Phoenix worms vs Superworms

[tattykassy]

I was reading through that nutrition sheet that was posted that listed what was the best food to give your Beardie, and it said that Phoenix worms were a better staple then Superworms.
Mine is only 5 months and eats pretty much crickets and the odd waxworm every so often, but I'm trying to do my research as to what to feed him when he reaches maturity.
Would you guys say that giving him Phoenix worms rather then Superworms would be better in terms of a daily thing? I don't really want to have to keep a couple hundred crickets in the future,they're a pain in my butt right now! Its like having pets all in themselves with all the feeding and cleaning and daily upkeep. I wouldn't mind having to get them every so often, but I'd rather like to do a worm as a staple.
Superworms are readily available where I live at pretty much most petstores, but Phoenix worms I'd have to order online to get.

What do you think, would it be worth it?

Thanks!

-K

 

[Vermundor]

Phoenix worms are better because they are higher in calcium, however, superworms are a good staple if you gut-load them with nutrients. When your lizard gets older, most of his nutrients will come from fruits and vegetables given to him so his staple doesn't have to be the best feeder out there, it can just be a really good one. You can mix the feeders as well, adding the occasional batch of crickets once in a while as well as waxworms. I'd say that superworms would be better since they're readily available and can be gut-loaded. Just make sure your lizard is longer than 16" before you start feeding him superworms. If you need information about gut-loading, I'd suggest you look through the Feeders section, your bound to find something on that. I hope this helps.

-Vermundor

 

[tattykassy]

Thats a bit of a relief to hear, I'm aware of gut-loading as I gutload my crickets, but I just wanted to make sure I was going to be giving him the best quality of food. As it stands right now I dust his crickets once a day with calcium fortified with vitamin d3 and he eats a hearty 40-50 crickets a day.
Its nice to know I can use Superworms, I was wary of the idea of ordering phoenix worms online

Thanks!

 

[FBradshaw]

Thats a bit of a relief to hear, I'm aware of gut-loading as I gutload my crickets, but I just wanted to make sure I was going to be giving him the best quality of food. As it stands right now I dust his crickets once a day with calcium fortified with vitamin d3 and he eats a hearty 40-50 crickets a day.
Its nice to know I can use Superworms, I was wary of the idea of ordering phoenix worms online

Thanks!

I recommend using a calcium without D3 in it. D3 supplementation is only necessary in extreme circumstances where there is a known deficiency in D3. Your dragon actually synthesizes it's own D3 as needed as long as it has a UVB light. Too much D3 can cause vitamin toxicity which can result in serious injury and even death.

I personally use Repti-worms, the same thing as Phoenix worms just a different supplier, and I highly recommend them as a staple feeder. They are far easier to care for and by far a better value.

 

[faelexia]

..... but 'phoenix' worms are just maggots. you really wanna deal with maggots on a daily basis?

 

[Cinder9]

phoenix worms arent disgusting worms. theyre clean,very nutritional, dont smell, dont do anything really. except wiggle. theyre especially good for younger dragons who really need calcium as supers should only be fed later in life when theyre around 16"

 

[tattykassy]

..... but 'phoenix' worms are just maggots. you really wanna deal with maggots on a daily basis?

I think at this point, Maggots would be a welcome change. I had one little cricket chirping aaalllllll night driving me crazy and I didn't know where he was. I ended up having little sleep, and the sleep I did have resulted in a dream where there was this big nasty bird chirping outside my window and I ran around with a shotgun trying to kill it

 

[Cinder9]

Ive had the same thing happen to me also. Theyre so annoying and they always find the perfect hiding spot in the smallest crevice :evil: