Mealworm questions

[Kitchen]

I have been thinking lately about mealworms lately and have been doing some research. But to my amazement there are so many contradictory opinions/sites/information. I have found at least a dozen different nutritional information sheets comparing them to crickets and not one has been the same as another(including the one in this part of the forums). Given, there are similarities in some it seems that depending on the persons personal preference they use a chart that favors their opinion. A lot of sites actually say that mealworms are a fine staple diet.

So I guess what I am getting at is, what is the actual nutritional information on mealworms? or is it up for interpretation?

Also, as a followup question; does anybody use them as a staple or just on occasion?

Thanks,
Stephen

 

[Allee Toler]

This site doesn't like mealworms. Oddly enough, the same people on the other site are also registered members on here. I have found that every site goes with that one person says. There's a sticky at the top of this sub-forum about how "horrible" they are for your animals, but it's written in horrible grammar with quite a few spelling errors. I personally can't take it seriously when reading it. If it's suppose to be concrete evidence that they're not a good staple then they should of taken more time to write it, or at least click spell check!

I use mealworms. The only negative side I find on mealworms is they're harder for my geckos to digest in the cooler months (cooler temps makes it harder to digest). I feed mealworms, superworms (my staple for adults), crickets, phoenixworms (staple for under 20g), and waxworms (once a week).

Mealworms are easier to get hold of so a lot of people use them. Using just one prey item isn't the best for your animal, so try to mix it up. Just remember to supplement them properly, gutload the feeders, and provide good heat to aid in digestion.

 

[Riverside Reptiles]

The sticky that is in this forum was written by Dr. Danny Brown who is probably one of the foremost gecko keepers/breeders/veterinarians out there. He has probably the biggest gecko collection on the entire continent of Australia. He's a well published author and is currently in the final stages of releasing a several THOUSAND page book on keeping geckos. So, Allee, despite your entire extensive one or two years of experience, I have to say that I'll stick with the advice of Dr. Brown. And nowhere does he say that they are "horrible". You obviously did not read his paper very closely. He simply says that they should make up a small part of a geckos diet.

They're high in chitin, they don't gutload well, they don't hold calcium powder well, they are low in protein, low in calcium and high in fat. Many breeders use them because they are cheap, easy to keep, and because they're high in fat...they make power feeding quick and easy. You can raise geckos on many different things...heck, I've even heard of people that feed their geckos pancakes and mashed potatoes believe it or not! However, what they'll eat and what is healthy are two different things.

You'll also find that very few people that work with any type of high end gecko use mealworms as a staple diet. It's pretty much just leo breeders. The reason being? Mealworms are nutritional junk and most people aren't willing to risk feeding junk to a high end animal.

 

[oli]

It's true, mealworms are an inferior feeder! The only one's that support them are indeed leopard gecko breeders who are trying to convince themselves that they are giving them the mealworms in their best intentions which is a load of crap. Mealworms are the cheapest, easiest feeder out there. Hey look I don't even have to check to see if my geckos are alive for a whole week since i just threw a big old bowl of mealworms in their enclosure with some vitamin/calcium dust and that's it! Y'OK! No enthusiast who takes pride in their animals and truly has the animals best interests in mind over their own personal laziness would feed even 10% of their animals foodsource in mealworms. I'll tell you that I sure wouldn't and my animals are flawless quality geckos and I just would not insult them with a mealworm. Hey, if you have hundreds of leo's and all you want is to make money on them, sure go ahead and buy a few pounds of mealworms every week. The fact is that crickets are harder to keep and a pain in the neck, but as a feeder they are a far superior staple. There is really no way to argue against this. If you are truly opposed to crickets I would recommend roaches as a staple to your leo's as they are a great, cheap, easy to reproduce feeder that really doesn't die and is excellent to gutload. I would even go as far and say superworms are a good amount better than mealworms. Mealworms are mostly shell which isn't even digestible. If you must feed your animals mealworms, do it in extreme moderation that is all I would recommend. Danny Brown knows what's up, so I wouldn't front on his knowledge regardless of spelling errors or whatever. His experience and qualifications FAR outweighs almost anybodies and I wouldn't sleep on any of his studies personally, he is REAL, he is not your typical gecko enthusiast. I have always had something against the mealworm, and for just cause. Just be aware, and don't buy into the bs that a lot of half assed self proclaimed 'breeders' have an incling about. Just cause the gecko is fat, doesn't mean it is in tip top shape. I have to agree that variety is an essential part of a gecko's well being and I don't mean feeding him ham or belgium waffles that is not part of a balanced diet!

 

[Bman123]

I feed my adult male large crickets and superworms. I think mealworms are a waste of time, they are all shell. They are a easy way out, just fill a bowl with them and check back in a week. I don't like them at all sorry..

 

[Kitchen]

Thanks for all the opinions everybody. I didn't mean to start anything between people at all so sorry if I did. I was just going from the nutrition standpoint because I am a nutritionist myself (not a reptile one lol) and I was having a hard time forming an opinion on what the nutrition of a mealworm actually is. Though I still don't like how everyone gives different values for the protein, ca: p and everything else I guess I will take your experienced advice on the matter.

Thanks again.
Stephen

 

[Kitchen]

The other main reason I am suddenly interested in mealies is because I am taking a job offshore where I will be gone for 21 days at a time and I needed a way to feed coco while gone. I figured mealies might be a solution. My gf can change his water everyday and scoop poop and mist the humid hide but she isn't down with crickets, roaches and such. I am sure I will come up with something.....

 

[Bman123]

Just use superworms if you can, she can use tongs to pick them up so she won't have to touch them or anything.

 

[oli]

Hey, people use mealworms all the time and if you have to do it for a little bit do it. But i would recommend for your girl to buy maybe 7 crickets every other week and just dust them in the bag and just dump them in and therefore she won't even have to touch them, they'll go from the petstore to the bag to the tank. And superworms work good too like Bman is saying.

 

[CountGecko]

I feed mind Superworms vs mealworms, I do use mealworms as treat time to time cause they seem to like them better (I think cause supers have a odor to them) but I'm curious Are Super Worms really that much better? I know they have softer exoskeleton and maybe a little more protein but still...

 

[Riverside Reptiles]

I feed mind Superworms vs mealworms, I do use mealworms as treat time to time cause they seem to like them better (I think cause supers have a odor to them) but I'm just curious Are Super Worms really that much better? I know they have softer exoskeleton and maybe a little more protein but still...

They're better but I still wouldn't consider them a primary long term sole feeder. What is best really is a diet of varied prey items. Personally if I were to feed only one single prey item it would be either lateralis or dubia roaches. But really, no one prey item is ideal. In the wild they'd eat all different kinds of critters. I currently use dubia and lateralis as main feeders and then supplement with crickets, superworms, etc from time to time. And I'm always on the look out for new suitable feeders to add to the mix.

 

[CountGecko]

Same here, I feed mostly Supers and then crickets, mealworms, waxworms and locust as treats. Once I find some feeder roaches I will add them as my main food source, I've seen video of leopards eating them and they seem as stimulating as crickets is this true?

 

[Riverside Reptiles]

Lateralis roaches are very fast and tend to stimulate leo's prey drive like crazy. Dubia are not so fast and like to bury themselves in the substrate. So, if you're using something like sand, they're not quite as effective (although I put mine in a bowl). The nice thing about dubia is that they get quite large and provide a really good meal with a very high meat to shell ratio.

 

[lindsaydo]

Instead of waxworms too I wait for them to turn into moths and use them. It gets the gecko's chasing around after them instead of an easy catch and they absolutely love them. If you can get over the occasional moth bouncing around your light bulb as a result of it escaping

 

[CountGecko]

That is good to know! I love watching them hunt crickets but I hate dealing with them, I feel bad not giving them more crickets so that would be a great compromise. No worries about sand not a big fan but once I finish my 40 gallon tanks they will have plenty of places to hide.....

 

[Kitchen]

What if I fed him mealies/supers for the 21 days I am gone and switched back to crickets for the month I am back? Or would he not take to switching back and forth?

I am really in a shitty spot because I love my herps and want the best for them. But if its to unhealthy for him then as much as I dont want to I will probably find him a better home

 

[fab]

I think that your reptiles will be fine as long as your gf keeps them in a critter keeper with an carrot and if she changes the carrot every other day. then tell her to dust the mealworms in calcium. but your reptiles might get addicted to them and not eat anything else. thats the only thing i'd worry about. something else you could do is give them to a loving home for the time that youre gone.