Caring+for+our+Mealworms

= ** CARING FOR OUR MEALWORMS ** =

==== The first thing we decided to do as new parents of 13 mealworms was to do some research on how we were supposed to care for them. We wanted our new children to be safe and comfortable with us so we needed to know the basics on how to they liked to live. Here are some general tips on how to care for mealworms. ====

The basic things we needed:
==== Their housing needed to be space that they could not climb out of; it would have to be something that had a top on it and that had plenty of breathing holes. We would have to l ine their new casa with oats or bran as they liked to burrow in it. They also liked to feed off the bran so we would need to replenish it regularly with fresh bran. We would also have to i nclude a moisture source so they did not get dehydrated; this could be a small piece of carrot, apple or potato (we would have to replace the moisture source when dried or before it becomes moldy) ====
 * ==== ** A plastic or cardboard container with breathing holes ** ====
 * ====** Fruits and/or vegetables **====
 * ====** Bran/oats **====

__ Taking Care of Our New Family __
====// We had 13 mealworms to care for so we needed to find a container that was just the right size; we decided on a rubbermaid container that was clear with a blue top (we made sure to punch lots of holes in the container so that they could breath easily!) We then lined the bottom with bran and twelve of our mealworm were placed into their new home. //==== ====// For one of our experiments, we decided that one brother would live by himself (he was okay with having his own bachelor pad!) He was placed in a seperate, smaller rubbermaid container which was lined with bran as well; it was decorated with dark wallpaper so that he could chill in darkness by himself. //====

// We decided that they would stay in the comfort of our mailboxes in BMH 202; the climate is always warm in there and we had read somewhere that that was just the kind of temperature they liked! //
====// We checked on them daily (even when we didn't have Science class!) with the exception of Saturday and Sunday as they had relaxing weekends with their parents around to bug them! They did go to Mama Carol's on the North Side for a weekend as she was feeling quit lonely for her children! //==== ====// Just as one of the tips said, we gave our mealworms a piece of fresh fruit every weekday (and made sure none got moldy or too dried up!) We also found at that putting a wet piece of paper towel in their home would give them the moisture they needed so they didn't get dehydrated. We did this on the weekends so we could keep it a mold-free zone for the couple days they were by themselves (you know how kids are, they never clean up after themselves!) //====