the truth about the story that superworms and mealworms can eat through a stomach

[fab]

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i don't know if this has been done or not but whatever... i'm sure everybody has heard that old wife's tale about the mealworm/superworm who ate throught the stomach of a gecko/other lizard.

i decided to try this experiment myself. so we know that gastric acid has a ph of 2-3. vinegar also has a ph of 2-3, i think you know where im going. i am using a superworm. i crushed the superworm with my tongs 3 times (less times than my gecko chews) and then i put it in a baggie with some vinegar inside to replicate the stomach of the reptile. within seconds, the worm had perished.

in conclusion, a superworm cannot eat through the stomach of a lizard, by the time it reaches the stomach, it is already incapacitated because of the repile's jaws. (i know that experienced reptile keepers will have no use for this thread) i hope that people that are new to the hobby will benefit for this experiment (it took a whole 5 minutes of my time).

[gizmo143]

I 've never heard that myth but thats a cool experiment!

[fab]

lol, you never heard that story, some people go as far as crushing the head of the worm so it can't eat through the stomach. glad you enjoyed it!!! i hope people can profit from this. its a shame that i had to waste a perfectly good feeder though.

[gizmo143]

I'm glad i didn't hear that... I feed my Leo Mealworms and would have probably called the vet if i heard that!

[The Mega Inferno]

i don't use mealworms at all....
i suggest instead of a meal worm plate at the bottom use phoenix worms
as they are much healthier, i hate to see people(inexperienced keepers) use meal worms AS A STAPLE with nothing else. i know people in brooklyn who hate to keep crickets and use only mealworms.so if anyone on this site feels that way, maybe you could consider phoenix worms.

[Supreme Gecko]

Great experiment. I really enjoy seeing someone take the initiative to try something like this out.

[Hilde]

You don't even need vinegar, plain water will do that too. Since they don't have lungs, they can't hold their breath. The water can enter the spiracles and leave no room for air.
Inside the stomach the digestive juices have a head start flowing into the spiracles and punctures from the teeth. Done like dinner in no time at all.

[Elizabeth Freer]

http://www.geckosunlimited.com/commu...rd-geckos.html

Mealworms are very chitinous and can cause impactions in leopard geckos.

Gutloaded and lightly dusted prey---crickets with their back legs amputated at the "knees" to keep them in a feeding dish and Blaptica dubia make excellent and nutritious meals for geckos.

[Supreme Gecko]

Mealworms are bad, mealworms are ok... it is easy to pass on information.
Good for Fab and Hilde for sharing 'new' information.

[fab]

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i don't feeed mealworms or superworms as a staple. maybe 40% mealies and 50% crickets and 10% silkworms (my gecko really loves silkworms.)