How many Wax worms ??

[sallyb]

We have just manage to introduce Gizzy to wax worm - she is taking these from ours hands, but we do not know how many or how frequently she should be given them. I know they are high in fats and sugar and seen as a sweetie to chams, but could anyone give me an idea of the frequency these should be given please ?

 

[chameleon97]

We have just manage to introduce Gizzy to wax worm - she is taking these from ours hands, but we do not know how many or how frequently she should be given them. I know they are high in fats and sugar and seen as a sweetie to chams, but could anyone give me an idea of the frequency these should be given please ?

1 a week is enough. less if possible

 

[sandrachameleon]

close to never is the best frequency - there's nothing useful about these unless you are trying to help a recovering animal put wieght back on, or similar.

Mine get one each about twice a year, as treats.

 

[chameleon97]

oh yea i forgot to add that they should only be used for weight gaining.

 

[sallyb]

Thanks guys. Gizzy loves them as we found out yesterday, but i didn`t realise they were of no real benefit to her i will save these as a special treat or in case of illness in future. Thanks for the help.

 

[sallyb]

Sorry to double post, but as an after thought are there any other worms etc that we can feed regularly as part of her diet or does this apply to horn worms, super worms etc ?

 

[summoner12]

Sorry to double post, but as an after thought are there any other worms etc that we can feed regularly as part of her diet or does this apply to horn worms, super worms etc ?

If you can get your hands on some Silk worms or Horn worms. These can be used daily along with crickets. You can also use Super worms or butter worms.

Horn worms get very large, then they pupate and turn into large moths. the moths are often called 'hawk moths' because of their size. They can be fed to you cham if your cham is large enough.

This is my large Melleri eating a hawk moth. Henry is very large and can easily chomp down a hawk moth:





Silk worms also pupate and turn into a moth. They are small and a veiled or panther can easily eat this moth.

Butter worms should be used as a weight gain supplement and as treats.

Super worms are GREAT when it comes to gutloading. These guys will eat ANYTHING. So do some research on what to gutload your feeders. These guys can be high in fat and chitten, so be sure to gut load properly.

 

[sallyb]

hanks very much for that summoner - it makes things much clearer. Now i have to find a supplier, lol.

 

[Miss Lily]

Sally, try here http://www.butterworms.co.uk/index.html - I got some silkworms for Lily from here. They are quite expensive feeders though! Lily wasn't too keen on them either! The owners are away on hols at the moment until 14th March and not taking orders right now. They also stock Phoenix Worms (Calcigrubs). Maybe worth a try in the future. I'm sure there may be other UK suppliers of silkworms, perhaps someone else will know.

 

[sandrachameleon]

Alternatives are silkworms, hornworms, butterworms, zophobas m (superworms), and cabbage lopers.

There is a common misconception on this forum that Butterworms should be treated like waxworms. Yet all nutritional analysis I've read indicates Butterworms dont contain more fat than superworms but are far richer in calcium than superworms. The real downside to butterworms is NOT their fat content, but that you can not gutload them.
I offer butterworms quite regularily, it probably averages out to once or twice a week.

Superworms must be gutloaded and should be lightly calcium dusted too. I offer them several times a week, in combination with other feeders. Some people have successfully used these as a staple.

When I have silkworms, I feel comfortable offering these every other day or even ever day in combination with other feeders.

Hornworms are expensive to get (where I am) so I only offer these now and then, but if i had access to less expensive ones I'd use them weekly.

 

[summoner12]

Thanks I forgot!

There is a common misconception on this forum that Butterworms should be treated like waxworms. Yet all nutritional analysis I've read indicates Butterworms dont contain more fat than superworms but are far richer in calcium than superworms. The real downside to butterworms is NOT their fat content, but that you can not gutload them.

Ya know I forgot about that.... I just have it in my head as a treat... I will relocate this info to the 'normal food' file.

Complete.

 

[Clifford]

Mine like silkworms the best - and I believe these are the best of the larva options commonly available.

Sandrachameleon> Where do you get cabbage lopers?