BSFL

[lonzo2020]

Hi all,

So when we first got our Taco a couple of weeks ago, all we had were mealworms for him. After reading about them, I ordered some Nutri-grubs (BSFL) and 1/4” dubias for him. He devours the dubias but isn’t much interested in the grubs, which I know are good calcium sources. Any tips on how to turn him onto the grubs? Thanks

 

[Sadie]

Hi all,

So when we first got our Taco a couple of weeks ago, all we had were mealworms for him. After reading about them, I ordered some Nutri-grubs (BSFL) and 1/4” dubias for him. He devours the dubias but isn’t much interested in the grubs, which I know are good calcium sources. Any tips on how to turn him onto the grubs? Thanks

Odd another one that may not like them -- does he eat his salads ? You can try adding them to the tops of his salads -- that is one way to get them to eat their salads cuz they usually like them -- try that I hope it works -- let me know

 

[lonzo2020]

Odd another one that may not like them -- does he eat his salads ? You can try adding them to the tops of his salads -- that is one way to get them to eat their salads cuz they usually like them -- try that I hope it works -- let me know

I’m not 100% sure if he’s eating the veggies. He doesn’t like to be hand fed so I leave the insects in a bowl for him and the veggies in another. Today was the first day I physically saw him eat out of the bowl. He attacked the dubias and then walked away from the grubs. Is there another trick to getting veggies into him? He’s still very young but the sooner the better right

 

[Sadie]

I’m not 100% sure if he’s eating the veggies. He doesn’t like to be hand fed so I leave the insects in a bowl for him and the veggies in another. Today was the first day I physically saw him eat out of the bowl. He attacked the dubias and then walked away from the grubs. Is there another trick to getting veggies into him? He’s still very young but the sooner the better right

You can try silk worms -- they stick to everything and are a good staple feeder as well - www.reptilianarts.com
make sure your rinsing the salads before serving so hes getting hydration and yes the earlier the better - feed the salads / BSFL in the morning first thing after he has had time to wake up - then after a hr or so offer the dubias - you can use like 3 silks in the salad-- and you want to start hand taming him --- get some worms like the silk maybe some small super worms and hand feed them - get your hands in the tank as much as you can -- I started on a routine for mine when he was 3 months old feeding every morning about the same time - he got to know that routine and would be waiting for me in a spot where I set the bowl down in front of him on his basking log --

 

[lonzo2020]

You can try silk worms -- they stick to everything and are a good staple feeder as well - www.reptilianarts.com
make sure your rinsing the salads before serving so hes getting hydration and yes the earlier the better - feed the salads / BSFL in the morning first thing after he has had time to wake up - then after a hr or so offer the dubias - you can use like 3 silks in the salad-- and you want to start hand taming him --- get some worms like the silk maybe some small super worms and hand feed them - get your hands in the tank as much as you can -- I started on a routine for mine when he was 3 months old feeding every morning about the same time - he got to know that routine and would be waiting for me in a spot where I set the bowl down in front of him on his basking log --

Yeah I was looking into silkworms too. Are they too slow moving like the BSFL to grab his attention though? We do put our hands in the tank a lot to try feed him. Sometimes he’ll take a worm or two but then gets skittish. We also try and pick him up but he gets skittish about that too right now. But we’ve been taking him out to soak and the occasional run around around the room.

 

[Sadie]

Yeah I was looking into silkworms too. Are they too slow moving like the BSFL to grab his attention though? We do put our hands in the tank a lot to try feed him. Sometimes he’ll take a worm or two but then gets skittish. We also try and pick him up but he gets skittish about that too right now. But we’ve been taking him out to soak and the occasional run around around the room.

Yes they move slow but it should draw his attention- horn worms are good super worms anything moving in the bowl- I would lay off the bathing for now-- that is causing stress too- he's not getting water unless he's actually drinking

 

[lonzo2020]

Yes they move slow but it should draw his attention- horn worms are good super worms anything moving in the bowl- I would lay off the bathing for now-- that is causing stress too- he's not getting water unless he's actually drinking

I thought they needed to be soaked a few times a week as babies? Even when shedding?

 

[Sadie]

I thought they needed to be soaked a few times a week as babies? Even when shedding?

No it's not really recommended when they are just brought home- you can spray him in the tank when he's shedding- if he gets real bad spray him then take a baby soft toothbrush and gently brush him-- if the shed is dry and crackly- don't pick at it let it come off on its own-- if he's got decor he rub himself on that would be good--

 

[Skybug]

Hi all,

So when we first got our Taco a couple of weeks ago, all we had were mealworms for him. After reading about them, I ordered some Nutri-grubs (BSFL) and 1/4” dubias for him. He devours the dubias but isn’t much interested in the grubs, which I know are good calcium sources. Any tips on how to turn him onto the grubs? Thanks

When my beardie was a juvie i tried feeding her bsfl she ate one then wouldn’t eat anymore, I ended up chucking them in the forest, i agree with sadie, hornworms are really good, my beardie act totally insane when i try and give her one, and yea you really should wait a month or 2 before you start bathing, you dont want to ruin the trust/bond that you both are creating, he’ll end up hating you, if you want to get him “cleaner” rub WITH the scales and use a couple baby wipes.

 

[lonzo2020]

Thanks. I just put my hand in the tank for a few minutes and he ran away a couple of times but then I just let him smell my hand and he was calm for a couple of minutes. We’ll just keep building that trust and skip the bathing for a while. Can you get hornworms that are small enough for a baby though? Trying to follow the nothing bigger than the space between the eyes rule

 

[Skybug]

Thanks. I just put my hand in the tank for a few minutes and he ran away a couple of times but then I just let him smell my hand and he was calm for a couple of minutes. We’ll just keep building that trust and skip the bathing for a while. Can you get hornworms that are small enough for a baby though? Trying to follow the nothing bigger than the space between the eyes rule

Yes! I order mine from here Greatlakeshornworms.com
They’re a little bit bigger than a grain of rice, order the smallest amount of them , they grow FAST, they triple in size every day , after like 4 days they’re bigger than breakfast sausages.

 

[lonzo2020]

So a 12 count should last how many feedings? He’s eating about ten 1/4” dubias at each feeding twice a day. Can the hornworms just be a supplement to those? Like one or two a day?

 

[Sadie]

So a 12 count should last how many feedings? He’s eating about ten 1/4” dubias at each feeding twice a day. Can the hornworms just be a supplement to those? Like one or two a day?

Yes feed one or two / day-- they are a good hydrating worm and can be used to supplement- you can also get super worms as well feed 2-3 every couple if days they last a long time-- the best place I have found for super worms is flukers insect site- but they are large only so if he's a baby those won't work you would need to get small or medium depending on how big he is - try symtonbsf.com or dubiaroaches.com
mulberry farms.com
Alot of places are out of stock - but flukersfarms has the best large superworms that I have found so far-- they come in a tube so you would need to have plastic containers w/ lids w/ holes and bran for food hydrate them w/ carrots this is for future reference