New to Reptiworms! Need some advice :-)

[BreezyBeardie]

I just ordered my first order of Reptiworms for my baby beardie yesterday and I am so excited for them to get here! (mostly because crickets are becoming annoying...)
But I had a few questions;

-I hear that the reptiworms lose their nutritional value over time, as do crickets. What can I do to keep their nutrition level high considering one order will last me a few weeks? (I was told to keep them in the refrigerator, take them out about an hour or so before feeding, and put some fish food flakes in with the worms so they can eat before the beardie eats them...?) With the crickets, I have orange cubes to keep them healthy.

-Do I HAVE to keep the worms in the refrigerator? I am afraid if I don't, they will start to become flies if some of them are old enough.

-Should I completely switch over to reptiworms and just forget about the crickets all together? Is it healthy to only feed worms? Should I feed him crickets maybe a few times a week as a treat sort of?

-I know that veggies and occasional fruits are very important. I have only had him for about 4 days now and so far he doesn't care at all for the veggies or fruit. I am going to keep trying though because I want him to be healthy. I was thinking of putting worms in with a salad and maybe it will get him to try new things.

Any other suggestions when it comes to the reptiworms? Any help will be greatly appreciated! I am very new at this so I am trying to do everything right

-Brianna

 

[Ashpd2006]

Hi,

I'm a newbie as well, and I just ordered my first order of reptiworms tonight. I am sure more experienced people will chime in, but from what I have researched, you don't want to refrigerate the worms. They should stay at around 50-60 degrees to slow the growth. Keeping them in a cooler with ice packs or sitting them on/in front of a a/c vent works. I have read that they can be offered as a staple instead of crickets, but they are more expensive so a lot of people use a combination. Personally, I really hope my guy likes them....I'm getting tired of dealing with crickets all the time, lol. Good Luck

 

[BreezyBeardie]

Hmm... I guess I could do a cooler. I am curious as to why refrigerating is too cold. I know other worms are refrigerated. That would be so much easier, haha! I would put them in front of an AC vent but the AC isn't constantly on so it wouldn't be consistent.

Possibly a tiny ice cooler that I can leave near a vent.... I don't even know what they come inside of! haha I ordered 150 extra small. So we will see. I think I would only need a small cooler.

 

[Ashpd2006]

I know! I have mealworms for my Leopard Gecko and they stay in the fridge. I don't remember if it was the Phoenix worms website or the reptiworms that said no to the fridge and suggested the cooler. Heck, it could have been on here that I saw it....I feel like I have been doing nothing but research the last 6 days.

 

[BreezyBeardie]

Oh my god we are living parallel lives right now! Haha that is all I have been doing and I never even stay up this late, especially on the computer. But I am getting so worried about my baby! Between the right lighting and the right temperature and the food he is eating, there is just so much to know and to do. I have had him for three days now and I am FINALLY going tomorrow to get a temp and humidity gauge so I know if it is too hot in there. I keep thinking it is but i think I am just paranoid from reading all of these posts! haha ;-). I can't wait to get everything I need tomorrow and get my new UVB light and worms this week too.

I think some of it has to do with the fact that I am going away for the weekend coming up and I just want everything to be okay before I leave. Also so my family only has to worry about feeding him (hopefully worms) and thats it!

Sorry I feel like I am ranting but I just need to get this stuff out! Haha

 

[Ashpd2006]

It's ok, I totally feel like I'm on information overload, lol. My friend from work is also getting her first beardie this weekend when we go to a reptile show, we have been texting back and forth all the info we discover. There is just soooo much and a lot of it is conflicting. My tank is in major need of accessories which I hope to get this weekend at the show. I'm so excited to get everything set up. My hubby thinks I'm nuts, lol. My advice for thermometer is definitely the accurite from Walmart. I use them on my other reptiles, they work great!!!

 

[BreezyBeardie]

Amazing I am buying the AcuRite from Walmart tomorrow! I can't wait.Good luck at the show! I have always wanted to go to one of those. I also need some accessories in my tank as well. I love him to death, but I cannot wait to be fully set up so all I will have to worry about is buying food and replacing bulbs once in awhile, phew!

 

[Kaiser]

Hi there. I've been using ReptiWorms as a staple for my bearded dragon for over a year and a half now, and they are great. To answer some of your questions:

1. I think all live feeders lose some nutritional value over time. You can slow this down by keeping your ReptiWorms in temperatures between 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Generally, a refrigerator is too cold (however, if you want to check, use a thermometer in your refrigerator and see if the temperature works), so a cooler (as recommended by Ashpd2006) is preferable (but still be sure to check how cold the cooler gets). I have asked ReptiWorms personally if their worms lose their nutritional values over time, and their response was: "The nutritional value of the solider fly should not diminish over time as as long as the worm is not drying out in their bucket; their weight stays constant."

2. Generally, the larvae will not become flies unless they are provided with food and heat (at least room temperature). I have had some larvae turn into flies without food and heat, but the vast majority will not become flies unless provided with both. Generally, you need to have had ordered the largest size of the larvae in order for them to turn into flies. The cooling is generally for survival and nutrient retention; you do not need to cool them to avoid having them turn into flies; however, if you want them to survive longer (two to three weeks at room temperature, months at 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit) and retain their nutrients longer, cooling is recommended.

3. ReptiWorms can be used as a staple (as in, they can be your main source of live feeder). However, the best kind of diet includes a variety of feeders and vegetables. If you can afford to provide your bearded dragon with more than one live feeder, that would be great. You can't go wrong with an appropriate variety.

4. If he is a baby, he will most likely not be interested in vegetables or fruits. This is common and fine. Although some will take to them at an early age, most of them take a while into the juvenile before they are really interested. Feel free to continue providing vegetables and fruits, however, as they will become accustomed to them at an earlier age. Putting the worms in the salad is a good idea and is often suggested for bearded dragons who will not eat their salads.

I think that's about it. ReptiWorms are very easy to care for, and are great feeders for your bearded dragon. One thing to watch out for is that they do have a high calcium to phosphorous ratio (which is perfectly fine, and if anything, probably one of the best ratios for your bearded dragon out of any other feeders), so it is often recommended that you do not supplement with calcium powder (unlike other feeders).

Also, I can vouch for the AcuRite from Walmart as well. If you have any other questions regarding bearded dragon care and/or set-ups, you're in good hands here; lots of good people here to help you out. Best wishes.

 

[patrickmb21]

What is Acurite?

 

[Kaiser]

AcuRite is a brand of thermometers. Many of us here on this site use and recommend investing in digital thermometers, as they are much more accurate than the stick-on dial thermometers included in many pre-made bearded dragon kits.

Particularly, the one AcuRite thermometer that is most recommended is the AcuRite indoor-outdoor digital thermometer with a temperature probe, commonly found locally or online at Walmart stores: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Acu-Rite-Indoor-Outdoor-Thermometer/896347. It's accurate, relatively cheap, acts as two thermometers (both the base and the probe read temperatures), and also includes a hygrometer for measuring humidity.

 

[patrickmb21]

Awesome im getting one i hate these cheap plastic one i have

 

[wilddanny88]

Kaiser gave great info! But definitely do not refrigerate them. The first time I ordered Reptiworms, I put them in the fridge and they nearly died! :roll: But once I warmed them up they were fine. lol But when you do start feeding ReptiWorms, make sure to still give a multivitamin 2x a week.

 

[BreezyBeardie]

Sorry for the late response but I was waiting to see how the worms did.

So Rocky definitely loves them which I am very happy about. And I actually did refrigerate them and they have been alive since last week. Anddd I ordered more because he loves them so much and I don't want them to run out! It's hard to tell how many are actually left in the container.

I keep them towards the top of the fridge in the door where there is the closed section for butter. They seem perfectly fine there. I also have a friend who orders reptiworms and she keeps them in the bottom drawer of the fridge and has been doing that for years. So it seems to be fine, but I guess we will see what happens with the next batch.

THANKS AGAIN EVERYBODY!! I have learned everything I need to know (so far) from this forum <3

 

[Kaiser]

Good to hear! I'm glad Rocky enjoys them. And if the refrigerator works for you, that's awesome. Like most of us have said, most refrigerator's temperatures are too low; but if your refrigerator's (or a part of your refrigerator) temperatures work fine, then by all means. Cheers! :]