You want to the best nutrition available for your pet. You have questions, and we are here to answer them for you!
About Obie’s BSFL
What are Obie’s BSFL?
Obie’s BSFL are Canada’s premium quality black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illuciens) live and dried feed for pets. Obie’s BSFL are naturally high in calcium, protein, iron, phosphorus, and the essential amino acids required for a healthy diet. Raised in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Obie’s BSFL are available for shipping Canada-wide, as well as in select stores nationwide.
How are Obie’s different from Reptiworms™, Phoenix Worms®, and Calciworms®?
These are trademarked products offering the same species of BSFL. The difference between each is how the larvae are produced and what they are fed. Obie’s BSFL are a nutrient rich source of calcium, protein, and iron, produced ethically in Halifax, Nova Scotia, using safe, processed organic material as a feedstock.
How does Obie’s grow sustainable feeder insects?
Oberland Agriscience Inc. is an environmentally focused, B Corp certified company, aligning with several of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We strive to be a zero-waste facility, sourcing local pre-consumer organic material as our feed stock.
For example, we use locally sourced spent brewers grains and food production by-products in the feed to raise our BSFL. The result is an environmentally consciously grown, highly nutritious staple for your pets.
How is Obie’s committed to being better for people, pets, and planet?
Planet Earth is facing a critical protein shortage. At Oberland Agriscience Inc. we found ourselves looking for an opportunity to produce responsible, high-quality protein at a lower impact to the world. The protein from our BSFL has applications in pet food, poultry feed, and aquaculture feed – markets which can greatly benefit from a sustainable, resilient protein, produced using less water, less land, and turning out lower carbon emissions than conventional protein sources.
Black Soldier Fly Larvae
What are black soldier fly larvae?
The black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) is a common subtropical fly of the Stratiomyidae family. Adult flies are up to 18–20 mm in length. The larvae (black soldier fly larvae or BSFL) are an excellent supplement for animal feeds; as live feeders for insectivore pets; or as compost boosting grubs. BSFL are high in protein (~50% dry weight) and contain high levels of calcium, making them ideal for reptiles, birds, fish, and dogs.
The true power of this insect lies in the ability of the larvae to consume almost any organic material – making them a great ally in confronting both the global food waste crisis and the world’s looming protein shortage.
How do I care for and store my Obie’s BSFL live feeders?
You can store Obie’s BSFL at room temperature for up to two weeks, taking care to keep them moist and fed. To extend their shelf life, keep Obie’s BSFL slightly cool (10–12 ºC / 50–53ºF) and moisten frequently. DO NOT store your BSFL in the freezer or your household refrigerator – they will die.
Obie’s BSFL wiggle, but if you keep the permeable lid sealed, you won’t have any escapees! Motionless larvae may just need a warm water rinse or a little warming up – place them in your hand or under a heat source like a warm light bulb and you should see them spring back into action.
For more information about keeping your Obie’s BSFL active, click here.
What are the larvae packed in?
Obie’s BSFL come packed in a moist coconut coir. Coir is the fibrous material found between the hard, internal shell and the outer coat of a coconut.
Do Obie’s BSFL smell?
Obie’s BSFL may have an earthy smell at first from being cooped up in their container for shipping. Our ventilated covers will allow the smell to dissipate from the container.
BSFL can omit a smell of ammonia. This is a result of the BSFL processing the protein in their system. When you open your Obie’s container you may smell ammonia which is due to them processing remnants of feed during shipment. Make sure your larvae and their bedding are dry, and the smell will dissipate.
Some of my larvae are different colours, should I be worried?
No, there is a natural variation in colour from light tan through to dark brown. Larger dark brown or black larvae may move more slowly as they’re transforming into their pre-pupae stage. These darker worms eventually turn into pupae and emerge as adult flies. BSFL are edible by your insectivore at all stages in their life cycle, including the fly stage.
However, if your pet is not interested in the fly, don’t worry! The black soldier fly is a non-invasive species with a two-to-three-day lifespan once they have turned to flies. If you are worried about the darker larvae turning to flies, we recommend that you feed them to your pet before the light tan-coloured larvae.