Butterworms are imported from Chile. In addition to their color and fruity smell, butter worms are also high in calcium...more than twice that of most other feeder insects (except for BSFL {Phoenix Worms} in their mature phase - just before they reach the pupa stage) black and immobile.
Butter worms are an absolute favorite of Box Turtles, Bearded Dragons, Geckos, and most lizards. They are a good live feeder insect addition for added variety in your exotic's diet. In addition to their nutritional value, Butterworms are readily accepted by a wide variety of reptiles.
Note: Butterworms are high in fat content and should only be given as a treat, 2-3 times a week, and not used as an every day staple feeder.
Butterworms can be stored for up to 4 months in a refrigerator at 40-50° F, about 5-10° C, though around here (our bearded dragons really loves them...) butterworms never stay around that long.
Butterworms require no maintenance, nor need any feeding or any special care whatsoever, making them one of the easiest live feeders to keep and to feed to your pets in providing the necessary variety, essential in creating a good balanced diet, for any 'herps' (Bearded dragons, chameleons, geckos, anoles, newts, turtles, frogs, birds, fish), and small mammals.
Try them out ... you'll be really glad you did when you see how much your pets love them!
Nutritional Value of Butterworms
Moisture- 58.54 %
Ash- 1.04 %
Protein- 16.20 %
Fat- 5.21 %
Calcium- 42.90 (ml/100 gr)
Butter worms are high in calcium averaging about two times the normal calcium content of most other feeder insects on the Canadian market (with the exception of the BSFL - which is the highest of any other grub know to entomologists) . Silkworms and Phoenix Worms come very close, but Silkworms require more care and have higher mortality issues, while black soldier fly larva are not as plump and as large as butter worms they still pack the highest nutritional punch.
The butter worm hassle-free NO-Maintenance storage and high nutritional value make them a great dietary addition for a balanced diet and provide a good value for the cost ... and pets really love them!
Species | Moisture % | Protein % | Calcium(mg/100g) | Fat % | Ash % |
Butterworm | 58.54% | 16.20% | 29 | 24.9% | 1.04% |
DubiaRoach | 61 % | 36 % | 20 | 7 % | 2 % |
housecricket | 74% | 18% | 14 | 6.8% | 1% |
Mealworm | 59 % | 10 % | 3.28 | 13.4 % | 1 % |
Silkworm | 76 % | 64 % | 34 | 10.8 % | 7.5 % |
Soldier Fly | N/A | 17 % | 349 | 14.0% | N/A |
Superworm | 59 % | 20 % | 10.80 | 17.7 % | 1 % |
Waxworm | 61 % | 16 % | 13.14 | 29.4 % | 1 % |