Silkworms are possibly one of the best feeder items you can offer your herp. Variety is always best, so be sure to supplement the diet occasionally with other food items, but silkworms are hands-down the most nutritious option as a staple.

In addition to being soft-bodied, silkworms are very high in calcium. They also have a very low overall fat composition and a very high percentage of protein compared to other feeders. They have some of the highest calorie from protein and lowest calorie from fat contents around (something often neglected by most nutritional analysis charts).

Furthermore, they contain an enzyme called serrapeptase that aids calcium absorption and has been known to reduce pain and inflammation, and breaks down arterial plaque. These properties have been documented and tested on rescued bearded dragons by Cheri Smith where she found that silkworms were one of the best feeders to provide to recovering animals and those that were immunosuppressed.

Silkworms are a lot of work to breed, however. They are also quite expensive to rear compared to other feeders, particularly if you do not have any fresh mulberry around to use as a food source. They are one of the only species of insect in the wolrd that has completely adapted to being reared by humans and require us to survive (they literally just sit there staring up at the sky waiting for food)... but because of this they are incredibly fragile and susceptible to disease. Food must be sterile and you'll preferably wear gloves treated with 70% alcohol before handling the food or worms to ensure that there is no bacterial pathogen transfer.

If you want some tips on breeding and keeping them let me know... I could write a mini novel but am short on time tis morning = )