What do you feed mealworms?

[zombiepixel]

I've never fed mealworms to any of my reptiles, I bought some today just to try out and Trogdor loves them.

Can I gutload them with anything? Pizza? California Rolls?

they are small, most within an inch in size, I have them in a small tupperware container.

 

[chameleonman57]

You can gutload mealworms with fresh dark green leafy vegetables, carrots, oranges, etc. Do not give them calcium powder, however. If you do this, the worms will most likely die, usually within a day or two. Hope that helps you out.

 

[Lizardlover]

you shouldnt be feeding mealworms, use superworms instead, mealworms have high chitin levels and can cause impaction in chameleons.

 

[chameleonman57]

Because of there exoskeleton, I totally forgot about that. What Lizardlover said they may cause problems to chameleons.

 

[jadeaudio]

Mealworms are bad? Man they are so much cheaper than superworms. I give my Senegel mealworms because they are smaller. No way could that little guy eat superworms. Also the reason why I do that is because he's not that fond of crickets. He only eats crickets if he is really desperate. He will eat flies within a few seconds, but they are pain to catch or store.

 

[Lizardlover]

Jade, you could always buy smaller superworms.....you can buy flies online too, its not good to catch them from the wild, (you should try roaches also)

 

[zombiepixel]

Crap, good to know. Even if they are small is impaction still a problem? the mealworms were just for today and they are pretty small. He will get crickets again tomorrow.

 

[hemiram04]

I make up a mixture of chicken layer feed (make sure it has no growth hormone) and oats. I them mix about 2 teaspoons of vitamin dust to about a 5 gallon buskets worth. I them use kale (very high in Vit.A) squash and various other veg. Hope this helps. You can feed newly molted mealworms. I have never had any impaction problems (this doesnt mean that it will not) but I only feed them once a week or so. I use the beetles for certain species of geckos that only eat beetles.

 

[QuioteCham]

Roaches really are the way to go, especially dubias or lobsters. they are easier and cleaner then crickets, and they do not have the same impaction issues as mealworms. unlike superworms, they do not have that strong bite that can inflicked damage on soft cham lips. They make perfect little snackables Plus, they breed way faster and in the long run are cheeper than any other feeder insect. You can gut load them with dark leaf lettuce, carrots, potato, apple. Did I mention the spurs on their legs are softer and smaller than crickets or meal/super worm jaws so they do not get stuck on your chams mouth or eye.

 

[Miss Lily]

Amy gets a couple of mealworms occasionally as a treat. I have them for my suggie who gets through loads of them! I only give Amy the newly moulted white ones, which are easier to digest. I gutload mine with grens , rocket, arrot, etc, but their favourite is apple!

 

[jadeaudio]

I've never seen house flies for sale. I have seen fruit flies. My Senegal is small. Even small superworms are pretty big. They say 1.25" long while large are 2". And do you guys dust your worms? How healthy are worms? All my Chams like them better than crickets except for my carpet. She eats anything. All my females are good eaters.

 

[veiledfan]

My two cents

Here's the skinny on mealworms. I used to raise these things and they fed on oats, ground up non-colored dog food, and a variety of vegetables/fruits. If you are just buying a pack from the store then they can be refrigerated and do not require additional food. The cold makes them go into a sort of hibernation and they can keep for months. Allow them out for a few hours a week and they may chow down or get some moisture.

I have heard reports of mealworms being too chitinous and causing impaction in young animals, but I have not experienced it personally. Mealworms are ok nutrition wise but they are much fattier than crickets so I wouldn't use them as a staple.

All of my animals are feeding on roaches, which have a higher meat to shell ratio, breed easily and without smell, and some sp. can reach 2+". If you're interested in how to do roaches pm me. I know a lot of people in the circuit so I can usually get you bugs at way below market.

 

[LittleLionLover]

I've never seen house flies for sale. I have seen fruit flies. My Senegal is small. Even small superworms are pretty big. They say 1.25" long while large are 2". And do you guys dust your worms? How healthy are worms? All my Chams like them better than crickets except for my carpet. She eats anything. All my females are good eaters.

Try mantisplace they have all sorts of flies, heard bluebottle's were good.

 

[jadeaudio]

Try mantisplace they have all sorts of flies, heard bluebottle's were good.

Thanks a lot! Cool part about them is they are in Ohio and I am in Michigan. Most all feeder places I have found are always in California or something like that. It's quick shipping! I appreciate it! Now I just need to find a place close that has Dubia's cheap. Everyone on the forum sells them for too much in my opinion.