ComicBookMama
Sub-Adult Member
So I had some time on my hands and I was wondering how much our feeders really go for. Now - disclaimer - I did not intensively research every feeder, looking for the best deals. I went to about 3 websites for each feeder and took the average of what each feeder would cost individually, before shipping costs. When varieties of sizes were available, I listed the size I used to compare prices. Some feeders, such as silkworms, may come in "mixed size" batches, so I wasn't able to list a size - but in all cases, I tried to mentally "purchase" what I'd be buying to feed an adult beardie. I left out mealworms because I just didn't have enough time to continue my little experiment, not because I'm discouraging anyone from feeding them. 
Not surprisingly, crickets came in as the most economical feeder. There is a HUGE difference between sellers, however, and between the species of crickets on offer (striped vs. brown crickets). In my opinion, however, they're also the most bothersome feeder... stinky, noisy, and short-lived. I thought hornworms would be the most expensive feeder, but that honorific goes to silkworms, with one seller offering 12 for $10. As always, the more you buy, the more you save.
You also save by raising your own, an option with silkworms and dubia roaches and, I think, hornworms - but for all the money it would definitely save me, I'm just not interested in becoming a bug farmer. It's all I can personally do to feed the things to gutload them for my dragon... and if I could buy them pre-gutloaded, I'd probably do that!
I did not look into the cost of buying at a local pet store, but from memory, everything is more expensive that way... I saw Petco selling 4 hornworms for $10 today, and even the crickets are vastly marked up from what you can get online.
So here's what I discovered, in terms of how much feeders are actually costing us. As always, and as a wise poster once advised me, YMMV. You can probably shave a few cents off by doing some intensive cost-comparison shopping, and by placing recurring orders.
Silkworms: .40 - 1.20 each
Dubia Roaches (3/4"): .24 - .38 each
Superworms (1-2"): .08 - .10 each
Crickets (3/4"): .01 - .10 each (wide variety between sellers)
Hornworms: .33 - .67 each
BSFL (large): .02 - .06 each
Not surprisingly, crickets came in as the most economical feeder. There is a HUGE difference between sellers, however, and between the species of crickets on offer (striped vs. brown crickets). In my opinion, however, they're also the most bothersome feeder... stinky, noisy, and short-lived. I thought hornworms would be the most expensive feeder, but that honorific goes to silkworms, with one seller offering 12 for $10. As always, the more you buy, the more you save.
You also save by raising your own, an option with silkworms and dubia roaches and, I think, hornworms - but for all the money it would definitely save me, I'm just not interested in becoming a bug farmer. It's all I can personally do to feed the things to gutload them for my dragon... and if I could buy them pre-gutloaded, I'd probably do that!
I did not look into the cost of buying at a local pet store, but from memory, everything is more expensive that way... I saw Petco selling 4 hornworms for $10 today, and even the crickets are vastly marked up from what you can get online.
So here's what I discovered, in terms of how much feeders are actually costing us. As always, and as a wise poster once advised me, YMMV. You can probably shave a few cents off by doing some intensive cost-comparison shopping, and by placing recurring orders.
Silkworms: .40 - 1.20 each
Dubia Roaches (3/4"): .24 - .38 each
Superworms (1-2"): .08 - .10 each
Crickets (3/4"): .01 - .10 each (wide variety between sellers)
Hornworms: .33 - .67 each
BSFL (large): .02 - .06 each
