Butterworm Care Sheet
|
Scientific Name:
Chilecomadia moorei (Chilean Moth; larval stage) |
| Lizards
Home > Library |
| |
Other
Names |
| Sweet Worm, Tebo
Worm |
| |
Statistics |
| Natural Location: |
Central Chile;
inhabits the Tebo Tree |
| Estimated Size: |
1/2" to 1 3/4" |
| |
| |
Nutritional
Information |
| Moisture |
58.54 % |
| Ash |
1.04 % |
| Protein |
16.20 % |
| Fat |
5.21 % |
| Calories/Fat |
87.73 |
| Calcium (ml/100 grs) |
42.90 |
|
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Food
& Water |
| In the wild, the
butterworm eats the leaves from the Tebo
Tree. If you keep your worms in the refrigerator, they
do not need to be fed anything. The hibernative state
slows their metabolism and negates any need for food.
Like the food, butterworms will not need
any water when in their hibernative state. |
| |
Lighting,
Temperature & Humidity |
5 - 10 degrees
C in your refrigerator. |
| |
Housing |
Keep your butterworms
in a plastic container, with an organic substrate, like
oat meal or wheat bran. Place the container in the refrigerator,
but make sure they will be dry. Check the worms after
about an hour. If they are webbing the substrate together,
leave them. If they are not, change the subtrate right
away. Damp substrate will lead to mould forming. They
can survive anywhere from 1 to 4 months in a hibernative
state. |
| |
Breeding |
| Butterworms
are irradiated before being shipped from Chile. This is
done to kill off any bacteria to prevent the butterworm
from ever pupating into a moth. These butterworms cannot
be cultured at home. |
| |
Disease
& Sickness |
| The main point
to pay attention to is the dampness of the subtrate the
worms are kept in. You want to avoid mould growing in
the container. Mould can lead to problems if digested
by your lizard. If substrate becomes damp, change it immediatly. |
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