u/Digitalbird06

Hey everyone. I think one of my hornworms is dying. He started acting strange a few days ago where he went to one place and didn't move. If he were smaller I'd think he was molting but he's too big for that. He hasn't eaten anything in days and ive tried several types of food. I just tried some chow but he moved his head away. I moved him to a separate container so I could inspect him. He's always been a bit pale but he looks more so now and theres a bit of yellowish liquid coming out his butt (see second picture). He's also very sunken in (squishier than normal)

I decided to put him in the fridge at the very least, that way he'll fall asleep and not be in pain. I'd still like to know what happened to him so I can prevent it in the future. Luckily his roommate seems to be healthy.

Decided to stop by a pet store and saw this Goliath sleeping in her own poop. I also found a pupa in a container full of dead caterpillars. I immediately brought them both home. Gave the big one (named Tangerine) some fresh food and soil to bury herself. I wouldn't be surprised if she went down tonight as she's the biggest ive seen.

The pupa is alive but very dehydrated. I put her in moist soil and misted her heavily. Fingers crossed she'll emerge with good wings.

Cheese has gone down under today (godspeed my boy). I wanted to share some cute moments of him growing up.

Hey everyone. I have a tough question for you all. I have this tiny hornworm named Bunion for nearly 4 weeks now. Hasn't once molted. He does occasionally stop moving as if hes going to molt but it never happens. For awhile he was still moving around, eating normally. But for the past two days or so he hasn't eaten and now there's a piece of frass stuck in his butt. He just looks uncomfortable to me. Should I put him down? I feel thats the humane thing to do but I need a second opinion.

These two were getting bullied by the bigger worms so I moved them to a different container. They're checking out the new environment in the cutest way.

Got these itty bitty guys on Thursday. I finally got them into clean containers with some sweet potatoes. I'm hoping they'll grow big and strong like Cheese and the others.

A few days I made a post asking what all the liquid that came out of my hornworm was. A few redditors said I must have tore his skin picking him up. I was so worried for him but he apears to be on the mend.

I want to give a PSA for all new caterpillar owners so they don't make the same mistake. Even if you've picked one up before with no problem doesn't mean it'll always be that way. If they don't 100% let go, do not pull them off no matter how gentle you try to be. If you need to move them to clean the tank, get them to move onto something else. It may take awhile to get them all to move but its not worth potentially hurting them. Ive found gently tapping their butts can get some to move but its not always a guarantee.

The best way is to find a set up that doesn't require them too be moved too often. I'm still learning the best way to do this. I'll share some pictures when I figured it out as well as the supplies I used. In the meantime he's a short video of Cheese eating his favorite snack - sweet potato.

I picked Cheese up in a different way last night as he was mid poop. I usually place him right on my hand but I dangled him a bit to get his poop out. I'm not sure if he "peed" as a defensive response or if he's preparing for pupation? I don't believe it was a gut purge as the liquid was coming from his sides.

I had this happen with one of the little ones when I first got them and had to clean their enclosure. It thrashed around a lot so I think that time it was definitely defense. Cheese is used to being picked up though and doesn't seem to mind. (I'm not going do it that way again though)

I'm not worried he's hurt as he was still munching away on the towel and seems fine this morning. I was just curious if anyone else has experienced this.

I took out my fridge pupas out on May 1st and was wondering how stiff they're supposed to feel? I assumed they were still in diapause as its not at their optimal temperature to wake up yet. Would they respond at all if you tap on their abdomen the way the others do? I'm able to move it but it doesn't seem to move on its own. They also seem more shrunken than the newer ones. In the picture, the one on the left went in the fridge around November and the one on the right has been a pupa for little over 2 weeks.

Cheese has been spoiled on sweet potato all night. Now he no longer wants his chow. Its hard to see in the light but right past his head you can see it inside him. Its slightly orange against his aqua skin. The last picture shows it best.

Cheese, my Manduca Sexta hornworm is getting to be that size where he'll want to pupate. He's honestly my favorite so far as he's really chill and doesn't mind being picked up. I'm going to miss him for sure so these last few days are precious

With the weather getting warmer I like to take my hornworms out for a bit. They seem to enjoy it.

Has anyone had a caterpillar that wouldn't molt? Ive had the one on the left for nearly 3 weeks now and he hasn't molted. He's very pale compared to the others. He still moves around and is possiblly eating but I'm not sure. I'm worried it may be suffering. I imagine its not comfortable being in skin thats very tight. I don't know if I should just keep waiting or if I should euthanize him. I don't want it to starve or get squeezed to death.

If anyone has had any luck helping a caterpillar molt id love to hear it.

So i had moved my pupa into this container so they'd exposed to more light and keep them from going into diapause. I was hoping to have had them moved to their permanent enclosure but the shipping was delayed. Now I'm worried there's too much moisture in there. I had the coco fiber stuff that you have to add water to but now I'm thinking I added too much. I really hate to disturb them again especially since one wasn't completely sealed (it looked like it was from the outside otherwise I wouldn't have disturbed it). They're lightly covered with loose substrate which i believe will allow air flow but its not warm enough for the water to evaporate quickly. Should I move them again to dryer soil?

Just discovered this sub so here's some photogenic shots of my hornworms

The pillar gang getting a sweet pepper. It took awhile for them to notice it since they're sleepy babies. 🥰

I love when they fall asleep in their food.

Took my cocoa beans out of the fridge and put them in the window. They're enclosure arrives tomorrow but I wanted to get them to get gently warmed up first. My 7 green beans are enjoying some fresh air and light as well. They're a little in the sun but its only 60 oF with a breeze so I'm not worried about them overheating. I think they like the fresh air.