Live Food Care During Cold Weather

When temperatures drop, we take extensive steps to ensure your live food arrives in the best possible condition and to help protect them from the cold.

Even with these precautions, you may occasionally receive live food that appears still or inactive on arrival. This is completely normal. Popular feeder species such as crickets, mealworms, morio worms, and calci worms are cold-blooded insects and cannot regulate their own body temperature. When they are exposed to low temperatures, they naturally enter a temporary dormant state to conserve energy until warmth returns.

If your live food seems lifeless on delivery, the following steps will help bring them safely back to full activity:

1. Unpack immediately. Remove all outer packaging and spread out the tubs or packs so fresh air can circulate freely around them.
2. Let them warm up gradually. Place the packs at normal room temperature (18°C–25°C). Avoid using any direct heat sources — warming live food too quickly is the most common reason insects die after delivery.
3. Allow time for recovery. Depending on how cold they became, insects may need several hours to fully revive. When handled correctly, the vast majority (around 99%) will recover without issue.

For bulk bags of live food, gently shuffle or rotate the bag to help redistribute the insects inside. Then lay the bag horizontally at room temperature and allow them to wake up naturally.

Following these simple steps will ensure your live food returns to full health and remains suitable and nutritious for your animals.