Reptile & Amphibian Forums

any suggestions on a good waxworm supplier re: condition (how many dead in the batch), cost, shipping, etc.?

thanks,
lele

I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not, but I just get mine from a bait shop. You don't have to pay shipping and you can open the container and see what you're getting. This works for me as I don't really need that many.

I mix up waxworm 'mash' (recipes on web) and keep them in that with some wax paper and they seem to do really well. I don't keep them in the fridge as they just seem to shrivel up and die. I always add some bee pollen to the mash, which conatins lots of nutrients and that's probably the closest that you can get to gutloading a waxworm. You can breed your own this way too, if you really need a lot.

hth,
Joel Fish

thanks! Being in NH we have lots of bait shops - i'll check som out! What temp do you keep them at and how long do they keep?

>>I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not, but I just get mine from a bait shop. You don't have to pay shipping and you can open the container and see what you're getting. This works for me as I don't really need that many.
>>
>>I mix up waxworm 'mash' (recipes on web) and keep them in that with some wax paper and they seem to do really well. I don't keep them in the fridge as they just seem to shrivel up and die. I always add some bee pollen to the mash, which conatins lots of nutrients and that's probably the closest that you can get to gutloading a waxworm. You can breed your own this way too, if you really need a lot.
>>
>>hth,
>>Joel Fish

I've done it three times now and I try to keep them around 85, but have had them pupate and hatch in the high 70s too. I think my biggest problem so far has been keeping them too crowded and they can't find each other to mate in all the wax paper and mash.

I'm not really an expert on them as I have too many other insect projects going.... . Mostly, I keep them in the mash so that they eat a little and then they seem a little more 'charged up' when I feed them. I don't think the moths are very nutritious, but I use them to sharpen Salam's hunting skills.

With your entomological expertise, you should be able to nail it down and tell us all how it's done!

good luck,
Joel Fish

thanks! Being in NH we have lots of bait shops - i'll check som out! What temp do you keep them at and how long do they keep?

>>I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not, but I just get mine from a bait shop. You don't have to pay shipping and you can open the container and see what you're getting. This works for me as I don't really need that many.
>>
>>I mix up waxworm 'mash' (recipes on web) and keep them in that with some wax paper and they seem to do really well. I don't keep them in the fridge as they just seem to shrivel up and die. I always add some bee pollen to the mash, which conatins lots of nutrients and that's probably the closest that you can get to gutloading a waxworm. You can breed your own this way too, if you really need a lot.
>>
>>hth,
>>Joel Fish

>>thanks! Being in NH we have lots of bait shops - i'll check som out! What temp do you keep them at and how long do they keep?
>>
>>
>>>>I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not, but I just get mine from a bait shop. You don't have to pay shipping and you can open the container and see what you're getting. This works for me as I don't really need that many.
>>>>
>>>>I mix up waxworm 'mash' (recipes on web) and keep them in that with some wax paper and they seem to do really well. I don't keep them in the fridge as they just seem to shrivel up and die. I always add some bee pollen to the mash, which conatins lots of nutrients and that's probably the closest that you can get to gutloading a waxworm. You can breed your own this way too, if you really need a lot.
>>>>
>>>>hth,
>>>>Joel Fish