News from Carolina Pet Supply
In this issue:
1. Superworms
Superworms, (Zophobas morio), are an excellent and easy to keep
feeder insect for many reptile, amphibian, and bird species. I
personally use superworms for box turtles. If fed properly superworms
can be kept at room temps for a long time. I have some superworms that
I have been keeping for more than 1 year.
Superworms are NOT the same as Mealworms or Giant Mealworms
(tenebrio molitor) though they are similar in appearance. Superworms
need to be kept at room temps and will not turn into to beetles while
in group. On the other hand mealworms quickly pupate at room temps and
should be refrigerated to keep them in the larval stage. Superworms are
in fact more easily digested when compared to mealworms since they have
less chitin. Small superworms have even less chitin.
Nutritional Analysis of Superworms:
Moisture: 59%
Protein: 20%
Fat: 16%
Ash: 1%
For information on improving the nutrition of superworms click here: http://www.carolinapetsupply.com/gut_loading_insects.html
I keep my superworms in bare bottom Tupperware containers. I put
some fresh greens over them daily. Weekly I put some cactus or hibiscus
powder at one side.
When I want small superworms for hatchling box turtles, I take 6 or
more superworms and place 1 each in a multi-compartment storage case. I
put a little bit of greens with the superworms and wait. In about a
week the superworms stop moving and curl up.
Within a few days it will shed its skin and pupate.
In 2-3 weeks the pupae will become a beetle. When it first emerges its white...then red and finally black.
I keep the beetles on damp sphagnum moss and feed them small amounts
of greens. In a few weeks you will see movement in the moss. The
superworm’s larvae are very small and almost impossible to see without
a magnifying glass. Below is a picture of superworms at 1 week old.
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New Products for March
Phoenix Worms
Developed by Dr. Sheppard, a university research entomologist, while
studying Hermetia illucens, a beneficial insect for agricultural
applications. He discovered that most herps ate them eagerly and sent
samples to breeders and hobbyists who reported that practically all the
herps that were offered the worms loved them. These included bearded
dragons, skinks, etc.
Phoenix worms are much higher in calcium than other feeder insects
and they have a favorable calcium to phosphorus ration. Most feeder
insects have a Ca:P ration of 0.04 to 0.13 calcium to 1 part
phosphorus: the medium size Phoenix worm has a Ca:P ratin of 1.52 to 1.
The small and large sizes have a Ca:P of 1.2 and 3.2 to 1. Phoenix
worms store calcium as they grow and ultimately deposit it in their
cuticles as pupae. This deposit acts as an armor against predator and
parasitoids to protect the immobile pupa.
Keeping Phoenix worms.
Keep sealed in the original container at room temperature and they
will stay vigorous for weeks. Add up to 10 drops of water to the
non-food packing media if the worms become dehydrated. No feeding is
necessary and will only foul the media. Refrigeration is not
recommended because of the long recovery time to be mobile and
attractive to your herps. Also rapid chilling may cause death, they
lover higher temperatures and the optimal is 60° to 70°F.
Sizes available:
small, 8mm
medium 12mm
The following are by request only:
large, 18mm
extra small, 5mm
Click here to order: http://www.carolinapetsupply.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=46_53
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New Zealand sphagnum moss
Very clean long fiber moss that is excellent bedding for hatchlings box turtles, frogs, incubating eggs, growing plants in a vivarium, any thing that you want to add humidity to the environment.
Click here to order:http://www.carolinapetsupply.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=31&products_id=214
Coconut coir
As a dry substrate it is perfect for desert terrarium settings. Wet
it down and it is now a tropical dwelling substrate. Coconut bedding
will hold and maintain moisture better than any other bedding, and is
great for incubation of eggs.
This exciting substrate is highly absorbent, making spot cleaning a
breeze, thereby reducing cleanup time, and the used bedding can be
safely composted into your garden.
Compressed for easy storage, one brick of this Coconut Coir will expand to 7-8 liters.
Click here to order: http://www.carolinapetsupply.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=31&products_id=72
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Fruit fly cultures
Drosophila Hydei
Flightless Fruit Fly cultures have a life span of about one month.
Larvae will continually to pupate from eggs laid by the adults in the
culture. The flies have everything they need inside the container they
are shipped in, just feed to your animal as needed.
We advise that the customer should never remove all of the flies, a few should be left in the vial for breeders.
To feed your pets just shake out a few flies and feed them to your pet.
The average size of an adult fruit fly is about the size of large pinhead crickets.
Each vial contains 40-50 adult flies with medium; they should be stored at room temperature and kept out of direct sunlight.
Giant fruit flies are about 1/8"
Click here to order:http://www.carolinapetsupply.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=46_52
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Aquamax trout chow
Aquamax is very similar to Turtle Brittle. As a plus for aquatic turtles, it floats!!
This food is great for aquatics and box turtles
Click here to order: http://www.carolinapetsupply.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=38&products_id=188
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