how to feed by hand?

Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
:banana: for you and Vastra. I'm happy that she's approved.

Did you get a cooler and a couple ice packs to keep them about 55 F to slow their growth? I've kept my hornworms at a decent size for an adult for about 3 weeks (in a cooler).

If you have crickets right now, how about 2 days with hornworms and the 3rd day with crickets or dubia unless they are too big now.

Where did you end up ordering the hornworms?
 
lbanta

lbanta

New member
I got them from great lakes horn worms. My dubias are huge now. I have been trying to find someone here that has a bearded dragon or some larger creature to give them to. No luck yet. I do think it will be a good idea to switch the Horn Worms up with some crickets. I read to put the hornworms in a small cooler and switch out the plastic refreezable blue ice every day to keep them around 50 degrees. I have not done this yet but will tomorrow because they were tiny and now are the right size to eat. So I don't want them growing much larger than this for feeding.
 
Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
What I have done is keep the hornworms @ 55*F. To keep those temperatures relatively stable I needed to switch out the ice pack every 12 hours.

Someone local who's breeding hornworms now tells me if you keep them cooler than ~55*F the hornworm chow gets too cold.

Be sure to turn the hornworm container upside down and elevate it off the floor of the cooler with a couple of pencils to promote airflow. This way their feces falls to the floor (the lid). :)
 
lbanta

lbanta

New member
I had to increase the size of the ice pack I was using to cryopac 200 to get the desired temp of 55. It's working great now. I found the cryopacs at Dollar Tree for a buck a piece. I thought that was a good deal.
 
lbanta

lbanta

New member
Well after feeding Vastra hornworms for a couple months she has gotten quite plump. Boy did she love them! I now am feeding her superworms that I cut off their heads and she is eating them really well. She is still very challenged lunging and missing things that are not even moving. So since she is eating the still wiggling but headless dead super worms it is working out pretty good cause she can finally get them after a few tries. They are pretty good sized and four or so of them and she is full. How healthy are superworms?
 
Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
lbanta said:
Well after feeding Vastra hornworms for a couple months she has gotten quite plump. Boy did she love them! I now am feeding her superworms that I cut off their heads and she is eating them really well. She is still very challenged lunging and missing things that are not even moving. So since she is eating the still wiggling but headless dead super worms it is working out pretty good cause she can finally get them after a few tries. They are pretty good sized and four or so of them and she is full. How healthy are superworms?
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Good to hear that Vastra's able to catch enough to keep her growing, lengthwise too, I hope. Sounds as if a new photo is in order!

The only thing I know is that superworms are more fatty than crickets. What superworms eat makes a difference in how nutritious they are. :)

I've got some hornworms coming next week. I'm going to use egg cartons to keep them elevated. Thanks for that idea.
 
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lbanta

lbanta

New member
I will try to take some new pictures today. I weighed her tonight, she weighs 62 gms now. Pudgy little girl. :)
 
amsdadtodd

amsdadtodd

New member
I've just finished reading this entire thread, I wish I'd found it before. I've been going through a similar situation with one of my girls, although she is much smaller. Hornworms have been my solution also, they have been a great appetite stimulator for my Hopper. As long as I give her a few of them every week now, she will continue to eat mealworms as long as I help her. Thank you for sharing your story, since it sounds so similar to mine I suspect others may also benefit from reading this.

Todd
 
lbanta

lbanta

New member
Here she is. She is starting to fade for a shed so her colors are a little ashy. Amsdadtodd, I am so glad that we can share our experiences, it helps to not feel alone in our struggles. This site has certainly helped me as I have wrestled with my needy gecko's problems. I am so thankful for GU! 11802154_10204252549585995_2028084094_n.jpg11798165_10204252551146034_1352709373_n.jpg11801992_10204252549946004_91068406_n.jpg11780471_10204252549786000_1178264579_n.jpg
 
amsdadtodd

amsdadtodd

New member
lbanta said:
Amsdadtodd, I am so glad that we can share our experiences, it helps to not feel alone in our struggles. This site has certainly helped me as I have wrestled with my needy gecko's problems. I am so thankful for GU! View attachment 35649View attachment 35650View attachment 35651View attachment 35652
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Believe me, I am too! My Hopper really had me worried, all the good suggestions and encouragement here helped me get her through. She's gaining weight,slowly and appropriately now, and shedding regularly as well. Feeding her is still a labor of love, but hopefully as she gets back to a regular growth that will also develop. Good luck with your Vastra, it seems like you have also turned a corner with your needy pet!

Todd
 
lbanta

lbanta

New member
Wow, so sorry about that video! My son fixed it and it should work now. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUTjUp6NCc4 I am somewhat challenged sometimes with technology! LOL! She is so cute in this vid, She is not at her vibrant best because she did shed the next night. I think you are correct about her not gaining any more, Elizabeth. She did get a little heavy eating those hornworms but boy did she like them! She is about 8 inches and hasn't increased in length for quite some time. At one year and two months will she have reached her full length? She is eating superworms now that I crush the heads on and also she will eat crickets if I take off their back legs and even some of the other legs. I feel mean but they are food and I just need them to wiggle a little bit and she will get them. I have been waiting for her to come out and actually ask me where is the beef before I try to feed her. She will come out to the area that I feed her and just look at me expectantly. I am happy to say I have learned to provide her something that she can get and she is doing well.
 
Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
I love your video, lbanta.

At 1 year, 2 months old and 8 inches long she still might grow longer.

I'm about to feed Cha some hornworms right now.

"Where's the beef?" :crackup:

Sounds like Vastra is eating a varied diet! That's superb.
 
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