Horned worms and sweet potatoes ?

[andren32]

Hi was wondering if, feeding my giant blue horned worms: sweet-potatoes/broccoli/& spinach; is a good idea for gut loading?
As I am not aware if giant horned worms produce toxin in response to one of the above mentioned foods.

 

[djfishygillz]

I don't think they will eat that. The gut load for them has special ingredients because they can only eat certain foods. But I am not huge on hormworms so hopefully someone else can chime in.

 

[pigglett79]

I gutload my hornworms with dandelion greens and carrots. They do eat various veggies readily, but I have only fed them veggies for a day or two prior to feeding off.

 

[andren32]

Thanks for the info!

The horned worms seem to really enjoy the sweet potatoes, broccoli, & spinach, as they have pretty much consumed 2 entire sweet potatoes and ate the rest of the greens. Now I think the worms have gotten pretty big, and subsequently seem to scare the chameleon. I guess now I'm gonna try to let them run their life cycle, and hope they breed and produce babies.

PS: That link is perfect!!

 

[SarahcoadunatioZac]

Thanks for the info!

The horned worms seem to really enjoy the sweet potatoes, broccoli, & spinach, as they have pretty much consumed 2 entire sweet potatoes and ate the rest of the greens. Now I think the worms have gotten pretty big, and subsequently seem to scare the chameleon. I guess now I'm gonna try to let them run their life cycle, and hope they breed and produce babies.

PS: That link is perfect!!

Let us know how they do on that diet, is that all you feed? Been avoiding Hornworms due to the special/expensive diet.

 

[sandrachameleon]

broccoli and spinnach are not good choices, if these worms are going to be fed off to chameleons. Limit use of anything high in phytates/Phytic acid, Oxilates/Oxalic Acid, or Goitrogens

Better choices: dandelion, grape vine leaves, arugula, mustard greens, basil
You can make a paste of these plus your sweet potatoe, some wheat germ and brewers yeast.