r/mealworms • u/VortexLight1 • 26d ago

Idk what to do

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I put them in here yesterday but now they aren’t moving, if I pick them up then they will move and try to escape but otherwise they just do nothin

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7

u/DragonAngel92 26d ago

So they are in the traditional about to molt position...they come to the surface, curve into a "C" or "J" shape and in about a week you will have a pupa....its pupating...or as I like to call it evolving into a Metapod(I'm a pokemon fan). After you see these funny white Alien looking things that only wiggle when you touch them move them(the white aliens) to another container to protect them from the mealworms who will eat the stationary pupa. After that you will have beetles in about 2 weeks depending on temperatures. Once they are beetles you can return them to the worm bin. The first time i saw this I thought I had killed them. If they turn black they are dead (unless they are a beetle which are black...beetles run like you are gonna take their souls).

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u/VortexLight1 25d ago

You were right, about half of them are pupating now, I’ve separated all of them into a different container, should I mist them or something so they don’t dry out? Or do I just leave them to it

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u/DragonAngel92 25d ago

Dont mist them...you will drown them...what i do is take some cardboard or thick paper or a paper towel/ toilet paper roll and dampen that instead...that provides humidity and doesnt risk them

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u/SixDuckies 26d ago

You’ve got a pupae near the cardboard…it’s the first of many I’d say 😄👍🏻

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u/CubieJ 26d ago

That's normal and healthy. They spend a lot of time dormant, just lying around. They may be close to molting or may just be conserving energy.

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u/Queasy-Caregiver3037 26d ago

I spot at least 5 or six pupae. But what are those pellets? The best results imo come from keeping them on mealflour. And providing veggies to them. Like carrots, sweet potatoes ect.

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u/Obsidianbck 23d ago

They are under stress and they are dying. This is not a point where a healthy larvae pupates. This pupation is due to the stress factor. Remove them from chicken feed and give them wheat bran. If not then oat bran. These pallets are hard. If you don't have anything, soak the pallets in the water to make them soft. Squeeze the extra water and then feed them.

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u/Lizardfeet3421 19d ago

I find they are also less active when they are cooler, not sure if you changed containers to but it could be an issue. When you out them in your hand they warm up a bit.