dusting worms?

[BobSaget]

Should you dust horn worms or silkworms? I have not been because I'm under the impression that they have more calcium in them naturally than crickets and haven't read or seen anything about doing so, but I just wanted to make sure.

 

[meganubis]

Hey! Personally I dusted everything that was moving around because it also depends on their size. If your beardie is full grown only dust maybe 3 or 4 times a week. If its still growing dust all the things!! As long as there is the right amount of heat, UVB lighting they will do fine. From whatI know Silks are high in protein and I'm not interiorly sure about horn to be honest but id say a light dusting if you're unsure is always good.

 

[Taterbug]

Only black soldier fly larvae potentially have enough calcium to not need dusting. All other feeders should be dusted.

 

[BobSaget]

Ok, so i guess my next question would be is it possible to over dust?

 

[jarich]

Just get a plastic tub or bag, put in your insects, put in some calcium powder and shake it around. Unless you are getting them wet first I cant see how you would overdust, no. There is no need to dust any vegetables though.

Taterbug is right, all insects should be dusted with straight calcium powder and gut loaded if possible. Make sure its the calcium without Vitamin D3 though. As long as you have proper UVB lighting, then the Vit D3 is both not needed nor wanted. While you cant overdust with calcium, you can potentially over do it on the Vit D.

 

[SouthernCritter]

Reptiworms, Butterworms and Hornworms are all high in calcium and don't need dusting.

 

[jarich]

Reptiworms, Butterworms and Hornworms are all high in calcium and don't need dusting.

Of the three you mentioned, only repti worms have a high enough Ca ratio to not require dusting. However, given that so many other foods are fed that have a low Ca ratio, even dusting them is a good idea.

 

[SouthernCritter]

Reptiworms, Butterworms and Hornworms are all high in calcium and don't need dusting.

Of the three you mentioned, only repti worms have a high enough Ca ratio to not require dusting. However, given that so many other foods are fed that have a low Ca ratio, even dusting them is a good idea.

Butterworms are probably the highest calcium rich feeder you can get (nearly twice the amount found in reptiworms). They are great for recovering a sickly dragon. Reptiworms are 1.5 Ca and Hornworms are close at 1.3 Ca. This make these top 3 in calcium rich feeders. You can still dust them...the dragon will only take in as much calcium as needed. You want to always dust high phosphorous insects so each meal is nutritionally balanced.

 

[jarich]

Reptiworms, Butterworms and Hornworms are all high in calcium and don't need dusting.

Of the three you mentioned, only repti worms have a high enough Ca ratio to not require dusting. However, given that so many other foods are fed that have a low Ca ratio, even dusting them is a good idea.

Butterworms are probably the highest calcium rich feeder you can get (nearly twice the amount found in reptiworms). They are great for recovering a sickly dragon. Reptiworms are 1.5 Ca and Hornworms are close at 1.3 Ca. This make these top 3 in calcium rich feeders. You can still dust them...the dragon will only take in as much calcium as needed. You want to always dust high phosphorous insects so each meal is nutritionally balanced.

Awesome, this is the other quote that always gets said about butter worms all the time! You actually see it in numerical charts a lot, which is super funny. There will be all these numbers for numerous other insects, and then for butter worms instead of a number it will literally say "twice as much as other feeders". It comes from an interview in Reptiles Magazine where they quoted Ryan Dunbar as saying they had "at least twice as much calcium as other feeders". Again, no references, no real information.

Larvae are generally good for rehabilitating certain problem lizards because they have lots of fat. Very few have a good Ca ratio otherwise. Earthworms can because of the soil they process (if its a calcium rich soil), and black soldier fly larvae do because the unusually store calcium on purpose. SouthernCritter, Im not trying to bust your chops, just dont want people thinking these are some super bugs that shouldnt be dusted and are good for adding calcium to the diet. They are ok as normal larvae go, but no better. Please provide any references to those Ca ratios you mention. And by references, I mean actual studies, not websites that sell them.

 

[Tonja]

With the reptisun tube lights or the arcadias it is recommended to dust with calcium with D3. The powersun and solar glos you don't have to due to the higher output of UVB, So yes dust with calcium with the D3 in it.

 

[SouthernCritter]

I don't feel your "busting my chops" I value everyone opinion. I still disagree with you on the butterworms but don't need to argue about it. I don't have concrete evidence on nutritional value of them and evidently you don't either. I will get them lab tested along with my Discoid roaches to get a reliable answer around August.
I plan on selling roaches here in Florida in the fall as there is a high demand for them and want to see how the lab results compare to Dubia's

 

[Taterbug]

I don't feel your "busting my chops" I value everyone opinion. I still disagree with you on the butterworms but don't need to argue about it. I don't have concrete evidence on nutritional value of them and evidently you don't either. I will get them lab tested along with my Discoid roaches to get a reliable answer around August.
I plan on selling roaches here in Florida in the fall as there is a high demand for them and want to see how the lab results compare to Dubia's

Southern, I think this is the study Jarich is referring to. http://www.timberlinefisheries.com/v/vspfiles/assets/images/finke_2012_complete%20nutrient%20content%20of%20four%20species%20of%20feeder%20insects.pdf

I hope you can share the analysis of your worms/roaches to add more data points. The reliable info out there is disappointingly small for some of the more exotic feeders. Best luck with your bug business!

 

[SouthernCritter]

Interesting article Tater, Thanks for the link and wishing me luck.

 

[jarich]

I don't feel your "busting my chops" I value everyone opinion. I still disagree with you on the butterworms but don't need to argue about it. I don't have concrete evidence on nutritional value of them and evidently you don't either. I will get them lab tested along with my Discoid roaches to get a reliable answer around August.
I plan on selling roaches here in Florida in the fall as there is a high demand for them and want to see how the lab results compare to Dubia's

Southern, I think this is the study Jarich is referring to. http://www.timberlinefisheries.com/v/vspfiles/assets/images/finke_2012_complete%20nutrient%20content%20of%20four%20species%20of%20feeder%20insects.pdf

I hope you can share the analysis of your worms/roaches to add more data points. The reliable info out there is disappointingly small for some of the more exotic feeders. Best luck with your bug business!

Oops, sorry, was posting on two threads about this. Posted the link on the other one and forgot to post it here. Thanks tater, that was indeed the study I mentioned.