Terrified of hornworms?

[Defianceofexistence]

So I was in the pet store on the weekend and noticed that they had small hornworms.

Normally they only have huge ones and since Loki is only 5 months old I havnt bought them, so I bought two smalls ones to see if he would like them.

I put one in the cage and he literally has a meltdown...like he was terrified of it....he puffed himself all up and hissed at it, and it wasn't even moving at this point lol. I felt so bad I took it out and tried again later and same thing.

He is obviously afraid of it...I offer him fruits and veggies everyday but have never seen him actually eat any of it, and he eats about 15-20 small crickets a day. He loves his crickets. But wont touch anything else...how can I convince him that the hornworms are for eating, not running away from lol...

Thank you

 

[ridgebax1]

I had the same thing happen with Clouseau. I put some of what I thought were small silkworms and he was not interested. He was not afraid just not interested. I had some silk hatchlings that got to be about a half inch so I tried those and he ate them right up. I tried smallish horns but he ignored them too. So I have hatchlings of them I am watching and will try the same tactic with those.
I wouldn't give up but just try again later or order an egg cup from Great Lakes Hornworms and hatch some out and offer them when they are smaller. The cups are only 10.95 not sure about shipping though. They come with the eggs in the cup and there is food in there already so they hatch and just climb up and start eating. Very easy to do.

 

[ridgebax1]

So today the hornworms were of a decent size so I put some in Clouseau's cage and he ate them right up! It may just be a size issue.

 

[monstertankman]

The only thing you can do is offer them again,my veiled sajack did the same thing kinda. He stood on his feeding cup ,puffed up and hissed rocking back and forth

 

[Defianceofexistence]

I think I will wait until he is a bit bigger and then maybe the little bad worm wont be so scary lol.....