Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hey i was wondering if anyone new how many eggs the wax moth lays. also are they that hard to raise and would they make a good staple diet. thanx a lot
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1.0 veild chameleon
2.1 firebellie toads
1.1 jackson chameleon
1.2 leopard geckos
3.0 golden geckos

Hi Matt here's a site on raising WW

lele
wax worms

I've been trying to get them to the moth stage but no luck. They get smaller or turn black & die. Had a few go to larve but they turn brown & die as well. I've tried 3 times now.

I lack pollen. I've used bee pollen suppliments crushed up. But I don't think it's the same thing. I may have to increase my efforts & find some pollen or honey with comb.

Ww

Did you read the article I linked to in the previous message? It has bee pollen as an option as with other ingredients. When the larva (caterpiller) begins to pupate (next stage in life cycle) they will usually darken and then pupate (form chrysalis/cocoon, etc.

Here is another article. Seems you need to provide a place for them to go in order to pupate (cocoon) - can't just leave them out in daylight. has good photos of stages as well
website.lineone.net/~dave.cushman/waxmothlifecycle.html

And here is one more!
Link

this is a good site it gives lots of info
http://home.earthlink.net/~kenuy/waxmoths.htm
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1.0 veild chameleon
2.1 firebellie toads
1.1 jackson chameleon
1.2 leopard geckos
3.0 golden geckos

Thanks guys! I've done umph-teen searches & never found 3 of those sites. Good Links & should help to get me over the hump. I'll keep trying till I get it. I'm determined.

My goal is to be self reliant on raising feeders. Whatever feeders are practical. My first major success was with crickets. I've got so many ant looking pinheads that I could easily sell them. Man are they hungry! The down side is that crickets reak! WHEEEEW! Do Not, Go In There!

I've started 5 different roach colonies with 3 more on the way. One of the colonies I've split already (Lobsters). The really nice things about Roaches is the low maintenance. Except for the time it may take to set up the Rubbermaid containers. Other than that & the initial purchase, in the long run, a good investment. Just don't use em as feeders too soon, & then use only males as feeders.

The silkworms never make it to pupation, they always get fed off. The Next batch I will set some aside & feed em all they can eat - Full Cycle. One thing I've learned. Get some screening with various size holes for them. This way as the worms grow you can use larger sizes so the droppings fall through, & the worms don't. Silkworms can be messy & smelly if not done properly or if one gets lazy. I've been guilty from time to time. The down side to silkworms? All the leave harvesting, cleaning & drying leaves and the feeding. A bit more time consuming than any of the other feeders. Worth it though, for the nutritional value alone.

I better stop now.

Thanks for the help ya'll!

Ww

I'm a Wax worm Daddy!

I was opening the container to feed & I noticed a movement, it was gone before I could tell what it was. Thought it was a fly. Later I noticed a little moth flying around inside. Yeepeee!

Now if I can get some others to mate with it I'll be OK.

I guess I spoke too soon eh?

Ww

Wax worms are very high in fat, and probably won't make a good staple diet, however would be a great suplamental or treat food item.