Wax and Pheonix Worm Colonies

[Fatal_S]

Tattoo, I don't have that many creepies... yet ^.^ I think the scariest thing at my house would have to be my siblings. I must say I can't wait to get roaches so I can show those off I wonder how many people will scream?

Leigh, I did think about that idea. I don't think I'll ever become a feeder business, but if the colonies get big, I could easily supply some local people or stores with cheap feeders. It could at least help with bringing in a small amount of money after what I keep spending on my herps.

I really hope the pheonix worms work out, because they're costing me almost nothing to maintain. I just let them eat stuff that I'd be throwing out anyways. And if they manage to breed with the numbers they could (1000 eggs in a clutch), I could sell them dirt cheap and still manage to make a little money.

[Tattoo]

Hey Fatal ... I hear what you are saying about the siblings. As to the roaches I would be willing to ring you up and scream down the phone just on general principle when you get them. Roaches are creepy.

[brunetteoctober]

i know its only been a few days but how are your colonies going? do the phoenix worms eat a lot, do the smell? Cricket is growing to like them, but they are really too much to buy as a staple. plus, i've noticed a difference in him since i've started feeding the phoenix worms. he just looks better. maybe i'll start a colony...

[Steve]

Any escape yet?
Suckers climbed right to the top of my bin... using some petroleum jelly around the edges to keep them down now.

[Fatal_S]

Okay, update time!

The pheonix worms seem very lively and happy and are crawling around and munching the food I put in. I think I put in way too much food at first, nice heaping pile in fact, and they're only now getting through it all. There is a bit of a smell, but I wouldn't consider it bad or strong. It doesn't smell like rotting food though, so it might just be the worms. No flies yet, which is dissapointing, but I'm still waiting.

The wax worms however, are not doing well at all. I'm going to go back through all my notes on them and see what I've been doing wrong. I know some generally die, but IMO too many have died.

I'll continue to research, and I'll do any revamping of the bins tomorrow. I'm thinking it may have been the food that the wax worms didn't like. I've found a few sites that recommend a different mixture. I'm also going to put the bin heat on a timer so it's not always warm. It occured to me that this might be screwing them up.

More updates to follow.