Meal Worm Feeding Question

[RangoStar]

Okay so I have a question about meal worms. You know how if you leave meal worms there long enough they go through a metamorphosis and become beetles? Well, I had forgot I had some and they became beetles. Would it be safe to feed these to my veiled cham? He is fully grown. Thanks for any help!

 

[sandrachameleon]

yes.
though not all chameleons enjoy eating them, they are a safe option for occasional use. so go for it

you'll want to gutload the beetles first

 

[RangoStar]

Would I be able to gutload them with just cricket feeder? I use Fluker's calcium fortified cricket quencher and Fluker's orange cubes, which has vitamins and stuff.

 

[sandrachameleon]

that fluckers stuff is totally inadequate as gutload for crickets, and it wont do much for mealworms either.

instead, try pieces of carrot, apple, squash etc for your mealworms (in addition to a healthy substrate meal)

here are some links to info you may find helpful:

https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/443-superworm-substrate-gutload-one.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/75-feeder-nutrition-gutloading.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/847-commercial-gutloads.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/659-green-leafy-goodness-gutloading.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/835-simple-gutload-bug-food.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/104-bug-bread.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/823-august-2013-dry-gutload-mix.html

 

[RangoStar]

Thanks for the heads up! Should I also feed my crickets that too? I already do, but not as much as I did the Flukers.

 

[MSAquatics]

Yes you should. A mixture of fruits and vegetables, along with some mixed greens is best. I also provide a dry gutload as well with the fruits and veggies. I always provide orange slices for water, and chopped carrot, squash, or bell pepper. Really just depends on what kitchen scraps I have left over, but I try to rotate what I give them so there is a good mix. I buy collard greens, mustard greens, and turnip greens on the weekend and chop them all into fine ribbons and mix them up in a large 1 gallon ziplock bag. This way I can easily replenish the feeders every couple of days without much effort.

Leland