Anyone RAISING phoenix worms?

[Fishercat]

Hi.

I'm considering starting a small colony of prey insects for my adult beardie. He's currently very happy eating gut-loaded pet store crickets. But I don't have anywhere to put a noisy, stinky cricket colony. My garage is sometimes below freezing in winter, and I presume that's far too cold for raising insects. Cockroaches are out of the question -- I grew up in New York, and they totally disgust me. I've read that phoenix worms are an excellent staple prey, though.

Have any of you tried maintaining a phoenix worm colony?

Thanks!

 

[zandi202]

Phoenix worms are hard because they have to be flies in order to reproduce.

Dubia aren't like cockroaches. I didn't want to try them either, but they are more nutritious than crickets, they are quiet, don't smell, last longer, are slower, and give live birth.

 

[Junebug]

Dubia are like little potato bugs, they aren't like cockroaches at all. They can't climb, don't really eat garbage food, and aren't smelly, don't make noise, can't bite your beardie, and are really easy, but take a long time, to get a colony going. Phoenix worms, Like Zandi has said are really hard, they are black fly larve, and unless you have an area where you and keep a bunch of black flies, you most likely won't be able to breed them! Crickets aren't that hard to breed, but the noise, smell and the fact that they bit, and jump, so my baby couldn't catch them nor would he even think about eating them when one passed infront of his face. My Boyfriend said NOPE, no questions no! on Dubia, but after seeing that our baby beardie wouldn't eat crickets, not to mention they were starting to stink, and as they got older, they would be making noise, he agreed to try them, now he uses a spoon to get them but he is okay with feeding our beardie! I just tell all the kids and anyone that visits they are potato bugs, and they don't ask any more questions (I have young kids, whom would probably go to school and announce that we are breeding roaches, so I decided to convince them they are potato bugs) There are a few really good websites I order my phoenix worms from, one I love becasue they offer free shipping, floridaherps.com. The other I've heard nothing but great things on, I've never before ordered from them, but have emailed Linda and asked questions, and I'm thinking my next order will be through her, lindasgonebuggie.com. (I Just google "Lindasgonebuggie" and it pulls it up) There are other worms too, but I'm not sure how you would or if you could breed them, horn worms, butter worms, or superworms (if your beardie is over 16 inchs). Good Luck!!

 

[Fishercat]

Thanks for the replies. I realize that a colony of dubia roaches is probably the most sensible choice. But there's no way I could do that. I'm not generally a squeamish person. I like insects, think spiders are cute, and don't mind handling the crickets at all, even though they stink. When I was giving them clean water and toilet paper tubes today, I picked out the dead ones bare-handed without a qualm. (Yes, I washed my hands afterwards.) I didn't even have trouble picking out the legs that weren't attached to a corpse anymore.

But you say the word "roach," and all my muscles tense up. It's not rational, and I know it. But there's really no way I could handle raising a colony of roaches. I can barely stand to be in the same room with my friend's colony. Which is why I'm interested in raising phoenix worms. Knowing that they're black fly larvae is at least a place to start. Obviously, someone raises them, since they're sold as feeders, so it's got to be possible. Heck, I'm probably getting way ahead of myself. I don't even know if he thinks they're tasty yet.

If he likes them and I manage to get a colony up and running, I'll share what I've learned here.

Thanks again.

 

[kelii]

I found this, if you're interested. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efdGyefvnWA

 

[Fishercat]

That's fantastic! Thank you!! :mrgreen:

 

[NatashaDawn]

There is an entire site dedicated to this and indoor breeding is a well discussed topic I am about to start a tote breeder and try them out myself. http://blacksoldierflyblog.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=46

 

[kelii]

If you want something that looks nice, you could probably use this.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Exo-Terra-Reptile-Explorarium-Screen-Cage-Small-Black-PT2590-12-x18-/190782579857?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c6b872491

 

[NatashaDawn]

I hadn't seen that one... good call They even have bigger ones good eye kelii http://www.ebay.de/itm/Never-used-PT2594-Explorarium-LARGE-60-x-90-cm-24-x-36-Terrarium-Paid-99-99-/111041236847?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19da92cf6f