Surviving the chill

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November 18, 2024 at 1:25:08 PM PST November 18, 2024 at 1:25:08 PM PSTth, November 18, 2024 at 1:25:08 PM PST
Arcadia Optimised Indulgence

How cold weather affects live food

As winter has descended upon us we can all start to feel a little sluggish, preferring to stay cosy at home in the warm, the same is true for many popular live food species.

Very few insects have evolved to survive winter and opt to avoid the cold instead. Crickets, Mealworms, Morioworms and Calci Worms are particularly vulnerable as they are cold blooded and unable to regulate their body temperature.

So, from our strictly controlled farm to your customer’s cosy heated home, what’s the best way to keep live food moving this winter?

What to do with your live food when it arrives in cold weather?

Though we make every effort to keep them in top condition, sometimes live food can appear lifeless upon arrival. However, they can be in a dormant state due to the harsh weather conditions.

To combat this: unpack outer boxes and lay all tubs out to allow the warm air to circulate fully around them, like us oxygen and warmth are key to keeping them moving. However, the most common cause of live food stock loss is exposing them to high levels of external heat to warm up quickly and doing this will result in loss. Keep the ambient room temperature between 18⁰C-25⁰C and allow several hours for them to completely recover.

Bulk bags need to be treated with the same conditions, however instead of unpacking them simply agitate the bag gently and prop upright in a secure place, this allows the insects to acclimatise and move freely and will naturally generate more heat as they move. It is important to note that although we take extra precautions to keep live food in optimum condition, it is inevitable some will not survive the journey.

A handy guidance sheet is available to print here: Live food in cold conditions

What do we do to keep them active in cold conditions?

Our insect farm temperatures are strictly regulated to ensure all species are kept and bred in optimum conditions encouraging a higher yield of healthy, active live food. However, when they are packed for delivery, we safeguard against the elements by adding heat packs on particularly cold days and ensuring all our vans have adequate heating.

Why do we want to keep them active?

As the adage dictates, “you are what you eat” the same can be said for reptiles and their food. Keeping insects moving not only reduces stock loss but healthy, warm live food is more active and encourages natural hunting behaviours of captive reptiles, enriching their lives subsequently benefitting their long-term physical and mental well-being. There are many studies confirming reptiles that are enriched and are encouraged to engage in natural behaviours are happier and healthier as a result.

This is well-established amongst the reptile keeping community so when customers walk into your store, they’re more likely to notice active insects than sluggish unappealing stock.

Check out our full range of live food below!