Butterworms and Silks

[rei]

Hiya all

i have recently started my little one on silkworms and butterworms, he really loves the butterworms and they are really great for him also. They are high in calcium and are softbodied so really easily digestible. Anyone else using these in their dragons diets? just curious, havnt found many people that use them or even have considered them. Silkworms are also very good for your dragons, both are lower in fats then other worms by the way, and much higher in calcium then most other feeder insects.

Thanks!!!!!

[sSNAKESs.com]

I would have to agree, both are VERY good for your dragon.. alot of people are using Silkworms as a staple in place of crickets :) you could offer waxworms as a treat, they will devour them to! although very high in fat! :) but a nice treat none the less :)

[rei]

hiya

well he really loves the butterworms and does eat the silks but really has it out for the butters, ill have to check the nutritional info on the butters to see the fat content, and see how often they are suitable to be fed. From what i have read thus far they are just as good as the silks and can be fed as the main protein source. any further info on the butterworms ?

Thanks a bunch for the reply!!

[Jaylyn]

Hi!

In "Thoughts for Food", published by the CIN - they say they are usually nutritionally deficient (a suitable artificial diet has yet to be discovered) - although they can be housed in a base of wheat bran with apple,sweet potatoe and/or carrots with moderate success. There are over 500 species in this group (butterworms, trevo worms, sweet worms &/or chilean moths) - so finding the correct diet would be difficult!! Excessive moisture and mold are deadly to the larvae so make sure to dry any food items.

Personally, I'd give them as treats - silkies are THE most nutritous - but again you have to be diligent with hygiene. Can't go wrong with crix and a really good gutload.

Just for interests sake - one species is eaten by the Australian Aborigines. Raw grubs are said to taste like butter or scaled cream, while cooked like pork rind. Any one up for a dare????

Jaylyn

[rei]

hehehe.. well those butterworms no joke are almost appetizing just as they are, they smell so sweet and are such a great color, ok maybe thats sick but seriously, they are great little worms!

i think i am going to stick to a varying diet of crickets (mostly) silks (secondly) and butterworms (lastly) this is what he has been eating, mostly crickets but some silks and butters on the side. I keep the worms containers very clean in fact just cleaned them out yesterday and replaced their substrate and gave fresh foods to them. I keep my feeders good and clean including my crickets.

well thanks a bunch for the information!!!! now how bout that dare.. hehe
take care!
rei

[B22]

hi
you now latin name of those worms???
thxx

[Cornelsworld]

i dont know the latin name, but they are also called wax worms

[Jaylyn]

Sorry - but they aren't. The Butterworms/Trevo worms/Sweet worms/Chilean Moths belong to the Cossidae family. Waxworms are Galleria mellonella. :)

Waxworms are high in fat and should only be offered sparingly. I do have recipes for culturing them and increasing thier nutritional value if you want them.

Jaylyn

[lance]

anyone know the care on butter or silk worms

[BIG SCOTT]

I ate a wax worm once. If it's not good enough for me it's not good enough for my lizard. So bring on the Wax and Silk worms!