The most common types of live food are crickets, mealworm, wax worm, locusts, fruit flies and lob worms. Buying these foods from a reputable dealer is very important as all live food deteriorates very quickly if kept for very long in less than ideal conditions.

For information on keeping the various types of live food click on the appropriate links below

Left: The giant mealworm

This is a curly wing fly, note the upward pointing wings which prevent it from taking 'proper' flight, they tend to jump rather than fly.

On receipt they will usually be packed in wood shavings in a ventilated plastic box, they should remain in the box until needed. Typically there will be one or two flies with lots of chrysalises ready to hatch. Keep them somewhere cool to slow down the hatching rate, the fridge is a good place.