How to Set Up Easy Maintenance Feeder Insect Tubs for Reptiles

Best Ways to Set Up Feeder Insect Tubs for Reptiles

Keeping feeder insects properly housed is essential for maintaining not only the health and longevity of your feeder insects, but ultimately benefiting the reptiles they are intended to feed.
Insects kept improperly in unsanitary conditions run a higher risk of transmitting parasites to your reptiles, so it is important to not only keep your feeder insects in a sanitary manner, but also source your feeder insects from reputable places.
Depending on whether you are a small-scale reptile keeper or a large-scale breeder, the ideal setup can vary significantly. Below are two effective methods to set up reptile feeder insect containers tailored to both small-scale and large-scale keepers; maximizing efficiency and prioritizing cleanliness!

Small-Scale Reptile Keepers

For reptile owners with only a few pets, an easy-to-maintain and space-efficient feeder insect tub is ideal.
This setup is for those who feed a dozen (give or take) animals and may get insect orders of 1000 every few weeks. This is just a rough guideline to keep the crowding in the tub minimal and waste levels as low as possible for a clean feeder bin. 

Materials Needed:

• A sizable Tupperware or plastic storage tub with a locking lid; larger is better for more insects to keep crowding and waste levels as low as possible.

• A sharp utility knife, soldering knife, or Dremel cutting tool

• Window screen mesh and hot glue or duct tape

• Walnut shell-based substrate (e.g., Zilla’s Walnut Shell Bedding or walnut blasting sand)

• Terracotta planter dish

• Small gravity waterer with sponge to prevent drowning or 3D-printed alternative

• Mesh strainer or small kitty litter scoop for maintenance

• Plenty of cardboard egg flats

Setup Instructions:

1. Modify the Lid: Cut a hole in the lid of the tub and secure window screen mesh over the opening. This allows for airflow while preventing insects from escaping.

2. Add Substrate: A thin layer (~1”) of walnut shell-based substrate helps absorb moisture and odors.

3. Add Cardboard Egg Flats: Several staggered cardboard egg flats increase surface area for feeder insects to escape one another, and helps reduce moisture while maintaining airflow around the feeders. 

4. Food & Water Setup: Use a terracotta planter dish to hold insect gut load gels and fresh greens. A gravity waterer with sponge cut to size or a custom 3D-printed gravity waterer insert provides a clean and safe water source, preventing drowning incidents common with open dishes. Water crystals can also be used but are more expensive to constantly replace and more tedious when it comes to upkeep. 

5. Routine Maintenance: Use a mesh strainer or small kitty litter scoop to remove dead insects, shed exoskeletons, and food waste between deep cleans to minimize odor and contamination.

This method is simple yet effective, providing an easy-to-manage environment that keeps feeder insects healthy until they are fed to your reptiles. If you find the amount of feeders in the tub to cause quick soiling, I’d recommend making multiple tubs to keep capacity lower or even using a larger tub if possible.

Large-Scale Breeders

For breeders managing a large number of insect-eating reptiles and requiring a steady supply of feeder insects, a more substantial and easily maintainable system is necessary. This system is for those receiving orders of thousands of insects at a time and/or for those who may not have time to do spot cleaning maintenance. This system is designed to be completely thrown away between orders to keep maintenance time down and odors low.

Materials Needed:

• Large plastic can with lid

• Heavy-duty trash bags

• Sharp utility knife, soldering iron, or Dremel with cutting attachment

• Window screen mesh (optional)

• Optional: Wheeled base for mobility

• Cardboard egg flats

Setup Instructions:

1. Modify the Lid: Cut a large hole in the lid for ventilation. Optionally, cover the hole with window screen mesh to discourage escapees; with the high sides of a trash can, escapees are less common and an open top makes collecting feeders easier.

2. Use a Trash Bag Liner: Line the trash can with a heavy-duty trash bag. This makes disposal and cleaning significantly easier.

3. Insert Cardboard Egg Flats: Placing staggered cardboard egg flats will increase surface area and help with excess moisture, which helps keep larger volumes of insects alive and healthy.

4. Optional Food & Water Setup:

• Place a shallow tray inside to hold gutload and fresh produce; this can also be thrown directly onto the egg flats but excess moisture and food waste may lead to odors.

• Optionally provide water through deli cups with saturated sponges.
  Insect gutload gels like Repashy Superload are typically sufficient in keeping feeder insects hydrated and is preferable if you will use the insects quickly and reset the tub between orders.

5. Ease of Maintenance:

• The trash can’s height and the lip of the lid help prevent insects from escaping.

• Positioning the trash can on a wheeled base allows for easy movement within a reptile room or breeding facility.

• When it’s time to refresh the feeder insect bin, simply remove the trash bag, tie it off, and replace it with a new one.

This method is ideal for large-scale breeding operations, offering efficiency, easy cleaning, and a practical way to manage high volumes of feeder insects.

Whether you are a hobbyist with a few reptiles or a large-scale breeder, setting up a well-maintained feeder insect tub is crucial for keeping insects healthy and reducing odor and contamination. Small-scale keepers benefit from simple, space-efficient setups, while breeders can maximize efficiency with trash-can-based systems. Selecting the right method for your needs ensures a sanitary place to store food for your reptiles.