**ALWAYS OPEN LIVE INSECTS OUTSIDE OR OVER ANOTHER CONTAINER**
Table of Contents
- What are butterworms?
- How nutritious are butterworms?
- Are butterworms good for my pet?
- Can butterworms be used as a staple feeder?
- How do I take care of my butterworms?
- What do butterworms eat?
- How big do butterworms get?
- How long do butterworms last?
- Why are butterworms sometimes hard to find?
- What do I do if my order arrives dead?
- What do I do if I receive the wrong order?
What are butterworms?
Butterworms are the larvae of the Chilean Moth, Chilecomadia moorei. These are also known as Tebo worms, and commonly used as fishing bait. Butterworms are small, soft-bodied, orange-colored caterpillars that are common treats for a variety of reptiles, amphibians, birds, and others.
How nutritious are butterworms?
- Moisture — 60.2%
- Protein — 15.5%
- Fat — 29.4%
- Ash — 0.8%
- Fiber — 1.4%
- Calcium — 125mg/kg
- Phosphorous — 2250mg/kg
Are butterworms good for my pet?
Yes and no. They are a good source of protein and vitamins, which means that they are not just "empty calories" for exotic pets. However they are very high in fat, so they should not be fed regularly.
Can butterworms be used as a staple feeder?
No. Due to their extremely high fat content, butterworms should be offered as occasional treats for omnivorous and insectivorous pets. Feeding butterworms and other fatty foods too often can lead to excessive weight gain and associated health complaints such as fatty liver disease.
How do I take care of my butterworms?
Your butterworms will arrive in a plastic cup with sawdust substrate. From this point they are extremely easy to keep. Simply stick the container in the door of your fridge until you need them for feeding your pet. Take the cup out of the fridge for an hour or so to let the worms warm up before feeding.
What do butterworms eat?
Butterworms exclusively eat the leaves of the Tebo tree. This can make them difficult to breed when Tebo leaves get scarce due to factors such as forest fires. Fortunately you don't have to feed them once they've arrived on your doorstep. Keeping them cool keeps them in a dormant state where they don't need to eat or drink.
How big do butterworms get?
Butterworms can grow up to 2-3 cm long.
How long do butterworms last?
When kept properly cool, butterworms can last up to three months.
Why are butterworms sometimes hard to find?
The food that butterworms eat, Tebo tree leaves, gets scarce in the event of natural disasters and poor weather. Without Tebo leaves, you can't raise butterworms. So the availability of butterworms highly fluctuates depending on the availability of Tebo leaves.
What do I do if my order arrives dead?
We make every effort to ensure that your order arrives alive, which is why we also include a few extra to compensate for any losses. However, we can't always guarantee the weather or how the postal service will treat your package. If your order arrives dead, please send us a photo of the dead butterworms in the container that they were shipped in. Once this is verified, we will send you a replacement or issue a credit to your account. We can't guarantee butterworms that have been left out on your porch for more than 1 hour.
What do I do if I receive the wrong order?
If you receive the wrong item, shoot us a message with your order number, the item you received, and the item you were supposed to receive. We do our best to avoid mix-ups, but mistakes still happen on occasion, and we'll be happy to send you a replacement.
If you have any questions that haven't been answered here, go to the page for your product in question and scroll to the customer reviews and post your question there.
