Worms!

[jenn4turtles]

I saw a pretty in-depth post on here with a guide to worms, but it was locked due to inactivity.

I would like to add worms to Smaug's diet, but his is young (roughly a month and a half) and little (about 7 - 7 1/2 inches long) and the guide doesn't specify the best BD ages for each worm (except for superworms, which warns that you should not feed them to a BD under 16 inches in length).

I'm leaning towards getting some butterworms (additional calcium) and hornworms (because of their high water content).

He likes his crickets (I absolutely HATE them ) and I will continue to feed him those (dusted with calcium).

 

[Taterbug]

Age doesn't matter as much as size. The more variety you can offer in insects the better.
Hornworms grow very fast, so get the is try to get the smallest ones you can.
Butterworms probably aren't as a good source of calcium as they are advertised as and are quite fatty, but dragons tend to love them and they make good treats.
Phoenix worms are a good one to offer little dragons too, they are high in calcium and don't get very big.
Silkworms are great feeders as well, and while they grow big too it's a bit slower than hornworms.

 

[jenn4turtles]

Age doesn't matter as much as size. The more variety you can offer in insects the better.
Hornworms grow very fast, so get the is try to get the smallest ones you can.
Butterworms probably aren't as a good source of calcium as they are advertised as and are quite fatty, but dragons tend to love them and they make good treats.
Phoenix worms are a good one to offer little dragons too, they are high in calcium and don't get very big.
Silkworms are great feeders as well, and while they grow big too it's a bit slower than hornworms.

Thanks!

I know that I can refrigerate the horns and butters, but I don't think I can do that with the Phoenix and silks, and I'm a little worried about them holding up where I live. I will keep them inside, but my house stays at about 78 degrees (yeah, it's hot, but I try to save electricity when I can!) from morning until 9-10 at night. I think that may be too hot for them. Do you know if I can refrigerate them?

 

[Taterbug]

Phoenix worms can be chilled, but a refrigerator is too cold for them. Folks use wine coolers instead. Maybe the same for hornworms, I'm not sure. I'd not heard you can refrigerate them (I kept them in my basement where it stays cool).

You can't chill silkworms, but you can chill the eggs (or buy diapaused eggs) and hatch them as needed. They require specialty food though.

It's one of the most regrettable parts about the specialty feeders

 

[Dr. Phoenix]

Customers who do not have a cool place in their home to store Phoenix Worms have told us about an inexpensive way to do this without buying a wine cooler. Just get a small Styrofoam cooler and put a bottle of frozen water inside. Store your closed cups of Phoenix Worms on one side of the cooler and the frozen water on the other side. This lowers the ambient temperature inside the cooler and maintains worm freshness. You can freeze two bottles of water and swap out a new frozen one for the thawed one, refreezing each day.

BTW, Phoenix Worms will not die if they are not stored in a cool place. However, warmth will push the worms toward pupation. Keeping the worms cool extends shelf life. Even at 78*F., your worms should be okay for a week or two, especially medium and small size worms (large size worms are more mature and closer to pupation). Should you ever have a Phoenix Worm morph into a black soldier fly, just release it into the viv for your beardie. Dragons love to catch the fly and eat it, too!

Craig Sheppard, Ph.D.
President, Insect Science Resource LLC
Emeritus, University of Georgia
http://www.phoenixworm.com

 

[jenn4turtles]

Customers who do not have a cool place in their home to store Phoenix Worms have told us about an inexpensive way to do this without buying a wine cooler. Just get a small Styrofoam cooler and put a bottle of frozen water inside. Store your closed cups of Phoenix Worms on one side of the cooler and the frozen water on the other side. This lowers the ambient temperature inside the cooler and maintains worm freshness. You can freeze two bottles of water and swap out a new frozen one for the thawed one, refreezing each day.

BTW, Phoenix Worms will not die if they are not stored in a cool place. However, warmth will push the worms toward pupation. Keeping the worms cool extends shelf life. Even at 78*F., your worms should be okay for a week or two, especially medium and small size worms (large size worms are more mature and closer to pupation). Should you ever have a Phoenix Worm morph into a black soldier fly, just release it into the viv for your beardie. Dragons love to catch the fly and eat it, too!

Craig Sheppard, Ph.D.
President, Insect Science Resource LLC
Emeritus, University of Georgia
http://www.phoenixworm.com

Wow! I will definitely try using the styrofoam cooler and frozen bottles. Thanks!

I think I would probably stick to small or medium worms. I didn't know that they morphed into a fly ... I'm so new to this!

 

[Nereid]

Wow! I will definitely try using the styrofoam cooler and frozen bottles. Thanks!

I think I would probably stick to small or medium worms. I didn't know that they morphed into a fly ... I'm so new to this!

I would get the medium worms. The small worms are REALLY tiny and your dragon most likely will still be hungry. I feed my babies the mediums with no problems.

 

[jenn4turtles]

Wow! I will definitely try using the styrofoam cooler and frozen bottles. Thanks!

I think I would probably stick to small or medium worms. I didn't know that they morphed into a fly ... I'm so new to this!

I would get the medium worms. The small worms are REALLY tiny and your dragon most likely will still be hungry. I feed my babies the mediums with no problems.

Thanks! Will do.

 

[BabySkales]

I absolutely love hornworms, i buy 25 egg with food from GLhormworms. That way as the eggs hatch and start growing my little guys can eat the little one.. and i can save the bigger ones for my chameleon.

I give them 2-3 following meal because of how "juicy" they are i don't worry about them not having enough fluids.

i HATE crikets.. i got them off those as fast as i could.. I will order a few small ones just so the can have a few once in a WHILE.

as far as temp goes.. i wouldnt be to worried with the worms.. i have my next to the vivs and they are doing just fine.. i heard you can take them out of the food and put them in a fridge but that will only work for a few days before you have to feed em off.

 

[jenn4turtles]

Thanks for the info!

 

[Crewdog00]

Where do you guys recommend to get each type of worm?

where do you guys get your horn/Phoenix/repti/calciworms? I know I can google it but you guys will know who has fair prices and good quality feeders.

I didn't see an approved feeder list.

 

[Taterbug]

Where do you guys recommend to get each type of worm?

where do you guys get your horn/Phoenix/repti/calciworms? I know I can google it but you guys will know who has fair prices and good quality feeders.

I didn't see an approved feeder list.

Last time I got several types I got them from lindasgonebuggy.com she has good selections at reasonable prices. Weather is rarely on my side for shipping, so mostly I just get things at the local reptile show we have each month (no shipping!). If you live in the south USA you can culture your own black soldier flies, and I'm having good luck with silk worms right now. Some other areas have them in pet stores - some exotics pet stores will even order them for you when they make their weekly orders.

 

[Nereid]

This is where I get my phoenix worms: http://www.phoenixworm.com/servlet/StoreFront
The lady that sells them is very nice and helpful. I've never had any issue with her worms either. Mine always arrive alive and fresh.

 

[Sauzo]

I get my hornworms from Mulberry Farms and when I used phoenix worms, I just ordered them directly from Phoenix Worms.

 

[Crewdog00]

Perfect thank you all. I placed my order today.