[holocaustto]

Hi everyone!
Do you feed your Tokays (or any gecko) earthworms?
I've always used them succesfully with tropical large fish, they are very rich in protein.

[holocaustto]

Anybody??

[BMXer1654]

Ive done it. I should probably start again, there actually really nutritious.

[holocaustto]

Yes, they are!
Ok, so I guess I'll just keep using 'em.

[BMXer1654]

I only used mine a few times. But i doubt anything would be bad for the geckos with them. I feed them to my frog, and ive seen people feed them to bluetonge skinks.

[cliff_f]

I wouldn't think you would ever see a tokay in the wild eat earthworms. I have never seen one digging in the ground where they would be capable of finding them. They are usually chasing insects. I would stick to insects.

[holocaustto]

Originally Posted by cliff_f

I wouldn't think you would ever see a tokay in the wild eat earthworms. I have never seen one digging in the ground where they would be capable of finding them. They are usually chasing insects. I would stick to insects.

That's exactly why I asked about it. Anyway, I don't think that just because they wouldn't "find them" in the wild, it is wrong to use them.
For example, for Tropical fish they are great! For Tegus, the "base" food is ground turkey, wich they definitely don't eat in the wild, and so on.
Even pinkies with Tokays. I know they are not recommended as regular food, but every few weaks I know a lot of people think it is fine. And I guess earthworms not been mamals are not as bad as feeding pinkies.

[cliff_f]

Originally Posted by holocaustto

That's exactly why I asked about it. Anyway, I don't think that just because they wouldn't "find them" in the wild, it is wrong to use them.
For example, for Tropical fish they are great! For Tegus, the "base" food is ground turkey, wich they definitely don't eat in the wild, and so on.
Even pinkies with Tokays. I know they are not recommended as regular food, but every few weaks I know a lot of people think it is fine. And I guess earthworms not been mamals are not as bad as feeding pinkies.

Well tokay in the wild you are going to find them eating a wide variety of insects, mice, birds, snakes, Basically anything that is above the ground. Insects are still going to be their primary diet and you will not find them eating mice, birds and small snakes on a regular basis. So you would be better off feeding them insects like they eat in the wild.

About the tegu some people do feed them dog food as a primary diet also but that does not mean it is good for them. People feed their animals a wide variety of natural and processed foods but that does not mean they are all good for the animals. Some things sound good to feed to your animal but you should look and see what they eat in the wild and try to mock that the best you can. With geckos in captivity it tends to be crickets and roaches I have never heard of anyone feeding earthworms to geckos, frogs and fish yes, geckos no.

[holocaustto]

Originally Posted by cliff_f

Well tokay in the wild you are going to find them eating a wide variety of insects, mice, birds, snakes, Basically anything that is above the ground. Insects are still going to be their primary diet and you will not find them eating mice, birds and small snakes on a regular basis. So you would be better off feeding them insects like they eat in the wild.

About the tegu some people do feed them dog food as a primary diet also but that does not mean it is good for them. People feed their animals a wide variety of natural and processed foods but that does not mean they are all good for the animals. Some things sound good to feed to your animal but you should look and see what they eat in the wild and try to mock that the best you can. With geckos in captivity it tends to be crickets and roaches I have never heard of anyone feeding earthworms to geckos, frogs and fish yes, geckos no.

OK.
Thanks Cliff!

PS:I would never give my Tegu dog food! I know people that feed big fish like Oscars (Astronotus ocellatus) dog food :S

[Riverside Reptiles]

I can't see where earthworms would be bad. And the fact is, I bet if a tokay saw an earthworm in the wild (they do come to the surface on rainy days etc), it would gobble them right up. Tokay are opportunistic feeders and will eat about anything that moves that will fit in their mouths. I wouldn't try feeding them a primary diet of earthworms. But I certainly wouldn't think that one every now and then would be harmful. Just my 2 cents.


As for tegus, mine get a primary diet of mice. Turkey is an ok supplement...and I do use it as well...but no ground meat can replace the nutritional value of a whole prey item. Mine get aprox 70% mice, 20% turkey, and 10% large dubia roaches.