hiTimothy
Member
Protein.
A good staple diet should be relatively high in protein.
Fat.
Some fat is needed in the diet. As in human diets, some fats are better than others.
Calcium.
When considering the calcium content of a food,
pay particular attention to the calcium-to-phosphorous ratio; the availability of the calcium is affected by phosphorous.
Ideally, the Cahos ratio should be >1.
Foods that have a lower ratio should be gutloaded, supplemented, or balanced with other foods.
Vitamin D3.
Vitamin D3 is required for the absorption of calcium.
Live foods generally contain some vitamin D3, and it is included in most calcium supplements.
There have been reports that some commercial supplements may contain an excessive amount of vitamin D3, so do your homework about the brand you are buying.
Vitamin D3 can be obtained through exposure to UV light, but most amphibians do not require UV.
Vitamin A.
Like mammals, amphibians are unable synthesize vitamin A and must obtain it from their diet.
It is present in most live foods.
It is required for proper development and physiology, but excessive amounts are very toxic.
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BLACK SOLDIER FLY LARVE (BSFL)
Also known by the following names: PhoenixWorms, ReptiWorms, CalciWorms, and NutriGrubs.
Nutritional Content:
Fat: 9.4%
Protein: 17.3%
Calcium (ppm)/(mg/100g): 8155/34mg
Phosphorous (ppm): 5355
Ratio: 1.52
Refrigeration:
NO. Can be stored at temps from 50-60 degrees F. Easily achievable via wine cooler.
Or room temp
Life span:
Up to 2 weeks at room temp
Appearance and texture:
Creamy off white/brown/black
"Ribbed" visual texture. (no hard exoskeleton/chitin)
Creamy white and brown ones are softer than the darker black ones.
They are active and wiggle, which will easily catch the attention of your reptile.
Size:
Smalls are generally 5/16" long and under
Mediums: 7/16" long
Large: 3/4"-1" long
Can be bred?
Yes
Low in fat, incredibly high in calcium, thus allowing you to feed directly to your beardie
without the need to dust with additional calcium.
No gutloading required.
Since they are fairly small, your reptile will eat quite a few,
so it can get costly. For that reason, it is recommended it be used along with other feeders.
SOURCES
http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/foods2.shtml
http://www.silkwormstore.co.uk/calci-worms---explained.html
http://www.phoenixworm.com/servlet/the-template/comparison/Page
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BUTTER WORM
Also known by the name TrevoWorm
Nutritional Content:
Fat: 5.21%
Protein: 16.2%
Calcium (mg/100g): 42.9mg
Refrigeration:
Yes
Life span:
1-2 months refigerated with minimal loss. 4 months max.
Appearance and texture:
Red/orange/yellow
Fat and soft with visual "ribbed" texture (no hard exoskeleton/chitin)
Black "faces"
Size:
Average 3/4" up to 1" long
Can vary from .5 to 1.5" long
Can be bred?
No. Irradiated before leaving Chile
Very low in fat, and similar to the BSFL are high in calcium and do not require additional dusting of calcium powder.
Easy to care for -just throw them in the fridge!
No gutloading required.
Since they are fairly small, your reptile will eat quite a few,
so it can get costly. For that reason, it is recommended it be used along with other feeders.
SOURCES
http://www.elliotsbutterworms.com/nutrition.htm
http://www.carolinapetsupply.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=60
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SILKWORM
Nutritional Content:
Fat: 10.6%
Protein: 63.8%
Calcium: .34 (???)
Refrigeration:
NO
Should be kept at temps from 78-58 degrees F
Life span:
Up to 25 days before cocooning with proper feeding and care
Can live up to 1 week without food.
Appearance and texture:
White/grey
Long with "ribbed" visual texture (no hard exoskeleton/chitin)
Very soft and easily bruised
Very small "horn" on the rear
Size:
Up to 3" long
Grow as much as you feed.
Feed little, they grow little. Feed copious amounts, they grow large quickly.
Can be bred?
Yes
Extremely high in protein.
They feed exclusively on the mulberry leaves, so food must be specially ordered in order to ensure survival.
Cheaper than butterworms and BSFL
SOURCES
http://www.silkwormshop.com/benefits.html
http://www.buyfruitflies.com/silkworm_info.html
http://www.silkwormshop.com/faq.html
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HORNWORM
Also known by the following names: Goliath Worm and Tomato Worm
Nutritional Content:
Fat: 3.07%
Protein: 9%
Calcium (mg/100g): 46.4mg
Refrigeration:
Only the LARGE ones for a few days.
Should be kept around 75-80 degrees F
Life span:
~3 weeks
Appearance and texture:
Green or blue with white stripes
Long and soft bodies (no hard exoskeleton/chitin)
Noticeable "horn" at the end of its body
Bright colours are attractive to beardies
Size:
Max up to 3"-4" long
Can be bred?
Yes
These insects have a high water content and can be used to re-hydrate your dragon
High in calcium, low in fat and protein.
Not recommended as a staple itself due to the low amount of protein. Should be combined with other feeders.
SOURCES
http://www.greatlakeshornworm.com/faq
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WAXWORM
Should be fed very rarely
Nutritional Content:
Fat: 22.19%
Protein: 15.5%
Calcium (ppm): 283
Phosphorous (ppm): 2161
Refrigeration:
Yes
Can be kept a room temperature
Life span:
3-5 weeks with proper care
Appearance and texture:
White grub with an orange-brown/black head
"Ribbed" visual texture
Fat and soft (no hard exoskeleton/chitin)
Size:
~3/4" long
Can be bred?
Yes
These worms are extremely fatty, and should not be used as staple feeders. It is recommended to be fed on rare occasions as treats. Think of it as you would a candy bar, feeding often and/or in excess can cause a fatty liver and obesity, among other things.
SOURCES
http://www.grubco.com/nutritional_information.cfm
http://www.nyworms.com/waxworms.htm
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUPERWORM
Also known by the name Morio Worm
Nutritional Content:
Fat: 16%
Protein: 20%
Calcium (ppm): 173
Phosphorous (ppm): 2320
Refrigeration:
NO. They are a tropical species and should be stored at room temp up to 80*
Life span:
3+ months with proper care
Appearance and texture:
Long brown worms with black "ribbed" stripes
Smooth, like teflon. Difficult to pick up with fingers on a flat surface
Hard exoskeleton/chitin
Size:
Up to 2" long
Can be bred?
Yes, but takes a lot of time
These worms should not be fed to bearded dragons under the length of 16 inches, due to a kink in their digestive tract that has yet to stretch out. These can be fed as a staple, though they are high in fat compared to other worms, and have a harder exoskeleton (chitin) which makes it difficult to digest, though not impossible.
It is a MYTH that one would need to crush or decapitate the superworm before feeding it to your dragon. With proper chewing, the superworm would be long dead before going into your beardie's stomach. If not, the superworm would be digested by their powerful stomach acid.
SOURCES
http://www.herpshop.com.au/CareSheets/SuperWorms/SuperWorms.html
http://www.nyworms.com/superworms.htm
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MEALWORM
Not recommended to be fed
Nutritional Content:
Fat: 12.72%
Protein: 20.27%
Calcium (ppm): 133
Phosphorous (ppm): 3345
Refrigeration:
Yes
Can be kept at room temperature
Life span:
3+ months with proper care
Appearance and texture:
Small, long golden yellow/light brown worms
Smooth with ribbed texture
Hard exoskeleton/chitin
Size:
1/4"-1" long
Can be bred?
Yes, but takes a lot of time
These worms have not much nutritional value for your bearded dragon. They have a tough exoskeleton that is difficult to digest and feeding mealworms to your beardie has barely any benefits, if any at all. It is not recommended that you feed mealworms to your bearded dragon. But if you choose to, it's recommended it be sparingly or as a rare treat.
SOURCES
http://www.grubco.com/nutritional_information.cfm
http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/foods2.shtml
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Not all listed sources are sites to purchase specific worms, informational purposes only.
If there are any mistakes or wrong information, please let me know and I will change it. In addition, if there is anything important or beneficial that I have missed, please also let me know and I will add it.
A good staple diet should be relatively high in protein.
Fat.
Some fat is needed in the diet. As in human diets, some fats are better than others.
Calcium.
When considering the calcium content of a food,
pay particular attention to the calcium-to-phosphorous ratio; the availability of the calcium is affected by phosphorous.
Ideally, the Cahos ratio should be >1.
Foods that have a lower ratio should be gutloaded, supplemented, or balanced with other foods.
Vitamin D3.
Vitamin D3 is required for the absorption of calcium.
Live foods generally contain some vitamin D3, and it is included in most calcium supplements.
There have been reports that some commercial supplements may contain an excessive amount of vitamin D3, so do your homework about the brand you are buying.
Vitamin D3 can be obtained through exposure to UV light, but most amphibians do not require UV.
Vitamin A.
Like mammals, amphibians are unable synthesize vitamin A and must obtain it from their diet.
It is present in most live foods.
It is required for proper development and physiology, but excessive amounts are very toxic.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BLACK SOLDIER FLY LARVE (BSFL)
Also known by the following names: PhoenixWorms, ReptiWorms, CalciWorms, and NutriGrubs.
Nutritional Content:
Fat: 9.4%
Protein: 17.3%
Calcium (ppm)/(mg/100g): 8155/34mg
Phosphorous (ppm): 5355
Ratio: 1.52
Refrigeration:
NO. Can be stored at temps from 50-60 degrees F. Easily achievable via wine cooler.
Or room temp
Life span:
Up to 2 weeks at room temp
Appearance and texture:
Creamy off white/brown/black
"Ribbed" visual texture. (no hard exoskeleton/chitin)
Creamy white and brown ones are softer than the darker black ones.
They are active and wiggle, which will easily catch the attention of your reptile.
Size:
Smalls are generally 5/16" long and under
Mediums: 7/16" long
Large: 3/4"-1" long
Can be bred?
Yes
Low in fat, incredibly high in calcium, thus allowing you to feed directly to your beardie
without the need to dust with additional calcium.
No gutloading required.
Since they are fairly small, your reptile will eat quite a few,
so it can get costly. For that reason, it is recommended it be used along with other feeders.
SOURCES
http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/foods2.shtml
http://www.silkwormstore.co.uk/calci-worms---explained.html
http://www.phoenixworm.com/servlet/the-template/comparison/Page
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BUTTER WORM
Also known by the name TrevoWorm
Nutritional Content:
Fat: 5.21%
Protein: 16.2%
Calcium (mg/100g): 42.9mg
Refrigeration:
Yes
Life span:
1-2 months refigerated with minimal loss. 4 months max.
Appearance and texture:
Red/orange/yellow
Fat and soft with visual "ribbed" texture (no hard exoskeleton/chitin)
Black "faces"
Size:
Average 3/4" up to 1" long
Can vary from .5 to 1.5" long
Can be bred?
No. Irradiated before leaving Chile
Very low in fat, and similar to the BSFL are high in calcium and do not require additional dusting of calcium powder.
Easy to care for -just throw them in the fridge!
No gutloading required.
Since they are fairly small, your reptile will eat quite a few,
so it can get costly. For that reason, it is recommended it be used along with other feeders.
SOURCES
http://www.elliotsbutterworms.com/nutrition.htm
http://www.carolinapetsupply.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=60
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SILKWORM
Nutritional Content:
Fat: 10.6%
Protein: 63.8%
Calcium: .34 (???)
Refrigeration:
NO
Should be kept at temps from 78-58 degrees F
Life span:
Up to 25 days before cocooning with proper feeding and care
Can live up to 1 week without food.
Appearance and texture:
White/grey
Long with "ribbed" visual texture (no hard exoskeleton/chitin)
Very soft and easily bruised
Very small "horn" on the rear
Size:
Up to 3" long
Grow as much as you feed.
Feed little, they grow little. Feed copious amounts, they grow large quickly.
Can be bred?
Yes
Extremely high in protein.
They feed exclusively on the mulberry leaves, so food must be specially ordered in order to ensure survival.
Cheaper than butterworms and BSFL
SOURCES
http://www.silkwormshop.com/benefits.html
http://www.buyfruitflies.com/silkworm_info.html
http://www.silkwormshop.com/faq.html
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HORNWORM
Also known by the following names: Goliath Worm and Tomato Worm
Nutritional Content:
Fat: 3.07%
Protein: 9%
Calcium (mg/100g): 46.4mg
Refrigeration:
Only the LARGE ones for a few days.
Should be kept around 75-80 degrees F
Life span:
~3 weeks
Appearance and texture:
Green or blue with white stripes
Long and soft bodies (no hard exoskeleton/chitin)
Noticeable "horn" at the end of its body
Bright colours are attractive to beardies
Size:
Max up to 3"-4" long
Can be bred?
Yes
These insects have a high water content and can be used to re-hydrate your dragon
High in calcium, low in fat and protein.
Not recommended as a staple itself due to the low amount of protein. Should be combined with other feeders.
SOURCES
http://www.greatlakeshornworm.com/faq
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WAXWORM
Should be fed very rarely
Nutritional Content:
Fat: 22.19%
Protein: 15.5%
Calcium (ppm): 283
Phosphorous (ppm): 2161
Refrigeration:
Yes
Can be kept a room temperature
Life span:
3-5 weeks with proper care
Appearance and texture:
White grub with an orange-brown/black head
"Ribbed" visual texture
Fat and soft (no hard exoskeleton/chitin)
Size:
~3/4" long
Can be bred?
Yes
These worms are extremely fatty, and should not be used as staple feeders. It is recommended to be fed on rare occasions as treats. Think of it as you would a candy bar, feeding often and/or in excess can cause a fatty liver and obesity, among other things.
SOURCES
http://www.grubco.com/nutritional_information.cfm
http://www.nyworms.com/waxworms.htm
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUPERWORM
Also known by the name Morio Worm
Nutritional Content:
Fat: 16%
Protein: 20%
Calcium (ppm): 173
Phosphorous (ppm): 2320
Refrigeration:
NO. They are a tropical species and should be stored at room temp up to 80*
Life span:
3+ months with proper care
Appearance and texture:
Long brown worms with black "ribbed" stripes
Smooth, like teflon. Difficult to pick up with fingers on a flat surface
Hard exoskeleton/chitin
Size:
Up to 2" long
Can be bred?
Yes, but takes a lot of time
These worms should not be fed to bearded dragons under the length of 16 inches, due to a kink in their digestive tract that has yet to stretch out. These can be fed as a staple, though they are high in fat compared to other worms, and have a harder exoskeleton (chitin) which makes it difficult to digest, though not impossible.
It is a MYTH that one would need to crush or decapitate the superworm before feeding it to your dragon. With proper chewing, the superworm would be long dead before going into your beardie's stomach. If not, the superworm would be digested by their powerful stomach acid.
SOURCES
http://www.herpshop.com.au/CareSheets/SuperWorms/SuperWorms.html
http://www.nyworms.com/superworms.htm
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MEALWORM
Not recommended to be fed
Nutritional Content:
Fat: 12.72%
Protein: 20.27%
Calcium (ppm): 133
Phosphorous (ppm): 3345
Refrigeration:
Yes
Can be kept at room temperature
Life span:
3+ months with proper care
Appearance and texture:
Small, long golden yellow/light brown worms
Smooth with ribbed texture
Hard exoskeleton/chitin
Size:
1/4"-1" long
Can be bred?
Yes, but takes a lot of time
These worms have not much nutritional value for your bearded dragon. They have a tough exoskeleton that is difficult to digest and feeding mealworms to your beardie has barely any benefits, if any at all. It is not recommended that you feed mealworms to your bearded dragon. But if you choose to, it's recommended it be sparingly or as a rare treat.
SOURCES
http://www.grubco.com/nutritional_information.cfm
http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/foods2.shtml
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Not all listed sources are sites to purchase specific worms, informational purposes only.
If there are any mistakes or wrong information, please let me know and I will change it. In addition, if there is anything important or beneficial that I have missed, please also let me know and I will add it.