molitor

the mini mealworm is Tribolium confusum


so how are they the same genus mate?

i think you might be right though just baby mealworms but still a different genus



@Helena All you need to do is go down the shop and buy some bran the cheapest one you can find then simply put it into a plastic container and then put your mealworms in it and you got yourself a colony. just put a bit of carrot in once a week for moisture and your set.
 

esn

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@Mark
the normal Mealworms are Tenebrio molitor

the mini mealworm is Tribolium confusum


so how are they the same genus mate?

i think you might be right though just baby mealworms but still a different genus

Your answer:

Yer well mini mealworms are infact a different genus just like superworms and mealworms the genus name is Tenebrio obscurus

You originally said mini mealies to be the same genus, and a different species name altogether. Just pointing that out.

Personally, I raise mealworms and use baby mealies for small animals, so I think the smaller genus would work as long as you do what Mark said and use freshly shed ones. I always squeeze mealworms a bit to make sure they're soft enough. I haven't had a problem with mealworms for any type of reptile or amphibian. I'm just careful about it and watch for impaction.
 

Mark

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Apologies, my mistake. Same family not genus. I still think they'll be nutritionally similar to regular mealworms.
 

AlienFirefox

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Yer thanks the smaller mealworm is also extremely difficult to find so thats why I said your right im probably best just using baby mealworms instead. yer i said there a smaller version which they basically are just a different type of mealworm same as superworms same **** different breed.
thanks for all your help. I am also looking for a different type of food source for my axies aswell something different all together from the mealworm family. I was thinking wax worms but there a bastard to find here and thats funny cause there native to Australia. I have earthworms aswell and im definitely not breeding slugs snails or maggots so any other ideas?
 
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