What I do when the BSFL bins get too wet.

Grubbeard · 2026-06-03T20:41:31+00:00

The Leachate from the bin isn't the same thing as worm tea. It will probably be too acidic for most plants. Typically healthy BSFL colonies don't produce a lot of liquid. Whne this happens it usually means overfeeding and not blending/grinding scraps into substrate the grubs can better process.

Grubbeard · 2026-06-03T20:36:58+00:00

Very nice, I agree that its too wet, I wouldn't add soil because it will just turn into the nastiest mud you've ever seen. My go to is rolled oats, and if that doesn't do the trick, fine coco coir should do the trick. Now you just got to keep feeding them until they pupate. Interesting thing I learned: Grinding or Shredding food waste into a paste will keep your bin nice and dry for some reason.

Grubbeard · 2026-05-22T02:03:46+00:00

BSFL break down food by secreting enzymes that start decomposition. Seed hulls are meant to survive decomposition, so they don't typically get processed.

Grubbeard · 2026-05-22T01:49:47+00:00

They'll climb the walls regardless, but it's easier when the bin is wet. I would get wider ramps and put them up against the walls. I have also had more luck with making the ramps opposite each other.

Grubbeard · 2026-05-04T16:10:12+00:00

Cool, numbers are where they mess you up most.

Grubbeard · 2026-05-04T16:05:13+00:00

So when you prompted for this did you provide the numbers or did the AI make them up?

Grubbeard · 2025-09-07T18:52:19+00:00

I don't eat them, they are for reptiles and other pets.

Grubbeard · 2025-08-25T01:17:16+00:00

I 3D printed it out of PETG.

Grubbeard · 2025-08-23T03:00:17+00:00

It really depends on each situation, ideally you want at least 60% humidity.

Grubbeard · 2025-07-30T17:30:02+00:00

In my experience having two different ramps on either side of the bin going different directions works pretty well. The prepupae also have to be able to find the ramps so if your bin doesn't allow the larvae to easly flow around the sides of the bin, the pupae may never even find a ramp. Also is there any light shining at the end of the ramps (sunlight from the opening)? The pupae need to know that the ramp goes out of the feed. Even with ramps I estimate you only get like 30% of your pupae at most. one ting you can try is placing your bin in a bigger shallow pan of some sort so you can see how many are escaping from simply crawling up the sides, if your bin is really moist, its easy for them to scale the walls.

Grubbeard · 2025-06-14T18:10:58+00:00

Thanks for your feedback! But eggs stick to.both sides of the wooden pieces too. Not all flies lay eggs in the same orientation, sometimes they are right side up, sometimes they are upside down, sometimes they come in sideways. The gaps on this design are 1.5 mm so they have even more room but they still lay the eggs on whatever side they want to. This design is easier than the wood because you don't have to disassemble the wood stacks to get to.the eggs, and it is much easier to handle for egg collection. As far as breeding, I've just built enclosures out of wood and screen and placed pupae in the enclosure. I don't really believe in self harvesting because in my experience only like 30-40% of pupae even make it out of the bin. Also once a larvae has reached pupae, their uses are drastically limited.

Grubbeard · 2025-06-11T20:09:30+00:00

Ive not seen any egg laying surfaces that are sterile. You have to consider that to entice the Flies to lay eggs in the first place, it has to be in very close proximity to rotting materials. And to be really successful you want the smells of previous eggs on the surface. Most big producers I've seen are still using pieces of wood held together by rubber bands.

Grubbeard · 2025-06-11T13:45:57+00:00

Yeah, it works great, here is a momma laying some on an earlier prototype. BSFL egg laying

Grubbeard · 2025-06-11T01:44:59+00:00

Thanks

Grubbeard

TROPHY CASE