Hornworms?

[seandeangelis]

Hi, I'm considering adding hornworms to my beardie's diet and I have a few questions for those of you who have tried them. Where is the best place to get them? I usually use rainbow mealworms, but is there is a better place? What size and how much can my beardie (~15 inches long, 150 grams) eat per day? I wouldn't be using them as a staple as they are so expensive, so is there a way to store them or do you just buy them when you need more? Any help is appreciated, thanks!

 

[traildrifterphalanx]

Heya,
I'm not the best to answer but I literally just bought 25 hornworms for the first time ever off Amazon from Josh's Frogs. It appears all sellers sell them super tiny because they grow very fast, within days, and this way you can pick the size you want to feed them at and lowers the possibility of them being too large or ready to pupate upon arrival.

I just received mine yesterday, in a cup, you flip it upside down so they climb up to eat, and poo falls down. They've already gotten noticeably bigger.

At large sizes, one worm is supposed to fill them up pretty well. Considering they're like the watermelon of feeders, mainly moisture, more than one a day may be discouraged just due to super watery poo, otherwise they're pretty low in protein. They're a great water packed punch

 

[seandeangelis]

Thanks for all the info! I think I'll try ordering them and see how it goes.

 

[traildrifterphalanx]

Best of luck! I'm trying them for my picky eater, and if she refuses I've got a Pacman frog and my garbage disposal male dragon

 

[rpaine]

I use Georgia crickets myself. SO far I have learned that rotation of food is important. And also what my beardie likes today he might turn his nose up at tomorrow

 

[nickanthony]

My beardie only eats hornworms ever since i introduced them to him. He goes absolutely nuts over them. It's all he'll eat now. I heard one full grown one equals roughly 38 crickets. I never give him more than 1. I actually found a great place to get mine. I'm in the Chicago area and there's a small animal expo every 2-3 weeks in the suburbs that sells them very cheap compared to online prices.

Just be warned. If your beardie falls in love with them, it's nearly impossible to get them off of them.

 

[traildrifterphalanx]

I'm unsure in what way they are like 38 crickets, but hornworms provide very little protein, only 9% compared to crickets 18%, but are higher in calcium, lower in fat, and packed with moisture.

This site has a good chart comparing crickets to worms
https://www.homesalive.ca/blog/reptile-feeder-insect-nutritional-breakdown/

 

[diamc]

You can order them from here, either a cup or 3 cups for $25.00 which is a good price. http://www.lindasgonebuggie.com

 

[Petastics]

They are fantastic and should be fed large sized at least twice a week 1-2 worms as a way keep your beardy hydrated. Mealworms ahould never ever be fed to beardies. They have a shell that cant be digested. Feed superworms only! Or any of the following (if they will eat it)
SILKWORMS ARE THE MOST nutritious and best staple food for your lizard. Though exspensive. I buy at store cost in Canada. 6 large ( 2 inch size) run 15$ and thats what the stores pay. If you buy them in stores over here. Its about 2$ a worm. But its worth it. No vitamin powder neede dif fed those guys regularly.
Waxworms aka phownix worms aka bsfl. Very small
High in calcium best for smaller lizards as bigger ones dont bother with how small they are.
Superworms. Stand staple food. Kept easily in container with outmeal to dig in and veggies to gutload for the stubborn lizard.
Butterworms are good for fattening them up. But best left as a treat. Though they are tiny too.

 

[Petastics]

I'm unsure in what way they are like 38 crickets, but hornworms provide very little protein, only 9% compared to crickets 18%, but are higher in calcium, lower in fat, and packed with moisture.

This site has a good chart comparing crickets to worms
https://www.homesalive.ca/blog/reptile-feeder-insect-nutritional-breakdown/

Not true in canada. We use hornworms for protei. As they are jamn packed with it!!!!

 

[AHBD]

I get mine from great lakes hornworms. You can often see his banner here on this forum. Rob is one of the first to produce them on a large scale here in the U.S and is as professional as they come and I highly recommend his company. Some of his clients include Disney , the Smithsonian and the Fort Worth Zoo. He also sells other feeder insects as well.

Oh, and I want to add a correction of what one poster said, that waxworms are aka Phoenix worms, but they are 2 completely different types of insect larva.

 

[traildrifterphalanx]

I'm unsure in what way they are like 38 crickets, but hornworms provide very little protein, only 9% compared to crickets 18%, but are higher in calcium, lower in fat, and packed with moisture.

This site has a good chart comparing crickets to worms
https://www.homesalive.ca/blog/reptile-feeder-insect-nutritional-breakdown/

Not true in canada. We use hornworms for protei. As they are jamn packed with it!!!!

I am unsure how Canadian hornworms would be any different than in the states :lol: Any chart I'm seeing on their nutrition facts shows 9% protein, including this seller in Canada http://thewormlady.ca/hornworms.php.
By all means, I'm not saying they are an inferior feeder, I'm just looking into how they are like 38 crickets as the user had posted. Regardless, my dragons love them!