Calci worms question

[sintapiviti]

Hello,

Just manage to a get me some calci worms after some time looking for them in online store, and finding out they're called maggot BSF around here lol

My questions are, how often can you feed these to RF? Mine is just over a year old. Also, since they're said to have very high amount of calcium, would I still need to give calcium powder or cuttlefish bone if I give these?

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Hello,

Just manage to a get me some calci worms after some time looking for them in online store, and finding out they're called maggot BSF around here lol

My questions are, how often can you feed these to RF? Mine is just over a year old. Also, since they're said to have very high amount of calcium, would I still need to give calcium powder or cuttlefish bone if I give these?

Hi!
They are rather high in fats (like most worms/larvae), so I would stick to moderate amount 1-2 times a week, probably mixed with greens.

"High calcium" is not really high, but just close to optimal Calcium-Phosphorus ratio (2.5:1) - better than in most feeder insects, maybe with the exception of earthworms. Thus feeding BSF larvae doesn't affect calcium supplements schedule.Cuttlefish bone is okay to keep in the enclosure, so tortoise can bite it whenever it wants to.

 

[sintapiviti]

Hi!
They are rather high in fats (like most worms/larvae), so I would stick to moderate amount 1-2 times a week, probably mixed with greens.

"High calcium" is not really high, but just close to optimal Calcium-Phosphorus ratio (2.5:1) - better than in most feeder insects, maybe with the exception of earthworms. Thus feeding BSF larvae doesn't affect calcium supplements schedule.Cuttlefish bone is okay to keep in the enclosure, so tortoise can bite it whenever it wants to.

Thank you for your helpful reply.

To clarify, do I feed just 1 worm in those 1-2 times a week schedule?

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Thank you for your helpful reply.

To clarify, do I feed just 1 worm in those 1-2 times a week schedule?

No, a typically agreed portion of protein is "tortoise head size" (maybe, a bit more for hatchlings - like 2 heads) in a week or 10-15% of overall food intake (whatever is easier for you to calculate). So you can divide this amount in 2-3 feedings. Just a sidenote - when BSF larvae get wet they acquire a superability to crawl any surface, including glass

@cooky_luvs may give you more accurate guidelines.

 

[Maggie3fan]

My Redfoot, Layla, is 3 yrs going on 4 and I don't mess around with those other feeders except superworms. I dig nightcrawlers out of a tortoise poop place in my yard. I feed her 1 large nightcrawler weekly. I am used to feeding herbivores, so feeding a Redfoot who will eat anything is fun. Layla like scrambled eggs instead of hard boiled. I also feed berries, and peaches and mangos...lots of fruit...

here is some info to read

Information About Redfoot and Yellowfoot Tortoises

Tortoise Library

tortoiseforum.org

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

My Redfoot, Layla, is 3 yrs going on 4 and I don't mess around with those other feeders except superworms. I dig nightcrawlers out of a tortoise poop place in my yard. I feed her 1 large nightcrawler weekly. I am used to feeding herbivores, so feeding a Redfoot who will eat anything is fun. Layla like scrambled eggs instead of hard boiled. I also feed berries, and peaches and mangos...lots of fruit...

here is some info to read

Information About Redfoot and Yellowfoot Tortoises

Tortoise Library

tortoiseforum.org

Superworms are fine, but maybe too large for a yearling. And they are damn fast I love watching my redfoot chasing them.

Superworms have awful Calcium-Phosphorus ratio, but it's not a big deal as insects aren't significant part of redfoots diet.

 

[Maggie3fan]

Superworms are fine, but maybe too large for a yearling. And they are damn fast I love watching my redfoot chasing them.

Superworms have awful Calcium-Phosphorus ratio, but it's not a big deal as insects aren't significant part of redfoots diet.

Yes, that is right...

 

[cooky_luvs]

No, a typically agreed portion of protein is "tortoise head size" (maybe, a bit more for hatchlings - like 2 heads) in a week or 10-15% of overall food intake (whatever is easier for you to calculate). So you can divide this amount in 2-3 feedings. Just a sidenote - when BSF larvae get wet they acquire a superability to crawl any surface, including glass

@cooky_luvs may give you more accurate guidelines.

Because I’m usually feeding them to a group of babies I’m not able to really portion it out that well so they likely end up getting 2-3 each when I feed them. I usually feed them about once a week. I do the same for the adults and I put them on top of their meal like sprinkles lol.

Personally, I prefer to feed them in dried form. There is some controversy as to the bio availability of the calcium in BSFL due to the digestibility of the exoskeleton. But it has been found that the form they are fed in can alter the bio availability. I can’t seem to find the link right now, but I read something before about them being fed in mashed form increased the bio availability of the calcium. Haven’t been able to find much about when they are fed in dry form, but I assume it’s similar.

When I’ve fed my baby Redfoot’s live ones, they would poop them out almost whole which led me to believe they are not digesting them much at all. When I feed them in dry form there’s no digestion problems. Then there’s the bonus that they are just easier to deal with in dried form and I can buy a huge bulk box. I still feed them live to my box turtles, and they don’t seem to have any issues digesting them.

 

[cooky_luvs]

I found that study about them being mashed.

https://repository.lsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=5934&context=gradschool_theses