Q&A for How to Breed Superworms

From six months to a year, if cared for properly. They also must live with other superworms.

Are you absolutely sure they are mini superworms? They could be fly larvae. If you are 100% sure, check in the bin for any adult beetles.

A superworm typically stays in a C shape for 1 to 2 weeks. Smaller superworms may take around a week, while larger ones can take up to 2 weeks.

Yes, but sometimes they might lose interest, so you can also use organic matter like manure.

You should spray the container with water and then wipe it clean. If this causes fog in the bin, you may need to consider other methods.

Use wheat bran or oatmeal as a substrate. A small slice of carrot for moisture is also recommended. If you do not separate the superworm larvae from each other, they can live in the larval stage for six months to a year. They will only pupate when isolated.

This is perfectly normal! It can take as long as 5 months for a superworm to grow.

Superworms are likely dead when they stop moving completely and show no signs of circulation, with slow maneuvering being an early sign of decline.

Predatory beetles primarily eat other bugs. While they might occasionally nibble on beetle jelly or bits of fruit, these will not be sufficient to meet their hunger.

Here are some substrate options that work well: Coconut coir holds moisture and is mold-resistant; plain, chemical-free soil provides a natural environment but can be messy; sphagnum moss retains moisture but needs regular misting; aspen shavings are cheap but don't retain moisture well; reptile bark is low-maintenance but may need a humidity source. Alternatively, you can opt for no substrate, just providing hiding spots.

Zophobas morio is the real name. They turn into darkling beetles. They are nicknamed "superworm" because they are relatively large.

Sometimes they will eat the smaller ones, other times they'll be fine. But you should keep them separated, just for a precaution.

Well, technically two, but it's best to have anywhere from 50 to 100 to make sure they have plenty of opportunities to breed.

Keep them together- continue feeding them, making sure they're getting enough water in their foods (like fruits), and keep them alive.

Yes, raw quick cooking oatmeal is fine! Avoid night crawler bedding though, as night crawlers prefer softer dirt, whereas superworms will chew and eat their substrate. Raw wheat, bran, or even raw oatmeal works as substrate for superworms.

You can only tell on the beetles, not the worms. Using a magnifying glass, inspect the separation in their end segments. If there is little separation and a pointed end, it's a female. If there is separation and a rounded end, it's a male.

Make sure you are providing ample food! Bran, oats, leaves, fruits, vegetables, or meat are all good options! Keep them in a good space (at least 200 square inches). For water, either gently mist them with a spray bottle a few times a day to provide condensation to drink, or keep a small, shallow container of water with them. Or simply provide them enough moist fruits and vegetables to get their water intake. Use bran, what, or raw oatmeal as a substrate.

Anywhere between 50 and 100 superworms should be placed in the habitat for the best results!

No, as only in their adult stage do superworms have the inclination to breed. Larvae cannot be made to breed because it is simply not the life stage for them to do so.

While they can, it is not recommended to feed your dragon the pupae or beetle stages, as their armour will make them more difficult to swallow and digest.

Tupperware is best because it is cheap, lightweight, and difficult to escape from. Unlike glass terrariums, they can be more easily transported and stacked.

This is completely dependent on what you want. You can use Tupperware with holes poked in the top, egg cartons, or buy bug keepers from pet stores to keep your 'colony' in. Fresh fruit for adult beetles, small wood shavings or mulch for substrate. The size of your bins is entirely up to you, based on how many you want.

Superworm eggs are incredibly small. Use your phone's flashlight, and maybe find small white dots, but it's not necessary. You'll know if there are eggs if they hatch. Then, remove the adults and wait a few weeks for hatching. If none hatch, try again by putting adults back in.

Two or three weeks after the mealworm has pupated, a mealworm beetle will emerge. This is known as a darkling beetle. The egg stage typically lasts 7-14 days but low temperatures and humidity can lengthen double this incubation time.

Superworm beetles can fly. They typically do this when they are in search of food.

Play it safe and separate the smaller and bigger worms. That is your best option.

Give them a good amount of area so that they are not crammed or on top of each other but you do not need that much space. They should have enough room so that they can move around a little bit and not constantly collide.

The extra large might eat the small ones, so keep them separated.