Species Profile & Temperament

The Golden Rule of Waxworms

TREAT ONLY: Waxworms are a treat, not a staple. Timberline says, "Because of their high fat content, Waxworms should not be used as a staple food in an animal's diet." Feed them as an occasional extra alongside a staple feeder like crickets or dubia roaches.

Nutrition & Gut-Loading

Waxworms are unique in the feeder world: you do not feed or gut-load them.

• The Larval Stage: The waxworms sold in stores are in their final larval stage. At this point in their life cycle, they have completely stopped eating and drinking. They survive purely off the massive fat reserves they built up as tiny caterpillars.
• Dusting (Mandatory): Dust them with calcium every time you feed. Use calcium with D3 at most feedings, plus a multivitamin about once a week. Follow the label on the powder.

Housing & Storage (Short Term)

The goal of keeping waxworms is to put them in a state of semi-dormancy so they last as long as possible before turning into moths.

Enclosure & Environment

• Container: Keep them directly in the plastic deli cup they are sold in, which is usually filled with dry wood shavings or sawdust.
• Moisture: Keep them bone dry. If condensation builds up in the cup, take the lid off for a few hours. Moisture will cause them to turn black and die.
• Temperature: Follow the storage directions on the cup's label.
• Too warm, and they turn into moths.
• Fluker's says, "Most refrigerators are too cold to store them in."

Maintenance

• Check the cup often.
• Remove any dead waxworms immediately (they will turn black and smell bad).
• Remove any worms that have spun a tough, white silk cocoon.

Culturing & Breeding (Long Term)

Retail Note: We do not recommend breeding waxworms. It is far easier to simply buy a cup when you want to give your pet a treat.

If a cup turns to moths, throw them away. Never let them go outside.

What We Use & Recommend

These are products we use and recommend for this feeder. Stock varies by store, so ask us what we have in store today.

Last updated: 2026-08-04

How We Keep Them at Critter Cabana & Gresham Pet Supply

• Dry Cups: We keep waxworms in the dry bedding they come in. If a cup gets damp, we take the lid off so it can dry out. No food, no water and no misting.
• Cool, Not Cold: We keep waxworms near the worm fridge, not in it. Too warm and they turn into moths. Most fridges are too cold. At home, follow the storage directions on the cup's label.
• Shopping at Newberg & Gresham: For enclosures, cork bark, substrates, springtails and feeders at Critter Cabana (Newberg) and Gresham Pet Supply, ask us what we have in store today.

Common Questions (FAQ)

How do I keep my Waxworms warm and humid enough during an Oregon winter?

Follow the storage directions on the cup's label. Most refrigerators are too cold, and a warm room turns them into moths. Keep them dry in the bedding they came in. No food, no water and no water dish.

What size enclosure does a Waxworms need?

Keep them in the cup they came in, with its dry bedding. If the bedding feels moist, take the lid off so it can dry out.

Can I put isopods in a Waxworms bioactive enclosure?

No. Waxworms are a treat feeder kept in a dry cup. They do not go in a bioactive enclosure.

Where can I find Waxworms, cork bark, and feeder insects in Oregon?

Ask us what we have in store today at our two exotic animal stores: Critter Cabana in Newberg (514 E First St, 503-537-2887) and Gresham Pet Supply (2185 NW Burnside Rd, 503-665-7606).