Hornworms are one of the most useful 'treat' feeders you can keep on hand, especially for tempting a picky eater or rehydrating an animal that's gone off its food. They're also the feeder people most often lose, because they grow fast and don't tolerate a cold fridge. Here's how to keep them alive, healthy, and feeding well.
What are hornworms?
Hornworms come from the hawk moth. They're soft-bodied, plump, and bright green or blue-green, with a very high water content. As a feeder they're prized for two things: hydration and appeal. Their high moisture makes them an excellent way to get fluids into a reptile, and their size and movement make them hard for a picky eater to resist, which is why keepers reach for them during a hunger strike.
They're loved by chameleons, bearded dragons, leopard geckos, and many other reptiles and amphibians.
One important safety note: only ever feed captive-bred hornworms like ours, never wild-caught. Wild hornworms can carry plant toxins that are harmful to reptiles.
A treat, not a staple
Hornworms are very high in moisture and low in fat, but they're also low in calcium. Dust them with a calcium supplement before feeding, and offer them as a treat or a hydrating supplement alongside a balanced diet rather than an everyday staple.
Two ways to buy: the pod or individual hornworms
We offer hornworms two ways, and they suit different needs. This is the main thing to get right when you order:
- Hornworm Pod — a self-contained tub that comes with hornworm food, so it keeps the hornworms alive and lets them grow. It starts with smaller hornworms (around 1″) because they grow so quickly, so you feed them off as they reach the size your reptile needs. Choose the pod if you want your hornworms to last, or want to grow them up to size at home.
- Individual Hornworms (Medium) — ready-to-feed hornworms, approximately 1.5″ to 2.5″, a chunky feeder best suited to medium and larger reptiles. These come without a rearing setup or food, so they're the pick when you'll feed them off within a day or two.
Need a smaller or larger size than these? Email us at info@nutrigrubs.ca and we'll let you know what we have available.
How to keep them alive
Hornworms are less forgiving than most feeders, but the rules are simple.
Keep them at room temperature. That's the default for feeding them off over a few days.
To slow their growth, use a wine fridge at 10 to 12°C. Because hornworms grow so quickly, chilling them slightly in a wine fridge slows them down and buys you time. Never use a normal household fridge, which runs around 4°C and is too cold for hornworms.
If you have a hornworm pod, follow the directions on the pod container. In short: keep the pod the right way up with the air holes (in the lid) clear, and clear out the droppings every 1 to 2 days. Keeping it upright lets the food stay at the top while the droppings fall onto the lid, so they don't sit in and foul the food.
Individual hornworms: feed them off promptly. If you bought individual hornworms rather than the pod, plan to feed them off within 24 to 48 hours of arrival, since individual hornworms without a food source can decline quickly. Order only what your reptile will get through in that window.
A note on lifespan. Hornworms are a delicate feeder, and once they're in your care we can't control how long each one lives. We guarantee your hornworms arrive alive; keeping them going after that comes down to how they're kept and how quickly they're fed off. The care above is what gives them their best shot.
Want to hold individual hornworms longer? Add hornworm food. The pod already includes food, so it keeps them going on its own. If you have individual hornworms and want to grow them on, keep them fed with our pre-made hornworm food (ready to feed) or Repashy Superhorn, which you mix up yourself.
A quick word on freshness
Feeders are only as good as they are fresh. Fresher hornworms are firmer, more active, and more likely to trigger a feeding response, so order what you'll use and feed them off while they're at their best.
The short version
Hornworms are a hydrating, hard-to-resist treat feeder, great for picky eaters, but low in calcium, so dust them and feed in moderation. Keep them at room temperature, or in a wine fridge at 10 to 12°C to slow their growth, never a household fridge. Feed them off promptly because they grow fast, or hold them on hornworm food. Only ever feed captive-bred hornworms.
Ready to try them? Shop our hornworm pod or individual hornworms, and grab hornworm food if you'd like to grow them on.
