FEEDER INFORMATION
Each feeder has some nutritional value to your reptile. We try to provide as much information about them as possible to help you make great feeder choices for your pet.
Silkworm:
Ca:P: 1:2.4; Protein: 63.8%; Fat 10.6%; Fiber: 7.7%, Carbohydrate 18.2%; Water: 76%; Ash 7.4%
This is an excellent staple feeder. It has a wonderful Calcium to Phosphorus ratio, good amount of protein and fat. Also unique to the silkworm, they contain an enzyme called serrapeptase. Serrapeptase has properties that makes calcium absorption more efficient, can reduce inflammation, help with pain and best of all it can break down arterial plaque.
This is an excellent staple feeder. It has a wonderful Calcium to Phosphorus ratio, good amount of protein and fat. Also unique to the silkworm, they contain an enzyme called serrapeptase. Serrapeptase has properties that makes calcium absorption more efficient, can reduce inflammation, help with pain and best of all it can break down arterial plaque.
Crickets
(Before gut loading) Ca:P 1:12; Protein 21.3%; Fat 6.0%, Fiber 3.2%; Water 70%.
It is very important to gut-load with high calcium vegetables & dust to increase calcium and ensure a better calcium to phosphorus ratio. One of the most common insects used to feed reptiles. Be sure to buy your crickets from a reputable cricket breeder as they can carry internal parasites that can be passed on to your reptiles.
It is very important to gut-load with high calcium vegetables & dust to increase calcium and ensure a better calcium to phosphorus ratio. One of the most common insects used to feed reptiles. Be sure to buy your crickets from a reputable cricket breeder as they can carry internal parasites that can be passed on to your reptiles.
MEAL WORMS
Ca:P 1:25; Protein: 20.3%; Fat: 12.7% Fiber: 1.7%; Water: 62% Low calcium, high phosphorus & fat, hard chitin shell
Be sure that your reptile or animal should handle the chitinous shell of the mealworm. If you have any doubt then opt for a softer bodied feeder. These are great feeders supplementary feeders for leopard geckos, Chinese water dragons but not for bearded dragons. These are not recommended as a staple diet due to their high phosphorus content.
Be sure that your reptile or animal should handle the chitinous shell of the mealworm. If you have any doubt then opt for a softer bodied feeder. These are great feeders supplementary feeders for leopard geckos, Chinese water dragons but not for bearded dragons. These are not recommended as a staple diet due to their high phosphorus content.
SUPER WORMs
Ca:P 1:18 Protein: 17.4% Fat: 17.9% Fiber: 6.8% Sugar: Unk: Water: 60% High in phosphorus, dust or inject to increase calcium.
These are a good size feeder, about 2", and unlike mealworms they have less chitin to meat ratio. Be sure to dust or inject these with calcium these as the do have a high phosphorus content. Dusting is very easy to do.
These are a good size feeder, about 2", and unlike mealworms they have less chitin to meat ratio. Be sure to dust or inject these with calcium these as the do have a high phosphorus content. Dusting is very easy to do.
Springtails
Photo courtesy of www.educationalresource.info
Springtails are typically less than 6 mm in length and are some of the smallest feeders available. They are not actually insects, but are instead Cryptozoa, and are commonly fed to dart frogs, newts, salamanders and spiders.
Flightless Fruit Flies
Small feeder often fed to poison dart frogs, praying mantis and fish. Can b e purchased in self-contained pods or you can culture them yourself.
black soldier fly larvae (Reptiworms or Phoenix worms)
Nutritional Content for the BRAND Phoenix Worm: Ca:P 8155 PPM to 5355 PPM, Protein: 17.3% Fat: 9.4% Fiber: unk Sugar: Unk: Water: unk. No need to dust these as a feeder
With a nearly 2:1 Calcium: Phosphorus ratio, most keepers do not even dust black soldier fly larvae with calcium since they are so nutritionally balanced. They should arrive as constantly wriggling worms or larva and as they age they will begin to darken until they turn completely black. When they are black they have their highest levels of calcium, and they are also close to turning into black soldier flies. They keep best around 54*F in a wine fridge to keep them from turning into flies. You can sift the substrate they come in or use a hairdryer on low to blow the substrate loose, being careful not to blow away the worms! It should also be noted that they are high in lauric acid, a natural agent at fighting coccidia.
With a nearly 2:1 Calcium: Phosphorus ratio, most keepers do not even dust black soldier fly larvae with calcium since they are so nutritionally balanced. They should arrive as constantly wriggling worms or larva and as they age they will begin to darken until they turn completely black. When they are black they have their highest levels of calcium, and they are also close to turning into black soldier flies. They keep best around 54*F in a wine fridge to keep them from turning into flies. You can sift the substrate they come in or use a hairdryer on low to blow the substrate loose, being careful not to blow away the worms! It should also be noted that they are high in lauric acid, a natural agent at fighting coccidia.
Butter worms
Ca:P unk Ca: (ml/100 grs) 42.90, Protein: 16.20, Fat 5.21, Fiber: unk, Ash 1.04 Water 54.5%
High calcium feeders that are an excellent supplement to your normal feeders! Not only are they twice as high in calcium as any other feeder you CAN refrigerate these for an extended period of time. They keep longer than crickets, longer than horn worms and longer than silk worms!
High calcium feeders that are an excellent supplement to your normal feeders! Not only are they twice as high in calcium as any other feeder you CAN refrigerate these for an extended period of time. They keep longer than crickets, longer than horn worms and longer than silk worms!
Horn worms
Ca:P: 1:3; Protein: 9%; Fat 3% Fiber: unk, Sugar: unk Water: 85%
Horn worms grow rapidly. Their growth rate can be slowed by keeping them at 55 degrees Farenheit (such as in a wine fridge). They can grow up to 4+ inches in length. At the larger sizes they can have a significant ability to bite so that should be kept in mind. They can be cut down in size with a knife (gross, yes) for feeding if they grow too big.
Horn worms grow rapidly. Their growth rate can be slowed by keeping them at 55 degrees Farenheit (such as in a wine fridge). They can grow up to 4+ inches in length. At the larger sizes they can have a significant ability to bite so that should be kept in mind. They can be cut down in size with a knife (gross, yes) for feeding if they grow too big.
Wax Worms
Ca:P: 1:7; Protein: 63.8%; Fat unk; Fiber: unk, Water: 62%, High in Phosphorus, dust with calcium.
These are great TREAT feeders and not to be used as a staple. Please note they are high in fat and need to be dusted with calcium due to their high phosphorus content. Excellent choice for adding fat to a diet, for example for a leopard gecko that dropped it's tail (where most of their fat stores are kept)
These are great TREAT feeders and not to be used as a staple. Please note they are high in fat and need to be dusted with calcium due to their high phosphorus content. Excellent choice for adding fat to a diet, for example for a leopard gecko that dropped it's tail (where most of their fat stores are kept)
Dubia
Ca:P: Information varies (Once source cites 625 PPM Calcium and 2320 PPM Phosphorus); Protein: 35.6%; Fat 6.75%; Fiber: 3.25%. Water: 61.18%,
An increasingly popular feeder for many, this insect is touted as having a higher meat to chitin ratio than crickets. It is generally well accepted by a lot of reptiles as a feeder and is used as a staple by many. With the varying information on the Ca:P ratio it is suggested by most sites to dust the feeder with calcium.
An increasingly popular feeder for many, this insect is touted as having a higher meat to chitin ratio than crickets. It is generally well accepted by a lot of reptiles as a feeder and is used as a staple by many. With the varying information on the Ca:P ratio it is suggested by most sites to dust the feeder with calcium.
'What Eats Roaches?' - short article with pictures showing many species eating roaches, also has roach sizes demonstrated on a ruler.
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Read this study which has tables giving an estimate of chitin in insects. This can help you understand what insects and larvae are easiest for your reptile to digest.
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Next time you are around a wax moth, whisper! Read this BBC article "Greater wax moth 'can sense' highest recorded frequency."
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Vita-Bugs - Timberline has created live feeders that do not require supplemental dusting and have the nutritional value of wild caught insects. Claims to support proper vitamin A levels.
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