Question About Hornworms

[Dyesub Dave]

I've been wondering about raising my own hornworms. I came across a very useful link on this forum:

http://www.chameleonnews.com/hornworms.html

But the only thing that I couldn't find in this article or on the net was if it's possible to store the eggs in the refrigerator like you can with silkworm eggs. Does anybody know about this or have any other links that might give this information?

Thanks ... Dyesub Dave.

 

[COASTALSILKWORMS]

No, you can not store the eggs like you can with silkworms. The eggs will hatch 3-5 days after being laid, and the whole process starts over again.

 

[wst0209a]

does anyone here breed the hornworms? I heard it was difficult to get the moths to mate and lay eggs? Anyone have any success?

 

[Will Hayward]

Because the moths fly, and eat, they need their own mesh cage and suitable decorations to stimulate them into doing so. Also the worms burrow into soil to pupate into the moths, unlike silkworms which will cocoon in any location available. So while one might not find it more difficult, it is certainly more demanding and involved than silkworms.

 

[CleanLineChameleons]

I haven't yet...I have my first 5 worms in pupation at the moment. Here is a good article by Chris http://www.chameleonnews.com/hornworm Also I believe that ColorCham427 was attempting to breed hornworms, maybe he can give us a little info about his experience.

-chris

 

[Lost Lake Chameleons]

I started breeding hornworms a few months back, and I must say that once you get over the initial hump of building/making a setup for them, they are, IMO, 70 billion times easier to care for than silkworms.

http://insected.arizona.edu/manduca/

Follow these instructions, and you are golden. Buy a pod, let them pupate, and in a month, you'll have over a thousand eggs.

I will post some pictures of the breeding setups when i get home from work this evening.

Total cost for setup and pod should be under 50 bucks. Then you have to start worrying about food, although it is way cheaper to buy bulk food for worms, than it is to pay for crickets!!!

 

[Dyesub Dave]

Follow these instructions, and you are golden. Buy a pod, let them pupate, and in a month, you'll have over a thousand eggs.

But then you have the problem of all the eggs hatching at once. I don't think that I could use 1000's of hornworms in a month or two. I guess you could always sell some. I was hoping that there was a way of storing the eggs until you wanted to hatch them ... that would be the ideal route.

I'm currently hatching and feeding silkworms. I haven't tried the breeding part yet ... that will be in about another month or so. Maybe I'll try the hornworm breeding in the spring!

Thanks for all the info.

Dyesub Dave.

 

[Lost Lake Chameleons]

But then you have the problem of all the eggs hatching at once. I don't think that I could use 1000's of hornworms in a month or two.

Dyesub Dave.

BUY MORE PANTHERS!!!!!!

 

[Dyesub Dave]

BUY MORE PANTHERS!!!!!!

I'll need to sell A LOT of hornworms before I can do that!! LOLOL

I only have Veileds right now and I'm not sure I could find room for any panthers at the moment. Some day ..... SOON !!

Dyesub Dave.

 

[ColorCham427]

can somebody post pictures of your moth breeding set-up???

 

[Sancho]

Just bought 4 cups from great lakes and wasn't sure if I should do eggs or hornworms

 

[Silverdusk]

I started breeding hornworms a few months back, and I must say that once you get over the initial hump of building/making a setup for them, they are, IMO, 70 billion times easier to care for than silkworms.

http://insected.arizona.edu/manduca/

Follow these instructions, and you are golden. Buy a pod, let them pupate, and in a month, you'll have over a thousand eggs.

I will post some pictures of the breeding setups when i get home from work this evening.

Total cost for setup and pod should be under 50 bucks. Then you have to start worrying about food, although it is way cheaper to buy bulk food for worms, than it is to pay for crickets!!!

Great info, thank you.

 

[ColorCham427]

anybody have a picture of the moth set-up???????

 

[ColorCham427]

anybody have a picture of the moth set-up???????

guess not.........

 

[CleaTheChameleon]

I'm going to order worms after I get back from the Bahamas and start to breed. They sound kinds easy to breed. What size rubbermaid container should I get and for substrate can I put soil all in there? Someone said they pupate in it. Please guys we need pictures thanks for the links and such.

 

[CleaTheChameleon]

I foudn out my friend had done this in a class and said that they ate some of the muberry farms silkworms chow. Is that ok?

 

[Khammy87]

Bringing up old posts

It only seems appropriate to bring up the old post. Anybody have more information on breeding hornworms? My cham LOVES them! She nabs them faster than she goes after crickets! I have a couple ideas of how to set up a breeding system, but need some help!! Anybody been down this road? Suggestions? PICTURES???

 

[summoner12]

seems like this thread covers it..... let them fun a cycle... mate... lay eggs... hatch.. start over.... just be sure you have chow to raise the worms on... they eat a lot and shouldn't been grown on plants unless you plan to use those bugs for breeding.

 

[Khammy87]

Suppose I need to get alot of dry chow then, because they wont eat the greens!

 

[summoner12]

Suppose I need to get alot of dry chow then, because they wont eat the greens!

no, why won't... lol

They will eat tomato plants but not much else.