bug expiration dates?

[bigmack]

how does everyone keep their insects? do you freeze them? keep the in a closed container?

how long until the go bad? my mealies are getting dark and I bought them a few days ago!

[PrettyHate]

Are we talking live bugs, or the prekilled 'n' canned kind?

Prekilled 'n' canned Id only keep in the fridge for a couple days before tossing. I used to freeze mine in an airtight container as well.

If youre buying live then just keep them in a well ventilated container with something for moisture (potato, carrot etc- or you can buy gel-water) and something for them to snack on (anything...dog food, veggies, fish food, sugarless cereal...). Also some kind of substrate is good. I use oatmeal for my mealies and bran for my crickets. Sometimes I'll also use paper towel for the crickes.

Remember to change fruits/veggies daily-every second day or they will go skunky.

[Emilys_Exotics]

Mealies last longer (the live kind) if kept in the fridge. Otherwise, they turn to beatles much more quickly. Mealies do shed often, so make sure you are not seeing old shed skin instead of dead mealies. Of course, they dont' last a huge long time, but a week or so isn't out of the question. With all my lizards I go through them pretty quickly!

Emily

[bigmack]

I have a problem with creepy crawly bugs. Is it ok if I freeze them while they are alive? And then feed them to him frozen?

With the mealworms, I froze them, made sure they were dead and now the are in a tupperware in my room. Not being refridgerated. They look really dark. And I dont want to give him any if they might be bad because they havent been cold. They have been there for about two days.

Sorry, I'm new :)

[cecelia117]

I'm not for sure, but I wouldn't use them if they are dead and not refridgerated. I just buy the live ones and keep them in the fridge in a little container. They live quite awhile in there. I'm not really into bugs either but for some reason the mealworms don't bother me. If you can't touch them could you pick them up with tweazers or something and put them in the food dish?

[bigmack]

I'm not for sure, but I wouldn't use them if they are dead and not refridgerated. I just buy the live ones and keep them in the fridge in a little container. They live quite awhile in there. I'm not really into bugs either but for some reason the mealworms don't bother me. If you can't touch them could you pick them up with tweazers or something and put them in the food dish?


I kind of wiggle and shake them out of the bowl :laugh: . They seem to slide out quite nicely. That, or I get a DISPOSIBLE spoon and get em out. :)

[Nancy]

If they are dead throw them out.

You could freeze them live and then take out and thaw as needed. I think some people stick them in hot water for a few seconds to thaw them. I'd only feed ones taken from the freezer within a few hours of feeding.

They really aren't so bad to handle live. Use tweezers if necessary. :)

[Vampira_666]

I either keep them in the refridgerator, or freeze and unthaw right before feeding

if I put them in the fridge they last quite a long time without going bad/dieing or turning into beetles- they will stay alive in the fridge!!

if I freeze them, I just stick them in a little bit of warm water to unthaw before feeding-- they dont always die being frozen!!

[Emilys_Exotics]

There are for sale either in the reptile or the fish section (or both) jars of freeze dried meal worms and crickets. Because these are freeze dried, as long as you follow the expiration date on the bottle and keep the bottle closed and airtight after opening, they are fine to give. Fish will often eat these, as will hedgies, but reptiles usually refuse anything not moving. These would be a good solution if you don't like the live mealies.

Emily

[abutton]

If you can handle live ones, you probably should. I'm sure that bugs, as with other things, are better for your hedgie fresh and live rather than frozen or preserved.

Also, I've read that it can be fun to watch a hedgie chase a cricket around. Mine can't, becuase she's blind in one eye. But I look forward to watching my next one chase them! :winkgrin:

-Audrey-