Tomato hornworms

[Thorgecko707]

What's the deal with these? Anyone use them?

 

[fl_orchidslave]

I was told on the chameleon forum that they are toxic if fed tomato plants. CB feeders are fine tho.

 

[Thorgecko707]

Right on. I need something bigger than super worms

 

[Wowoklol]

I get some from The Bug Depot. They are fed a special diet in their habitat cup. And can grow to be HUGE! Just fed 3 monsters to our beardie and she was stuffed.

 

[Pinky81]

I ordered a snack pack from Mulberry Farms and was very pleased with the quality of the worms. They do get BIG FAST so don't buy too many. They aren't very active worms so sometimes its hard to get them to eat it if they are really into movement. But you tong feed so they will probably take them. Super nutritous worms for your leo, lots of calcium.
Here's the link...

http://www.mulberryfarms.com/

 

[Wowoklol]

I ordered a snack pack from Mulberry Farms and was very pleased with the quality of the worms. They do get BIG FAST so don't buy too many. They aren't very active worms so sometimes its hard to get them to eat it if they are really into movement. But you tong feed so they will probably take them. Super nutritous worms for your leo, lots of calcium.
Here's the link...

http://www.mulberryfarms.com/

One trick we were told to slow them down is to put them in fridge for a few days. No freezing temps obviously. They will go dormant. Also feed the biggest worms first for they are the ones that are eating the majority of the food they come with. Good luck!

 

[T-ReXx]

Why do you need something larger than superworms?
I use hornworms ocassionally as treats for my Uroplatus fimbriatus and tokays, but they're not necessary for leopard geckos.

Oh one more thing: hornworms can bite, so be careful offering larger ones.

 

[Pinky81]

Why do you need something larger than superworms?
I use hornworms ocassionally as treats for my Uroplatus fimbriatus and tokays, but they're not necessary for leopard geckos.

Oh one more thing: hornworms can bite, so be careful offering larger ones.

Variety is always a good thing I think! I got them specifically cause they are realitively high in calcium for my gravid female. But Clyde really loved them. They are easier to digest because they have no outer skeleton, and very nutritious. And as for the biting...Im don't know about that I handled them myself and never got bite where as I handled a super and got a nice bite that freaked me out! I say go for it variety in feeders is always a great Idea!

The only problem i had with them was they aren't very wiggly so the leo's lost interest...pinching the worm while offereing made it wiggle more which helps stimulate the Leo to hunt.

I did the silk worms but those are kinda stinky...they smell like cig. butts LOL :main_laugh:

 

[T-ReXx]

Variety can be good but more important is properly balanced prey items. Gut loading is the most important aspect of feeding insect eating lizards. I have personally seen a large hornworm bite a half dime-sized chunk out of a cuban anole; believe me, they can bite. With smaller worms I doubt there's much risk, but I consider hornworms to be a treat; they are much to expensive and difficult to maintain to make them a suitable base diet.

 

[Pinky81]

Yea no bites here so I can't speak to that but I would never raise these worms but to get some ever month or so for those of us whole don't have double digit numbers of mouths to feed I guess I see it as great variety...I agree they are too expensive to feed on a all the time basis, but they are a great addition to a balanced feeder variety. Personally I liked the "Snack Pack" I got from Mulberry...it came with Silk worms, Hornworms, and butterworms...that lasted me a good long time with my guys and It made for some really great nutritional variety. Yes gutloading is important but the make up of a feeder is also important. ie no matter how you feed a wax worm its still empty calories..but you look at silks, horns, etc you have differing levels of protein and calcium. So yes gutloading is important but not ultimately the only important thing about a feeder.