hornworms chow or tomatoe plants?
- Thread starter salty dog
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Chameleon Mike
Chameleon Enthusiast
I think the tomato plant or if you have mulberry that would be best. Sometimes those aren't always available, if that's the case you can fall back on the chow.
tomato plants are in the deadly nightshade family and there leaves are toxic. It is probably why the hornworms eat them so nothing will want to eat them. You shouldn't feed any to chameleons that have eaten tomato leaves etc.
You are so lucky to have a mulberry tree. Free silkworm food.
You are so lucky to have a mulberry tree. Free silkworm food.
So it is my understanding that mulberry leaves are for silkworms to eat not hornworms. And that feeding tomato plants to them makes them toxic to Chams. So the only thing you should feed hornworms is hornworm show. @Matt Vanilla Gorilla is this correct or am I wrong on this?
salty dog
Chameleon Enthusiast
Yeah, tomatoe plants are a no no, I should already know that... I've been reading info related to my question, I was hoping for a definite answer of natural feed besides their natural food from somebody that has had success. I have came across hints of using mulberry leaves, but nothing definite
I tagged Matt so he should be able to give an exact answer
Matt Vanilla Gorilla
Chameleon Enthusiast
You are correct! Hornworms will eat quite a few things. The only things they really will thrive on is tobacco and tomato (nights shade plants - so tomato too). Unfortunstely those plants contains toxins that will build up in the body of the worm and make them toxic to chameleons! So, luckily for us, scientists developed a chow that hornworms can eat that contains everything they need to be healthy without containing any poison!
As for silkworm chow, hornworms might eat ti but they will not survive long on it! The sap of the mulberry tree is similar to latex and causes the hornworms to go in to a diabetic crisis and die! So, don't try it, it is not worth it!
Hope this helps!
As for silkworm chow, hornworms might eat ti but they will not survive long on it! The sap of the mulberry tree is similar to latex and causes the hornworms to go in to a diabetic crisis and die! So, don't try it, it is not worth it!
Hope this helps!
Thank you hun I thought I remembered what you told me correctly but I could not remember which chow would cause toxicity in which worm lol you are awesome as always!
Chameleon Mike
Chameleon Enthusiast
Good to know. Thanks.
JoXie411
Chameleon Enthusiast
I love the smell of fresh poo in the morning
Brodybreaux25
Chameleon Enthusiast
Good post and excellent example of why we encourage questions even when your pretty sure you know the answer! Very helpful post!
The toxins damage both the chams nervous system and liver. A single adult hornworm(3-4”) feeding on nightshade it’s whole life isn’t enough to kill your Cham but 2-3 definitely would.
The toxins damage both the chams nervous system and liver. A single adult hornworm(3-4”) feeding on nightshade it’s whole life isn’t enough to kill your Cham but 2-3 definitely would.
