Couple bug questions

[Vince]

I had bought some phoenix worms hoping that i could get some flies when they matured. I got one fly out of the 100 plus worms. Do i have to separate the cocoons from the worms or something? Also, i might have asked this already but, how often should i be feeding these worms? are they good to eat every time he eats or should they be used only once and a while?

Butter worms, are these good to eat lots of or should they be fed only once in a while? I know they are high in calcium, but how high are they in fat?

Thanks in advance for any responses.

 

[Vince]

No one can help me out here?
It used to be i would ask a question on here and i would get to many responses. Now this is the second post in row that has had no replies.

 

[jannb]

Phoenix worms are good for your cham; they are high in calcium and can be used at every feeding. Butter worms are high in fat and should be used as treats.

 

[sandrachameleon]

Butterworms are no higher in fat than superworms. They can be offered weekly, even twice weekly, just like with superworms. Butterworms are naturally high in calcium too. And are less gross that soldier fly maggots (pheonix)

You might find this nutrition chart useful (scroll down, the bugs are amongst the produce)
http://www.beautifuldragons.503xtreme.com/Nutrition.html

 

[Zen Reptiles]

Soldier Flies are endemic to the Americas and you CAN breed them here - unlike the butterworms which are irradiated before they are exported from...Chile?!

I think that in the foreseeable future, soldier flies will become a huge piece of the puzzle in managing the waste accumulated from mankind. They release chemicals that fight bacteria and send out info-chemicals to other flies (pests) not to breed where the soldier flies are, and they even cause garbage not to stink!

They're a great staple and I'd highly highly recommend them. Keep trying and you'll eventually get it right. You can breed them outside as well, they are not a pest and are insanely beneficial, so it's no big deal if they breed elsewhere as well.

I tried to breed them myself this summer, but the ants got at them which sucked after 120$ worth of worms ughhhh. I wish you could order them in bulk in Canada..

Good info here at http://blacksoldierflyblog.com/

 

[sandrachameleon]

Its too bad they dont get bigger. My little lizards like them, but the adult chameleons just ignore them.

 

[Vince]

Thanks for the helpful replies.

 

[xanthoman]

not that this was the purpose of your post, but,there is an interesting device made for low maintenance large scale production of primarily black soldier fly lavae, but one could probably get it to work for bbfs or any maggot producing type feeder also, called the bio pod , they are way too expensive for the casual grower (about$200) doesnt look like it would be that hard to make one though (i would have one in a second if i didnt live in an apt) anyway its an interesting video none the less http://thebiopod.com/ ps sorry about getting too far of topic and hijacking the thread, i just thought that anyone interested in black soldier flies would want to see this thing