C. moorei AKA "Butterworms"

C. moorei AKA "Butterworms"

C. moorei, AKA “Butterworms” are a reasonably priced feeder that chameleons really enjoy. They range in color from a yellow to a bright red. These colorful feeders draw the attention of the animal and are easy to store. They worms are the larval form of C. moorei and come from Chile. They are sterilized before they exit the country because they are considered a potential invasive pest (making breeding impossible.) These worms have a scent that some describe as fruity. They are great feeders for regular use or as treats. These worms have a high calcium content.

Appearance

These worms range in color from a yellow to a bright red. They are a soft bodied feeder and range in size from about ¼” to 2” or so. The majority of them are about 1” long. They have a scent that some describe as fruity. I personally do not like the smell of them at all and find that the scent lingers on skin if gloves are not worn while handling.

Housing

They can be kept in the same tub they are sent in. They do not need any food or water and usually come in a bran or sawdust substrate. The substrate needs to be kept dry or they will die. They should be kept in the fridge to prolong their shelf life. They can last for as long as 4 months when kept dry and in the fridge. NEVER freeze them.

Breeding

Because the worms are sterilized before leaving Chile, they cannot be bred.

As Feeders

Butterworms can be used regularly as feeders or as treats. No feeder should make up more than 25% of a chameleon’s diet.


Caution!

****These worms have been known to cause skin problems in certain types of gecko. Please do your research first if you plan to feed these to a gecko species!****

Comments

I would suggest that while they can be stored without food or water, its still a good idea to gutload them before feeding to chameleons.
 

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