Hornworms
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Can I feed hornworms from my garden to my pet?
No! Wild hornworms' natural diet makes them potentially toxic, which will poison your pet if eaten. Only offer captive-bred hornworms to your pet. -
Hornworms can grow quite large — about 3-4".
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How can I keep my hornworms alive longer?
Hornworms are one of the best feeder insects. They're hydrating, nutritious, and low in fat. Hornworms' biggest "drawback" is that they grow and mature quickly! That's great if you're feeding a big critter that needs a ton of insect-based protein, like monitor lizards, tegus, and large chameleon... -
How do I house/store my hornworms?
When the hornworms are delivered to your house, they will arrive in a large, clear cup with plenty of food and a mesh divider that they can climb on. The hornworms can be kept in this cup for up to a couple weeks while you feed them off to your pet(s). This cup will need to be placed lid-down so... -
How do I make the hornworm food?
This diet makes approximately 5 times its weight when cooked. One dry 2oz packet makes approximately 11 oz of wet food. Instructions for cooking our Hornworm Food: Boil 1 cup of water on the stove. Once the water is at a rolling boil, add dry food slowly while simultaneously whisking either by ... -
At room temperature (roughly 72°F), most hornworms pupate within 3 to 4 weeks of hatching. At this point, they build a cocoon and start to transform into a moth. We suggest you don't order more hornworms than your reptile(s) can eat in a few weeks - otherwise, you'll risk them pupating or growing...
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I ordered large hornworms, why did I get smalls?
As per the description on the website we send them small on purpose. It actually means the cup you received was fresher than others. If you give them just 3-4 days at room temp or keep them a little warm, they will be huge in no time! The main cost is the food to grow them, so when you buy large ... -
I ordered medium hornworms, why did I get smalls?
As per the description on the website we send them small on purpose. It actually means the cup you received was fresher than others. If you give them just 3-4 days at room temp or keep them a little warm, they will be huge in no time! The main cost is the food to grow them, so when you buy large ... -
I ordered small hornworms and I got an empty cup
The small hornworms will come with very small hornworms and/or hornworm eggs, both of which can be very hard to see and it may seem like you got an empty cup but this is not the case. This is detailed on the description of the small hornworms on our website. If you leave the cup at room temp or w... -
I ordered the 18 count small hornworms and got really small worms
The small hornworms will come with very small hornworms and/or hornworm eggs, both of which can be very hard to see. This is detailed on the description of the small hornworms on our website. If you leave the cup at room temp or warmer for a day or two you will see them become much bigger and beg... -
MOLD: If your cups develop mold in them, simply take a spoon and remove it. The main cause of mold forming in the cups is from too much humidity or darkness, and from the worm's waste coming into contact (and sticking) to the food. Store your cups upside down so the waste falls to the lid and can...
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My hornworm turned red — is it still safe for my pet to eat?
When hornworms turn red, that means they're finished growing and they're getting ready to pupate into moths. Although they may look different, they're still safe for your pet to eat. -
Hornworms are caterpillars of Manduca genus hawk moths. The hornworms commonly bred for feeding to reptiles, amphibians, and other exotic pets are usually tobacco hornworms, Manduca sexta. In the wild, hornworms are frequently viewed as pests because they like to eat tomatoes and other garden va...
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What are the nutrition facts for hornworms?
Moisture — 85% Protein — 9% Fat — 3.07% Ash — n/a Fiber — n/a Calcium — 464mg/kg Phosphorus — 1394mg/kg -
Wild hornworms eat a variety of plants, especially crops like tomatoes and tobacco. This wild diet can make them toxic, which is why you should never feed wild-caught hornworms to your pet. However, when hornworms captive-bred, they're raised on a special diet that makes them safe for consumption...
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After about 3-4 weeks of growth, hornworms form a chrysalis and pupate into hawk moths. The moths are quite large and may look a little intimidating, but these can also be fed to your pet as a special treat.
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Why do my hornworms seem small?
Hornworms are notorious for growing very quickly, and for this reason, they are also known to be difficult to ship. The only way we can ship them and ensure that they reach our customers in a usable state and also suit our wide range of customers who use them for different reptiles or other insec... -
Will hornworms give my pet diarrhea?
Hornworms have a very high moisture content, so it's possible that eating hornworms will cause your pet's body to excrete all of that extra water in the form of diarrhea. This is not something to get terribly concerned about as long as it's not a frequent occurrence. However, for this reasons it'... -
The horn may look hard, but it's actually quite soft — it's just a defense mechanism to help scare off predators. It will not hurt your pet when they eat a hornworm.