Hornworms

BigSwaug

Member
I'm gonna try hornworms for my Panther in a couple days and wondering a couple things,

How small of ones should I get? I know the whole length needs to be same or less than width of eyes thing on some feeders, but does that apply to feeders such as hornworms or other type of worms??

How many should I offer?

Is it ok to put them in the cage in the morning and then leave for work with them in there??
 
Are you ordering them online or picking them up at a store? Hornworms grow really fast. When I order them online, I get the smallest worms I can get. I have the best luck buying the egg cups, that way I can start feeding them off at a smaller size, so I don't end up with a bunch of huge worms that my guys won't eat.

I usually only give my panthers one or two at a time. Yes, you can set the worms in the cage, and leave. That shouldn't be a problem at all.
 
Are you ordering them online or picking them up at a store? Hornworms grow really fast. When I order them online, I get the smallest worms I can get. I have the best luck buying the egg cups, that way I can start feeding them off at a smaller size, so I don't end up with a bunch of huge worms that my guys won't eat.

I usually only give my panthers one or two at a time. Yes, you can set the worms in the cage, and leave. That shouldn't be a problem at all.
Thanks! Any suggestions on where to order online?
 
I just got two egg cups from Great Lakes Hornworms on Friday, and they have since hatched!! Can't wait to feed them to my little guys!
 
Do you need to keep them warm to hatch? Do you use a light or heater? Or just a warm room?
Room temp is best. My reptile room is about 75 degrees during the day and mid 60's at night. If you get the cups, just make sure they are sitting on something that allows the flow of air into the bottom of the upside down cup.
 
I did so much looking around and MulberryFarms is the best if you live near the West Coast, and Great Lakes Hornworm is the best place if you are closer to the East Coast. Best Prices as far as anyone I've found.

they do grow really fast so if you dont want them too big keep them in a cool place

You can't keep them in a mini fridge on a super super low setting can you? I know you can put them in the fridge for a couple days then take them back out to slow the growth rate, but I plan to get a mini fridge and put it on like 50-60 degrees. My regular fridge is colder than that, so that's why I'm getting a mini fridge - to keep bugs chilled, but not too cold, you know?

I'm about to get some hornworms for the first time here in a couple weeks too. I;m buying from Great Lakes Hornworm because I live in Indiana and they are super close to me, as well as a good price.

I was going to get eggs as well, then put them into the hornworm pods when they hatch. When I contacted Great Lakes Hornworm with a few questions, they told me that the pods are not re-usable.

How is this so? Can't you just add more food to them when all of the food is eaten? Or is there a better way to do it than to get the upside-down pod things? The GLH owner told me that they are special cups with screen in them and you would need a special machine to make them.

Um.... they look like a plastic cup, with a plastic lid with holes, with screen stapled into it, turned upside down. Now it may not be a FLIMSY plastic cup... but a cup nonetheless. So what's so special about it, and why was I told they aren't reusable? When you make the hornworm chow, couldn't you just take out the worms, take out the old chow, add new chow, worms back in, flip cup, and go?

Or is there a special method to it?

I'm looking to feed off lots of the worms, but I'm also wanting to pupate some into moths. I understand the hornworms will probably get to around 4" before this happens, which is when they will go exploring for a place to dig? (they dig into dirt to pupate don't they? or is that the phoenix worms.... I forget. maybe it's both? I have notes written down somewhere from research but I don't remember....)
 
I'm looking to feed off lots of the worms, but I'm also wanting to pupate some into moths. I understand the hornworms will probably get to around 4" before this happens, which is when they will go exploring for a place to dig? (they dig into dirt to pupate don't they? or is that the phoenix worms.... I forget. maybe it's both? I have notes written down somewhere from research but I don't remember....)

Here's an article I found helpful for pupating Horn Worms - http://www.muchadoaboutchameleons.com/2014/11/how-to-pupate-hornworms-into-moths.html?m=1

Also, I was able to use crumbled up paper towels (instead of dirt) for the worms to pupate in... Much cleaner! (y)
 
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