Phoenix worms.

[_Alex]

I'm deciding on whether or not to purchase Phoenix Worms. So far I've heard good things about them. They're relatively cheap (4 cups +100 worms for $20 at most places). I'm currently buying 12 dozen crickets for $20 at a local pet shop every two weeks which is a total pain.

Anyone use these as feeders?

 

[gko reptiles]

Phoenix Worms are great as treats! They're kind of like wax worms though, you can't feed your leos too many! Also, BEWARE of what the worms turn into when they grow up!! They turn into these nasty little flying, stinging bugs! Make sure you keep that jar closed...

 

[Marc118]

I dont see how they are like waxworms? They have less fat then mealworms and 8x the calcium. IMO they should make a great feeder. I was also reading a faq that its rare for the larva to turn into flies, more often then not they just die.

 

[_Alex]

Oh, I've heard they were good to use as a staple. They only have a little bit more fat than crickets and less than mealworms and supers. Almost the same amount of protein as supers, and more calcium than all other leo feeders.

 

[rrhill]

Phoenix worms are the larval form of the black soldier fly, they do not bite or sting...they actually aren't considered to be pests at all. They are high in calcium and are pretty decent feeders, although my leos never really went for them like roaches, silkworms or waxworms. I have a ton of phoenix worms in my backyard because I have quail pens back there and they (Black Soldier Flies) like poop. Also the prices listed in the original post are outrageous! $20 for 400 pheonix worms or about 150 crickets??? You are getting ripped off. You may want to order feeders online or breed your own...it is MUCH cheaper than what you are paying!

 

[_Alex]

Yeah, I know the $20 for 150 crickets is outrageous. The cheapest I've seen Phoenix worms online are 400 for $20.

 

[rrhill]

I bought 3 - 150 count cups of Phoenix worms at a show for $10. I think they were like $3.50 each but I got a little discount. Maybe try getting them at shows for cheaper. Maybe try roaches, which I highly recommend.

 

[_Alex]

The nearest show to me is 2-3 hours and with gas prices lately I don't go as much as I used to and no one that goes to my show sells them.

Roaches are a little too expensive for my liking and I'm not into breeding feeders just yet.

 

[brandy101010]

I buy my Phoenix worms from here
http://www.premiumcrickets.com/Phoenix-Worms_31.html

 

[_Alex]

Yeah, the only sites I've seen that has them are premiumcrickets and mulberry farms.

 

[RobinsonZoo]

I started using them for various reasons. My Beardie was the runt of her clutch and I was having a hard time getting the right size crickets for her. I don't have enough insectivores to warrant 1000 crickets and I do not want to breed. Although I am thinking of breeding supers. Anyhow phoenix worms. I think they are great. Worth the little more I paid for them and both the beardie and the leos loved them. I like the high clacium to low chitin ratio. Not as much of a worry about impaction. Good luck with what you decide to do You can get hem direct from the phoenix worm distributor as well.
Lorretta Robinson
Mom at the Robinson Zoo
2 Corn snakes * Mozart & Oak*
2 leopard Geckos * Blinky & Linky*
1 Yellow Belly Turtle * Harry*
1 Red eared Slider * Gunslinger*
1 Bearded Dragon * Stella*
1 Black Lab * Gwen*
1 Golden Retriever * Titan*
1 Black cat * Jade*
4 Humans * Derek, Lorretta, Michael & David*

 

[_Alex]

Thanks!

I'm going to wait until I get through these 20 crickets or so until I purchase them, I hope my geckos like them.

 

[GeckoAZ]

My geckos wouldn't touch them at first but once they tried them they eat them as much as they eat the mealies. And I bouught them becuase the reptile store I got to locally was out of crickets and my geckos are too small for the superworms. Glad I tried them.

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

I have never even seen a Phoenix worm. How big are they compared to a normal-sized mealworm?

 

[_Alex]

I believe what is considered a large Phoenix Worm is about 3/4"?