Growing hornworms...

[forum1983]

Okay, so I have this large container I made to keep my hornworms in instead of the smaller cups that come with your order, see picture here:

A couple weeks ago I ordered more eggs and instead of using the cups that came with the eggs I used this container, and what I saw was that not only was the food drying out really fast, the larva themselves seem to dry out (maybe because they didn't have anything to eat due to the dried out food). I really don't like using the cups because I believe food gets wasted in those containers. Has any of you that are using a similar larva box run into the same issues, and if so, what can I do? Keep a dish of water in the large contain to keep the moisture up? I'm thinking I put too many vent holes. Once the larva gets to a decent size they ate the food so quickly it didn't have time to dry out so I never noticed before. Right now I cooked a little food, enough for one cup, and transferred my larva to it until they get big enough to put back in the larger container. Any suggestions would help.

 

[Honda99300ex]

Use the cups ...but really, the cups with the.mesh vented holes work the best. If the food is being wasted, put less food, or more worms...I never had problems with the cups

 

[Vermundor]

I find that the cups smell, are a bit more annoying the clean, waste food, and are prone to mold growth. The holes look a bit big on the sides, you may want to close them up a bit. I haven't had an issue with my worms so far in the tub containers. It's actually smell free as well. What food do you use? If you use fruits and veggies then they will dry up fast. I use store bought food by Great Lakes Hornworm and it lasts me a while.

Also if they're younger, use a smaller tub (about $1 from home depot or $2 from bed&bath). It will prevent the food from drying out as fast and its easier to maintain the worms.

 

[ShenziSixaxis]

I'm curious: What is being fed to the worms in the picture at the top of this page and how is it working out?

 

[forum1983]

I find that the cups smell, are a bit more annoying the clean, waste food, and are prone to mold growth. The holes look a bit big on the sides, you may want to close them up a bit. I haven't had an issue with my worms so far in the tub containers. It's actually smell free as well. What food do you use? If you use fruits and veggies then they will dry up fast. I use store bought food by Great Lakes Hornworm and it lasts me a while.

Also if they're younger, use a smaller tub (about $1 from home depot or $2 from bed&bath). It will prevent the food from drying out as fast and its easier to maintain the worms.

I am also using the food from Great Lakes Hornworm, the picture here I was out of food and my package hadn't come yet and at that point the larva hadn't ate in two days so I just threw what I had in there...it didn't work out so well. Using a smaller container would be fine but I was hoping that I can have just one that I can use from egg to full grown larva, but I guess I can't.

 

[forum1983]

I'm curious: What is being fed to the worms in the picture at the top of this page and how is it working out?

It was just some romaine lettuce, or something similar, and grapes cut in half. They didn't really eat the grapes but they did go for the lettuce but I don't think it was a good idea because they looked "sick" afterwards. However, I have heard of other things you might feed them or you can even search for a recipe on how to make your own hornworm food (this is usually more expensive). Most people just get powder food that you cook yourself from Great Lakes Hornworms. They are cheap and the food is quality.

 

[ShenziSixaxis]

That recipe kills them. :/

 

[forum1983]

So, after my first unsuccessful attempt to go from worm to cocoon to moth, I finally got a new batch of eggs from Great Lakes Hornworms and raised them. With a suggestion from a user here, I got plastic containers and pine bedding used for pet rodents. The worms buried themselves right away. Hopefully in a few weeks I'll have some moths.

 

[Shoulon]

I used dirt. got it from home depot. (the gardening section.) Currently have a 96% success rate.

 

[forum1983]

I used dirt. got it from home depot. (the gardening section.) Currently have a 96% success rate.

I used dirt the first time too, but after someone told me to take them out of the dirt once they cocoon and put them under a light for 14 hours a day (otherwise they could take 5 months to hatch) they all died within a few days. Did you just leave your cocoons buried in the dirt until they hatched? That is what I plan on doing this time, except I'm not using dirt.

 

[Shoulon]

I used dirt. got it from home depot. (the gardening section.) Currently have a 96% success rate.

I used dirt the first time too, but after someone told me to take them out of the dirt once they cocoon and put them under a light for 14 hours a day (otherwise they could take 5 months to hatch) they all died within a few days. Did you just leave your cocoons buried in the dirt until they hatched? That is what I plan on doing this time, except I'm not using dirt.

I left them all in the dirt. there natural environment has NO sunlight which the 20gal bin I threw them in (with dirt) provides no light. Currently Iv'e had only 2 Deaths in my dirt cycle, and 1 deformed moth (poor guy) The amount of days it took for them to hatch was 41 days. (temps though those days where avrge from 68-84 in room)

 

[forum1983]

I used dirt. got it from home depot. (the gardening section.) Currently have a 96% success rate.

I used dirt the first time too, but after someone told me to take them out of the dirt once they cocoon and put them under a light for 14 hours a day (otherwise they could take 5 months to hatch) they all died within a few days. Did you just leave your cocoons buried in the dirt until they hatched? That is what I plan on doing this time, except I'm not using dirt.

I left them all in the dirt. there natural environment has NO sunlight which the 20gal bin I threw them in (with dirt) provides no light. Currently Iv'e had only 2 Deaths in my dirt cycle, and 1 deformed moth (poor guy) The amount of days it took for them to hatch was 41 days. (temps though those days where avrge from 68-84 in room)

wow 41 days huh? that is longer then the 2-3 weeks I originally heard about, but it isn't too long. Thanks for getting back to me!

 

[forum1983]

YAY!!! I finally got a moth! hahaha

First time around I failed, and this time it seemed like it was taking forever. But I just happened to look down where I keep the cocoons and saw one moth. I quickly made some simple syrup and put it in a container with some holes in the lid. I really hope that it doesn't attract ants :roll:

 

[valcash]

NOTE: I am aware of the fact that tomato plants are considered to be toxic to reptiles so for those of you wanting to attempt a project similar to this, just be aware that you cannot place your growing worms on the plant because they will eat the plant, and as we all know what your feeders eat your beardie eats.

I have personally not found this to be true. I have fed hornworms off the plants. The reptiles got fat, shed a lot, and ate well that summer. We did, however, lose all of our tomato plants. But at least the beardies were happy...
Hornworms are super destructive, even the small ones, to all tomato plants of all sizes.

 

[forum1983]

NOTE: I am aware of the fact that tomato plants are considered to be toxic to reptiles so for those of you wanting to attempt a project similar to this, just be aware that you cannot place your growing worms on the plant because they will eat the plant, and as we all know what your feeders eat your beardie eats.

I have personally not found this to be true. I have fed hornworms off the plants. The reptiles got fat, shed a lot, and ate well that summer. We did, however, lose all of our tomato plants. But at least the beardies were happy...
Hornworms are super destructive, even the small ones, to all tomato plants of all sizes.

Of course I never claimed to be a Bearded Dragon nutritionist and know from first hand knowledge of what is deadly to them or not. I read somewhere and have heard from many people that it is so. So I figured it's better to be safe then to have a dead beardie. But of course I'm sure there are beardies out there that tomato plants have no ill effect and some that it does. Just like dogs can't have chocolate but I've heard of people feeding their dogs chocolate. I'm glad you were able to get away with it, but I just don't want to risk it with my pet.