Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Does anyone else gutload their worms? I know many people gutload the crickets, but i have started to add the dusted worms to the greens/rep-cal pellet mix about 20 min. prior to feeding. The worms seem to love chowing down esp. on the Rep-Cal pellets...I figure if they eat all the good stuff, it ends up in my beardies belly.
Since the worms are all mixed up with the greens/pellets, he has started to eat a lot more of the greens, too.
Also, i am preparing to order some Butterworms and Silkworms.
I know they are VERY HIGH quality feeders, and can be fed instead of crickets.
Has anyone here had any experience feeding those 2 kinds of worms, and how did it go? (Storing/feeding)
Has anyone here attempted to raise silk worms?
I want to feed a high-quality protein source without having to rely on crickets alone.
I can't wait till my little one is eating mostly greens/veggies and pellets as a treat, and doesn't need insects anymore, but a couple times a week...
reps

my supers as well as my crickets eat all the veggies my dragons eat and they do well on them.
as for silkworms, they eat mulberry leaves, you have to dust them well, i do put mine on some tender collards and greens the night before and they will eat them also, but keep them on mulberry leaves prior to that and butters must be kept in the fridge, you need not feed them and they should be used sparingly as they are high in fat.

its gonna be a long while before hes ready to only eat his proteins a few times a week, my adults still get theirs daily, just in smaller amounts and also salads and pellets daily. good luck, silkies are great feeders, and butters are amazing lil worms, your dragons will love them.

>>Does anyone else gutload their worms? I know many people gutload the crickets, but i have started to add the dusted worms to the greens/rep-cal pellet mix about 20 min. prior to feeding. The worms seem to love chowing down esp. on the Rep-Cal pellets...I figure if they eat all the good stuff, it ends up in my beardies belly.
>>Since the worms are all mixed up with the greens/pellets, he has started to eat a lot more of the greens, too.
>>Also, i am preparing to order some Butterworms and Silkworms.
>>I know they are VERY HIGH quality feeders, and can be fed instead of crickets.
>>Has anyone here had any experience feeding those 2 kinds of worms, and how did it go? (Storing/feeding)
>>Has anyone here attempted to raise silk worms?
>>I want to feed a high-quality protein source without having to rely on crickets alone.
>>I can't wait till my little one is eating mostly greens/veggies and pellets as a treat, and doesn't need insects anymore, but a couple times a week...
>>reps
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reiko
photos

thank you for your reply...

I really do want to get some Butterworms and Silkworms.
My dragon could use the extra fat right now...
Who do you get your Butter/Silkworms from?

I have only located one place to get Butterworms from and that is Herpfood.com.
Their price on the butterworms is rather high...I have seen them more reasonably priced, but those places are sold out...

I might be interested in raising up silkworms from eggs.
Do you use mulberry tree leaves, or the ready to make food?
I don't know about finding leaves in the winter...

again, thanks for your reply.
reps

i usually order my butters from herpfood.com and mulberryfarms for the silkies

this is what i do, buy a supply of small or medium silkies and also buy eggs, raise the eggs while you feed out the worms and by the time you are done the worms you should have more worms from the eggs. then repeat. i have not tried raising past adult stage and tried geting my own eggs, i just re order.

raising them on mulberry leaves is best, i find the other food just causes too much moisture and causes mold which = dead or unusable worms. but if you are cautious and watch the humidity and feed small amounts of the chow you should be alright.

>>thank you for your reply...
>>
>>I really do want to get some Butterworms and Silkworms.
>>My dragon could use the extra fat right now...
>>Who do you get your Butter/Silkworms from?
>>
>>I have only located one place to get Butterworms from and that is Herpfood.com.
>>Their price on the butterworms is rather high...I have seen them more reasonably priced, but those places are sold out...
>>
>>I might be interested in raising up silkworms from eggs.
>>Do you use mulberry tree leaves, or the ready to make food?
>>I don't know about finding leaves in the winter...
>>
>>again, thanks for your reply.
>>reps
-----
reiko
photos

Also, if you order from Mulberry farms, and use their silkworm chow, you can mix in calcium, vits, minerall or whatever powder/gutload type of stuff when you prepare the chow. I've experiemented, and found that the silkies still munch down the chow, regardless of what sort of dusting mixer I add. I did try once mixing in a soft type of cricket food (i think it was nature zone soft cricket bites, but not 100% sure) and found that the silkies would not eat the chow with that mixed in...