Insect Variety

[Felix]

DEAR ALL,

I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS REGARDING THE INSECTS THAT I AM FEEDING / GOING TO FEED MY LITTLE MONSTER HEDGEHOG (HE'S NOT BIG... JUST A MONSTER).

BUT FIRST I'LL GIVE YOU A LITTLE INTRO. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF ANYONE DOESN'T AGREE WITH WHAT I AM DOING.

I'LL BEGIN:
WE LIVE IN ITALY AND THUS THE TRADITIONAL INSECTIVORE COMERICIAL BRANDED STAPLE DIETS (SUCH AS MAZURI AND ZOO FARE) ARE NOT AVAILABLE. SO I USE A MIXTURE OF 3 FERRET DRY FOODS (INCLUDING FRANKIE FERRET, WHICH SOME OF YOU MAY BE AWARE OF).

AS PER ALPAYTON'S ENTRY DATED 06/23/05 I ALSO FEED A VARIETY OF COOKED VEGETABLES/FRUITS AND COOKED ORGANICALLY RAISED MEATS.

- ANYBODY WHO IS SQUEAMISH PLEASE TURN AWAY NOW!!!! -

I CAN'T GET THE LITTLE MONSTER TO EAT EGGS OR ANY FORMS OF YOGURT. SO ONCE A WEEK TO GIVE THE BEGGAR A BIT OF A CALCIUM KICK I INJECT WITH A SYRINGE MEALWORMS WITH ACTIMEL AND FEED THEM TO HIM. WHICH HE PUTS UP WITH.

WITH REGARDS TO THE INSECTS THAT I FEED HIM, THIS IS THE BASIC LIST THAT I GIVE HIM DAILY OR WEEKLY (DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF INSECT):

- TENEBRIO MOLITOR (SOME SORT OF SMALL WORM)
- ZOOPHAS MORIO (SOME SORT OF BIGGER WORM)
- MEDIUM BROWN CRICKETS
- SMALL BLACK CRICKETS
- MICRO LOCUSTS
- SMALL ARGENTINIAN ROACHES
- SILK WORMS
- "HONEY WORMS" (WHICH I SUPPOSE ARE WAX WORMS)
- BEATLES FROM BOTH THE TENEBRIO MOLITOR COLONY AND THE ZOOPHAS MORIO COLONY

NOW MY QUESTIONS ARE THESE:
1) I LIVE IN ITALY AND THUS ALL TRANSLATIONS OF THIS SITE AND THE INTERNET IN GENERAL IS DIFFICULT. SO....... WHAT IS THE SCENTIFIC NAME OF MEAL WORMS: "TENEBRIO MOLITOR" OR "ZOOPHAS MORIO"?????

IF TRADITIONAL MEALWORMS ARE "TENEBRIO MOLITOR" WHAT ON EARTH IS A "ZOOPHAS MORIO" WHICH IS 10 TIMES THE SIZE????

ALSO, IF TRADITIONAL MEALWORMS ARE "TENEBRIO MOLITOR" AND I CAN ONLY GIVE MY MONSTER 2 OR 3 OF THESE A WEEK..... WHAT ABOUT THE "ZOOPHAS MORIO".... ONCE A MONTH? ONCE A WEEK? ONCE A YEAR?

SO MEALWORMS ARE PRETTY UNHEALTHY.... BUT WHAT ABOUT THE BEATLES THAT THEY BECOME (IF YOU KEEP THEM LONG ENOUGH)?

2) WAXWORMS: BASICALLY EAT SUGAR ALL DAY. SO THEY CAN'T BE THAT HEALTHY REALLY. SAY I'M FEEDING THE MONSTER 2 SMALL WORMS ("TENEBRIO MOLITOR") A WEEK AND 1 LARGE WORM ("ZOOPHAS MORIO") A WEEK... CAN I FEED HIM 2-3 WAX WORMS A WEEK? OR CAN I ONLY GIVE HIM ONE OR THE OTHER?

3) AND FINALLY, EARTH WORMS: I AM INTERESTED IN GIVING HIM AN EARTHWORM (OR HALF, DEPENDING ON THE SIZE) A WEEK. I HAVE READ THAT WILD CAUGHT EARTHWORMS ARE VERY DANGEROUS TO CAPTIVE HEDGEHOGS. WHAT ABOUT COMMERCIALLY GROWN EARTHWORMS (GROWN BY REPUTABLE SUPPLIERS) THAT ARE SUPPLIED AS FOOD TO SOME REPTILES AND ANPHIBIANS? IS THERE STILL A RISK?

MY MENU SO FAR:

WE HAVE COOKED MEAT DAYS AND INSECT DAYS. IF IT IS AN INSECT DAY THIS IS WHAT HE GETS:

EVENINGS- 2 MEDIUM BROWN CRICKETS, 2 SMALL BLACK CRICKETS, 1 MICRO LOCUST, 2-3 SILK WORMS, 1 SMALL ARGENTINIAN ROACH.

DURING THE DAY (I WAKE HIM UP)- 2 MEDIUM BROWN CRICKETS, 2 SMALL BLACK CRICKETS, 1 TENEBRIO MOLITOR BEATLE.

THEN, IRRESPECTIVE OF WEATHER IT IS A MEAT OR INSECT DAY, IN THE EVENING AS DESERT I ADD THIS DEPENDING ON THE DAY: MONDAY: 1 TENEBRIO MOLITOR WORM, 1 TENEBRIO MOLITOR BEATLE.
TUESDAY: 1 ZOOPHAS MORIO
WEDNESDAY: 2 WAX WORMS
THURSDAY: 1 TENEBRIO MOLITOR WORM, 1 TENEBRIO MOLITOR BEATLE.
FRIDAY: 1 ZOOPHAS MORIO
SATURDAY: 2 WAX WORMS
SUNDAY: NO DESERT :tantrum: .

OK, I THINK I'VE WRITTEN ENOUGH FOR ONE ENTRY.... IF I COUNTIUE ANY FURTHER I RECKON I'LL BE EVICTED FROM THE CHINS AND QUILLS FORUM. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.

BEST REGARDS
FELIX

[paris26]

I wouldn't do the injections of calcium anymore unless it is advised by a vet and even then I might question it. If they are eating a good diet supplemented with fruits, veggies and insects, they should be set. Feed the smaller mealworms, the larger ones you are talking about I believe are superworms. I used to feed them to my hedgies until one them bit back. Waxworms are higer in fat, but if you can get the silkworms, those are good. High in protein, lower in fat.

What type of cat foods do you have access to? They would be a better choice than ferret foods

[Felix]

Dear Paris26,

Right, So No More Injections.... I Can Live With That. The "superworms" (sound Ominous): So I Should Just Stop Stocking Them Do You Think? Regarding Cat Foods: Iams (not Acceptable), Kitekat, Felix, Something Called Chao, And Others Too (i Shall Double Check And Get Back To You).

Thankyou Kindly For Your Input.

Cheerio
Felix

[ebengston]

The website -Pet food Direct, here is the link:
http://www.petfooddirect.com/store/shop_brands.asp?mscssid=82BSFMKB0R3Q8K82B9RKGECW64 SADKPB&cm_re=A-_-Header-_-Dept
They have all kinds of cat, dog, ferret, hedgehog food brands listed. You can click on the link and get the ingredients and nutritional info. I was very impressed with the site.
As for insects, the overall advice is do not feed wild insects. They may have been exposed to pesticides. There are alot of insect web sites where you can buy- mealworms, crickets, earthworms, silkworms, and many others. You can grow your own mealworm farm. There is info on CnQ on how to do this.
Good luck!

[paris26]

Of the foods that you listed, the ones I recognize aren't acceptable, and I'm not familiar with the last ones. Perhaps if you could post the ingredients of the foods?

Ideally, you are looking for a food with 30-35% protein and a 10-15% fat ratio and with meat or a meat meal in the first 5 ingredients