Hornworms -Pros and Cons?? (and a couple other questions)

[Ginbird]

I don't know much about these critters and their nutrition levels. I was wondering if someone could enlighten me on the pros and cons.

As a prospective Beardie owner, I would like to know all of my options for food and whatnot.
I am most likely going to be having crix as the staple food, (of course along with Fruits/Veg) but I've heard that they smell. I don't think my family would like a smelly box full of crickets, they already don't like bugs as it is. :mrgreen:
Also, I was wondering which insect would be the best one to breed (IE, which one takes up the least room in the actual process/the easiest), because although I am willing to buy food, I hear it can get very costly.

Any help??

Thanks.

 

[fresnowitte]

Cons~Expensive
Pros~Great For Your Beardie & They Love Them

Here are a couple of links to nutritional value charts;
Live Feeders http://www.feedersinc.com/insect-comparison/
Some Other Beardie Foods http://www.beautifuldragons.503xtreme.com/Nutrition.html

If you don't want to use crickets or the family complains then tell them your going to raise roaches. :laughhard:
They are the easiest to breed and raise. :wink:
I have Blatta Lateralis(AKA Turks) and Super Worms growing for staple feeders.

Feeding 9 beardies is no longer expensive. :mrgreen:

 

[Ginbird]

Thank you for this information. It helped a lot.
I wonder how my family would like for me to raise roaches. heeheeheehee :twisted:

 

[MAJ]

The other problem I have with hornworms is that they have a relatively short shelf life. Their caterpillar stage only lasts a couple of weeks.
I only get a few at a time.
As another pro, it can be entertaining to watch a beardie eat them (especially for the first time). The juice can squirt a surprising distance until your beardie gets the hang of them.
I raise dubias and superworms as staples, but pick up hornworms once in a while (in addition to occasional silkworms and butterworms) for variety.