Hornworms Hatching!

[d3s5]

At the end of May I bought a cup of hornworms at a reptile show. They were way too big for my baby, but I wanted to see if I could raise some. Well, after pupating, emerging, flying around feeding, and laying eggs - they have started hatching today! I have been assured on this forum that my Cham will love them. After all this, I sure hope so!

 

[suzi]

That's awesome! It is a very rewarding experience and a fun project

 

[Ozzie2011]

Very cool! I might jump out there and try that one day also! What are you keeping yours in?

 

[d3s5]

It has been rewarding but will be especially so when they get big enough for my Cham to eat! I suppose that will be in a day or so...

I am keeping them in my chams adult cage since he won't be needing it for some time. I hung a hummingbird feeder from the top and put in a fake plant and a ripe tomato. Mostly all of the eggs have been laid on the hummingbird feeder! Didn't expect that but they are easy to gather up!

 

[moviemanmania]

EXCITING! What did you use for nectar? Where did you get it? How long did the moths live and mate for?

 

[Ozzie2011]

I could be wrong but didn't I read somewhere not to feed hornworms to your Chameleon if the hornworms have eaten tomatoes?

 

[d3s5]

I bought hummingbird powdered nectar at Lowes. You just mix it with water. Easy and they seem to love it! Six moths are still alive and kicking. Two have not emerged yet. They have been around for a little over a week so far and one has died. I haven't really seen them mate but they were only in there three days before I got my first eggs. I haven't really seen them do much. They are active at night and the room is pretty dark. I did see one feed and that was cool. And I do hear them every night!

 

[suzi]

I could be wrong but didn't I read somewhere not to feed hornworms to your Chameleon if the hornworms have eaten tomatoes?

There is nothing wrong with them eating the tomato it is the leaves that are toxic

 

[d3s5]

Yea Ozzie tomato leaves are definitely toxic. But I am not feeding the worms tomatoes. The worms are on chow. I put a tomato in the moth cage because I heard it would motivate them to breed. After the eggs are laid, I take them out and put them in a petri dish to hatch.

 

[lisagr07]

Very cool project!!!!!