I will be getting a shipment of 18 or so hornworms in a few days, I know that it takes 2 weeks to grow them to their full size, but once they are that big, what do I do with them?? Can I put them in the fridge to slow down their cycle? Or do I have to give them ALL of them in a few days? I think I might let a few of them morph, just for fun, can I feed the moths to them as well? Are the moths big enough to stay trapped in my cage? My cage is two of the 5' ebay cages zip-tied together.

I'm sorry no one has answered yet, I don't think anyone really knows! I would say, because you have so many and they can get so big, why wait until they are all full grown and then have some go to waste? You could feed some while they are smaller, I think they'd still be pretty good size, and then feed some as the larger larva and some as moths. I don't think the moth life span is very long (most aren't) but I don't know for sure. They would love the moths, and they would be more nutritious. I guess you could freeze them if there were too many to feed at once (even the moths, before they died).

I would contact the company you got them from and ask about refrigeration and moth life-span.

Please let us know how it goes, I can't wait to hear what you find out and how they like the larva and the moths!!!

I got them today, they're really cool looking. Looks like they are made of plastic. I got 24 of them! It says they grow to full size in 5 TO 10 DAYS!! My kids are going to be so spoiled. I will check with the company to see if they can be refridgerated or frozen.

I gave 3 of them to the furkids and some of them didn't like them, they got passed around a lot, but some couldn't eat them fast enough. I was surprised that my little piggy Dimitri wouldn't eat much of his, but Fox took pains to keep hers secret while she gobbled it down. I think we're going to have some fun! The moths will be a blast, especially with 8 gliders chasing them around, LOL

Can you link pics?

Anna

I don't have a camera, but here and here are pics of how big the hornworms are full grown. Here (on the right) is the size that I have now.

Ok, FYI, called the place and they said you should NOT refrigerate them. They have to keep eating. The chrysalis stage is only a week to 3 weeks though, so it shouldn't take very long for the "leftovers" to turn into a new fun treat.

I only suggest freezing worms or moths if you have too many to feed (as it will kill them) - it will keep them so that you can feed critter 'popsicles' to your gliders at a later time.

YUCK!!! I thought they were cool, I am watching them grow at an amazing rate and they must eat constantly (the place said that if they are unable to eat for 2 hours they will start to starve!) but I took the biggest one out to get a better look, and I could see its big black mandibles opening and closing, that was gross enough...then it started trying to eat my finger!! YUCK!! I couldn't get it off me fast enough, had to give it to the first head that popped up out of the pouch. Their feet hang on so hard that they might rip off if you're not gentle, so I had to take her out of the pouch to give it to her, and it POPPED on me!! Not pooped, but POPPED. Splatter everywhere!! Ok, I'm not one to be grossed out by worms, I carry mealies around in my bra for the gliders to eat and that's fine. I don't like things with buggy legs but caterpillars are cool...these things are just gross! Icky! SCARY! I might get more in the future but I'm sure as fuzz not going to be playing with them anymore!!

Those mandibles are like beaks...big black chompy beaks...*shudder* I am thinking the moths will be easier to deal with once a few of them morph, but until then I guess I'll have to let the gliders grab their worms out of the habitat!

Holy crud those suckers are huge when full grown. Thanks for the pics.

Anna

Ewww! Grody!

what nutritional value do hornworms provide for suggies? I've never heard of them before LOL

A few of those destroyed my tomato plants in one day. I had hubby get rid of them and I am happy they are gone! They gave me the creeps.

here is some more information on them:
http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/CoopExt/4DMG/Pests/tomato.htm

Mealies in your bra? Ugh....shudder!

So the gliders like hornworms (are they those blue ones????)

They are green, I think they come in blue sometimes but most of the pics I've seen are green. They love them, apparently, and they're going to get so big that a single one could feed one glider for a night. It will be fun once they get big...but I'll have to tweezer them out and I don't think I'll be holding them when they eat them anymore, it's the second one that popped on me!

I may have to try them (sure hope mine like em' cuz if not, what will I do with them???? lol)

They are green or blue.

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u219/valkyriemome/misc/Hornworms/HornWorms-3.jpg

I let mine morph - I bought a 38 gal rept especially for that purpose. They turn into massive moths - but the moths only live about 24 hours. So - if you are going to feed your gliders the moths - act fast!

It is illegal to let them loose outside, so if you are done with them, and they haven't all morphed, you have to make sure to smash the remaining cocoons. The cocoons are underground for around a month - but some of mine actually didn't morph for several months. I thought we were done with the whole moth thing, and then 6 more hatched 2 months later!

I have been wondering if they would be stuck in the cage unable to escape if I put them in there once they hatched. I thought it might be fun to watch the gliders hunt them down and pounce on them. Do you know if there's any way to alter the cocoon stage's length? Temperature or moisture? I want to save at least 5 of them to morph into moths. I think I'm down to 19 after feeding them 5 of them.

Just to make sure everyone knows, NEVER feed wild caught hornworms, they are toxic and will make your suggie very, very sick if not kill them. The hornworms that kitsune is talking about are feeder worms that were raised on non-toxic foods. :thumbs:

oh man those things are creepy! I could never feed 'em to my gliders...I bow down to all you brave souls out there!

I have previously done the "hornworm challenge" and posted about my experiences.

Kitsune- if you have any questions, let me know. They don't always cocoon for 3 weeks - sometimes it is longer.