waxworms?

[barnaby]

Hi all!

From what I've read, if kept at room temperature (in my case high 70's), waxworms will initiate their cicle and in a couple of weeks I'll have wax moths, correct?
Althought I'm starting to breed them, I want to save a few worms to feed my cham once in a while.

Question 1: How do I stop their life cycle and keep them at larvae stage? Do I put them in the cooler?

Question 2: I've read that pygmys usually LOVE the moths. Any trick to pick up a couple of them without releasing 20 or so moths all over my house (my girlfriend HATES moths... so my life is at stake here!!)

Thanks!

 

[tryme]

You can keep them in the fridge and the last a while longer. Also I can't see pygmys eating the moths they seem to big to me:S I'm not sure though...Also I put my waxworms in a tub with wheetabix and honey mixed it up proper good put some cerigated cardboard in there and put them in the airing cupboard and they turnt into moths in a week or two...

 

[barnaby]

You can keep them in the fridge and the last a while longer. Also I can't see pygmys eating the moths they seem to big to me:S I'm not sure though...Also I put my waxworms in a tub with wheetabix and honey mixed it up proper good put some cerigated cardboard in there and put them in the airing cupboard and they turnt into moths in a week or two...

Thanks. I never tried feeding them the moths. But I read it here:

http://chameleonnews.com/?page=article&id=46

My first batch of waxies is on the way...

 

[tryme]

Oh right well i'm not sure but I couldnt see my spectrums eating a waxmoth they are quite big compared to them. I started with 20 waxies i've got a bout 50+ in the tub now seriously there is LOADS. lol Theres prob more then 50 but there still small atm. Just remember to add more honey when it gets a bit dry in there to keep them growing especially if you want them to grow quicker.

 

[barnaby]

Thanks for the input.

About catching those moths, any trick? I can imagine myself opening the lid, catching a moth and releasing 20 others in the process...

 

[barnaby]

The shipment has arrived...

Few questions:

1) 90% of the worms are in a silk coccoon. When I press them slightly they're "soft". It is okay to tear the coccoon? I did it to a few worms and they just crawl out of it and look ok.
Are they gonna spend all day weaving? I left them a few minutes in a empty container and there's already silk all over the place...

2) A couple of coccoons seem harder. Looks like they are in early stages of turning into a moth. I didn't tore those, but I had an idea. Can I take one or two of those coccon, put them in empty small bottles of water and wait for the moth to arise? Then all I have to do is open the bottle in the enclosure and let the moths out...

Thanks for any input from you guys!

 

[Brad Ramsey]

Those don't sound like waxworms.

-Brad

 

[barnaby]

Those don't sound like waxworms.

-Brad

Well, I bought them as waxworms... and they look like waxworm (from what I saw in the web). But here's a pic:

They're around 2 - 2,5 mm (notice the "web" near them)

 

[tryme]

Yes they are waxworms. Mine go into this sort of silk cacoon and when you push them they crawl out. They also put this sort of silk film every where. Seems normal to me althought I don't know much about this silk cacoon thing. Although yes mine also do it.

 

[Brad Ramsey]

Those are waxworms.
I've never had any do that.

-Brad

 

[AndrewH]

i think you got a small silkworm or something mixed into the bunch. your description sounds alot like my silkworm container, small cocoons, webbing all over etc etc....

 

[Kent67]

Wax worms spin silk cocoons when they are healthy and not being starved, which is usually how we recieve them from the suppliers here.

 

[barnaby]

Wax worms spin silk cocoons when they are healthy and not being starved, which is usually how we recieve them from the suppliers here.

Correct. No silkworm. I leave them alone for a few minutes nad they start spinning coccoons! Do I keep taking them out of their coccoons?

 

[Kent67]

If you leave them, they will start turning into moths before you can feed them off. I'm not sure how long you could keep removing them from their coccoons though. Surely it wouldn't be indefinitely.

 

[barnaby]

If you leave them, they will start turning into moths before you can feed them off. I'm not sure how long you could keep removing them from their coccoons though. Surely it wouldn't be indefinitely.

Should I "frige" them to stop their metabolism?

 

[Brad Ramsey]

Should I "frige" them to stop their metabolism?

That works.
You have to warm them up before feeding though, as they don't move much when they're cold.
Remember too that they are quite fatty and should be offered sparingly.

-Brad

 

[Sassy]

Where can I orer healthy waxies like that....mine have never had any kind of silk thing going on LOL