Waxworms

codiwatkins

codiwatkins

New Member
I bought my guy some waxworms today......I know they are NOT a staple but i wanted to give him a nice treat!! Im wondering what i should gutload them with?? Also if i dont leave them in the fridge what do they turn into??:rolleyes:
 
I just keep mine in the shavings in the tub they come in. I don't feed them anything - maybe I should - I'll be interested also to hear what other people say. If left they will pupate and turn into moths which the chams enjoy too!
 
I would presume that the moths are less fatty than the worms, but don't think they have much 'goodness' in them. I just let some pupate and put one in Lily's cage. Didn't work too well as it kept hiding at the bottom, when I though it would go up to the lights. I had better luck when holding it's wings with tweezers so she could see it fluttering.
 
If they are left, they do turn in to moths. Although your chams may like the moths these moths are really small and I don't think they pack much nutrition at all. Keep in mind that waxworms in general don't have much nutrition at all. Most forum members call them a "Stick of butter" due to their high fat content.

-Clemonde
 
i'm still pretty new to this, but i heard that feeding chams too many winged insects could create internal problems digesting. not sure if that applies to moths (seem like softer wings?)
 
i feed my waxworms bee pollen (as in the wild they would be in hives). I also let some pupate, and once they do, put the cocoon in the tank, maybe in the base of the plant. Then when they hatch they fly around and provide something different.
 
WelshOneEmma said:
i feed my waxworms bee pollen (as in the wild they would be in hives). I also let some pupate, and once they do, put the cocoon in the tank, maybe in the base of the plant. Then when they hatch they fly around and provide something different.
Click to expand...

Would i need to put something in the bin for them to build the cocoon on?? if so what do you use?? How long does it take for them to pupate?
 
codiwatkins said:
Would i need to put something in the bin for them to build the cocoon on?? if so what do you use?? How long does it take for them to pupate?
Click to expand...

i just add the bee pollen to the container they come in with the wood shavings. If you keep them warm it may take a week or two.
 
If you want to feed them, honey is a good source. I normally break a little weetabix (I don't know if you have that in America) and mix it together and make a paste. They get through it pretty quick.

Yeah, just leave them and they'll pupate themselves. Don't move them around too much otherwise you'll break the wings

If you want to try and breed them, just allow a few worms to get to adult hood, put some corrugated cardboard in and make a 'tent' by bending it to give the the moths somewhere to lay (they like to lay in small cracks and stuff you see). Then you hopefully will see a few little white dots appearing on the card. Once they're grown enough they'll fall out of the eggs and look for food (the honey and weetabix/bran mix) and they'll grow into nice worms, moths and so on.

I had mine breeding for a little while, but I think I must have fed off all the females or males because after a while there just weren't any more eggs appearing! :(
 
No worries! Can't remember where I found the little table about the nutritional value, but it's pretty nice to have! :D
 
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