Has anyone tried/ heard about Blue Bottle Larvae?? I found them listed on ebay while I was looking for butterworms and thought they were interesting. You cab get 1000ct. with "buy it now" for $13.89 The nutritional value is listed as:
Blue Bottle Fly Larvae
Moisture 68.54
Ash 1.44
Protein 16.10
Fat 8.21
Calories/Fat 77.73
Calcium (ml/100 grs) 32.90

approximately 3/4" in length

Blue Bottle Fly Larva-Keep them near freezing (33 to 36 Degrees F). Will store for several weeks.

It says in the listing that they feed on plant nectar but when I looked them up on the web it says they like rotting meat!!?? I think that would be taking "Gut loading" to an extreme! Gross, I hope I am wrong. I would love to know what you all think.

Hi..

Grubco has them as well, and I think they may be less expensive. http://grubco.netstorekeeper.com/ind...?Product_ID=10

I tried some out in their sampler pack not too long ago. Unfortunately, I did something wrong.. and mine died. However, I have heard that lots of people have amazing success with these. Some have a hard time keeping them in the fridge.. maybe the temps weren't low enough? Gross little critters. Next time I get some, I am going to buy pupae.

You aren't supposed to feed the larvae.. they just hang out until they pupate, which isn't supposed to take very long. After they hatch, you can gutload the flies before feeding with a mixture of unsulfured molasses, powdered buttermilk or plain unflavored yogurt, and rice baby cereal. (This is from "Thoughts for Food" - Chameleon Information Network publication)

sure you can! yummy! Cyrus (panther) and my little blotchies (swifts) love them! Once they pupate you can get them to emerge rather quickly by setting them in a container and put on top of strip light or in a cup in the cage near heat. The heat will get them out as flies pretty quickly.

Hi Lele,

I actually meant.. don't give the larvae food when you receive them. However, I would like to ask your opinion of the following.

In this book that I just bought, "Thoughts for Food", it says....

"Larvae (maggots) are not recommended for juvenile chameleons or for other insectivores that may swallow these whole. Maggots can cause intestinal damage if ingested uninjured, as maggots feed on meat. Do not use the maggots of larger flies such as the blow fly and blue-bottle fly as food for the same reason."

I have read that some people go to great lengths to feed fly larvae, even pricking them with a straight pin before feeding so that the chameleon will receive the nutrients of the maggot. From what I have gathered, the maggots have tough skin that isn't easily penetrated, and will survive stomach acid for at least a short time. Do you know how true all of this is?

Heika