How to Prevent My Superworms From Cannibalizing Each Other

Superworms are a diet staple for many breeds of reptiles, and keeping them healthy and full prior to feeding you pet is essential. With proper care, superworms, which are actually beetle larvae, can live up to six months in storage. However, they do resort to cannibalization if they are not given enough water. This is because their bodies are naturally full of moisture -- a feature that makes them attractive food for reptiles. To prevent your superworm colony from killing itself off, provide them with enough moisture to keep them healthy.

Things You'll Need

  • Breathable enclosure
  • Dry oats or wheat bran
  • Moisture-rich fruits and vegetables
  • Cricket feed
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Instructions

    • 1

      Fill the superworms' container with dry oats or wheat bran. This provides them with a high-fiber substrate to keep their intestines healthy. Check the substrate every few days to ensure that it has not taken on a powdery texture. When the substrate is mostly powder, take it out and replace it with new substrate. The powder is called frass and it is the waste generated by superworms.

    • 2

      Place a piece of moisture-packed fruit or vegetable on top of the substrate. Good, vitamin-rich examples include carrots, apple, and orange slices. Remove the slices of fruit or vegetables from the container after three days and replace them with new food. If you leave moisture-rich food in the superworms' enclosure for too long, you run the risk of it molding. If your superworms are near the moldy food, they could pass spores on to your reptile.

    • 3

      Place several gel pellets of cricket feed inside your superworms' enclosure. Cricket feed is suitable for all feeder insects, and it provides both moisture and nutrients for the worms. One advantage that it has over fresh fruit and vegetables is that it cannot rot, making it an hygienic option. It is also a good source of hydration with the notable advantage over water; superworms can't drown themselves in it. Use cricket feed alone or in addition to fresh fruits and vegetables.