No, the DHL is not a short horned species. That's why I said do some more reading before getting one. Yes, you can use some small ( 1/8"-1/4" ) crickets with them ( adults ) to supplement, but not to "replace" ants. DHLs actually eat more ants in the wild than a lot of other species do. My DHLs get about a dozen small crickets each a week, spread out; and a waxworm or two about every 2 weeks. Daily though, they get several dozen large P. barbatus harvester ants.

Phoenix worms or Butter worms are ok "occasionally" too. But much less frequently even than crickets. I would advise you to stay away from mealworms if possible, or use only small ones, freshly shed if possible. Mealworms are the least nutritious of all mentioned and most likely to cause impaction. None of these worms mentioned are actually "worms" anyway. They are larvae, and larvae are not usually that healthy, even if one is better than the other. Some small or diced up earthworm would be even better, but messy and you have to keep them on a dish, out of the substrate.

You can use a lot of things to supplement, as long as that is what you are doing. I have been down that road of trying to use something other than ants, and others have too, including Wade Sherbrooke. It usually doesn't work out so well for the lizard and I don't advise it. They should have a lot of ants primarily.
DHLs love honeypot ants as well as harvester ants.


-----
freewebs.com/wichitafallsreptilerescue

groups.yahoo.com/group/HornedLizards

[ Reply To This Message ] [ Subscribe to this Thread ] [ Show Entire Thread ]