Mealworm Beetles

[brandon1]

Does anyone know for sure if it is safe for these to be eaten or if they are safe period. Every now and then a mealworm will get away in Hawk's cage and show up later as a beetle. Whenever I see them I'll remove it and it releases a very potent, foul smell that nearly leaves me in tears from the stinch. I'm now a little bit worried about him eating one because of this. If anyone has any solid facts about whether or not these are safe for him, or any personal experience, I'd much appreciate if you would share.

 

[thatoneguy]

id say not to risk it. i had a bag experience with these beetles spraying their stench in my chams eye. i wasnt trying to feed my cham this beetle. but like you said mealworms sometimes get away and return as beetles. i wouldnt risk it. my chams eye was irritated for 3 days

 

[dinamite]

From what I know I would not recommed feeding them.They are not tasteful to chameleons. You should just let them breed and produce mealworms for you.

 

[KatCham]

I read that you can feed them, but best ony when they have just 'hatched' and are that red colour rather than black as their shell is softer and easier to digest when it is red.

Not had any experience with them spraying stuff!?!?!

 

[DavidBuchan]

None of my flour beetles ever sprayed anything that I know of......they are perfectly safe to eat, but my chams don't seem to like them very much (my female will eat anything, but my male doesn't look at them)

 

[fluxlizard]

Mealworm beetles are some of my chams favorite treats.

Probably because I normally use them to make more mealworms, so they don't get fed out very often, so the novelty of the food item catches the chameleons' interest.

But last summer when I was doing educational presentations, I discovered that a few of my chameleons that would not eat in front of a crowd, would go zonkers for mealworm beetles and eat for a crowd if I put the beetles on the twig-tree I was using for the chameleon during the presentations. Feeding in front of a crowd was solved and worked every time with every chameleon I tried it with. Roaches did not work so well.

 

[brandon1]

Thanks everyone. But now that I have confirmation from at least someone else about experiencing the foul smell they release I will not be feeding them to Hawk. No sense in feeding him something that could possibly cause problems when theres lots of other things that cause no problems at all. Again everyone thanks

 

[sandrachameleon]

Does anyone know for sure if it is safe for these to be eaten or if they are safe period. Every now and then a mealworm will get away in Hawk's cage and show up later as a beetle. Whenever I see them I'll remove it and it releases a very potent, foul smell that nearly leaves me in tears from the stinch. I'm now a little bit worried about him eating one because of this. If anyone has any solid facts about whether or not these are safe for him, or any personal experience, I'd much appreciate if you would share.

Yes, the beetles are safe for your chameleon to eat. This is solid fact.
Gutload them to make them a better nutritional choice. Not all chameleons will eat them, due to the repelant smell, but others will. The smell is in no way dangerous

 

[brandon1]

Yes, the beetles are safe for your chameleon to eat. This is solid fact.
Gutload them to make them a better nutritional choice. Not all chameleons will eat them, due to the repelant smell, but others will. The smell is in no way dangerous

Oh ok thank you. If I get a beetle and he won't eat anything else for me I'll be sure to feed it to him.