Hornworm Eco-Cup for Sale
This is the Eco-Cup, a small, budget-friendly cup of hornworms meant to feed off within the week you receive them. It suits keepers who want to test whether their pet likes hornworms, or who just want a quick treat, without growing the worms larger. The worms ship small, as eggs or freshly hatched. Hornworms are a soft, juicy feeder, usually the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta.
Eco-Cup or Habitat-Cup?
The Eco-Cup is small and built for quick feed-off, so it costs less. If you want to grow your hornworms larger or keep them longer, choose the Habitat-Cup instead, which is larger and holds more food. So pick the Eco-Cup to try them, and the Habitat-Cup to grow them.
Small and Budget-Friendly
This Eco-Cup holds small hornworms, the lowest-cost way to start. The cups are sized to the count, with a 2 to 3oz cup for 5 worms and an 8oz cup for larger counts. Choose 5, 15, or 30 depending on how many you need for the week.
A Soft, Hydrating Treat
Hornworms run about 85% water, so they hydrate reptiles and amphibians, and their soft body digests easily. The feeder worms are captive-bred on a safe chow, so never feed wild hornworms, which can be toxic. For the full background, see the Habitat-Cup page.
Dust and Feed as a Treat
Despite some claims, hornworms are not a calcium source. They carry more phosphorus than calcium, like crickets, so dust them with TC Calcium Ultra Fine before feeding. They are also high in moisture and low in protein, so offer them as a hydrating treat rather than a staple.
Care
Plan to feed off within the week, since the Eco-Cup is not built for long keeping. Hornworms grow fast, so keep them cool, around 55 to 65°F, to slow growth, but avoid chilling them too hard. Keep the cup upside down in a cool, dark spot.
Best For
- Keepers testing whether their pet likes hornworms.
- Offering hornworms as an occasional quick treat.
- Feeding small animals that take small worms.
- Anyone who wants a low-cost, low-commitment cup.
Not Best For
- Growing worms larger or keeping them, which needs the Habitat-Cup.
- Use as a staple or a calcium source, since hornworms need dusting.
- Stocking up well ahead, since Eco-Cups feed off within the week.
Recommended Add-Ons
- TC Calcium Ultra Fine to dust the hornworms before feeding.
- Small Habitat-Cup if you decide to grow them larger.
- Large Eco-Cup for more or larger worms to feed off.
- BSFL as a calcium-rich feeder to balance the diet.
- Live Hornworms to browse all sizes and cups.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Hornworm Eco-Cup?
It is a small, budget cup of hornworms meant to feed off within the week. It suits testing hornworms or offering a quick treat.
What is the difference between an Eco-Cup and a Habitat-Cup?
The Eco-Cup is small and for quick feed-off. The Habitat-Cup is larger with more food, to grow worms larger or keep them longer.
How many should I get?
Choose 5, 15, or 30. The cups are sized to the count, and all are meant to feed off within the week.
Are hornworms high in calcium?
No. They carry more phosphorus than calcium, like crickets, so dust them. Their real benefit is hydration and a soft, easy-to-digest body.
Can I grow Eco-Cup hornworms larger?
Not really, since the Eco-Cup has limited food. To grow or keep them, choose the Habitat-Cup.
Learn More About Hornworms
These sources cover the biology of the tobacco hornworm and feeder supplementation.
- Manduca sexta Overview. A reference on the tobacco hornworm, including how a captive chow changes its color and how it differs from the tomato hornworm.
- NCBI: Diet and Growth in Manduca sexta. University research on how diet shapes the growth of hornworm larvae.
- ScienceDirect: Gut Loading (veterinary overview). A reference on why feeder insects need supplementation, which supports dusting hornworms for calcium.
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