mealworms

[Frithrah82]

Just curious if anyone else has issues with getting leos to eat mealworms? Maybe its just me, but mine will eat crickets and they'll eat the beetles that mealworms become, but no one seems interested in the mealworms themselves ever. I dont really see it as a problem since they eat everything else just fine, but it just occurred to me to ask... (the dumbest things pop into my head in the wee hours of the morning)

~Fuzzy

[ryan337]

My leos don't have a problem. Why don't you try super worms.

[Dani33]

My leo's eat mealies just fine. They never eat them in front of me though, I just leave a dish with some in and I always see some missing in the morning. My albino never eats in fromt of me.

[Frithrah82]

forgive me if this is ignorance on my part, but I've only kept one critter besides these leos that I bought mealworms for (it was a bearded dragon) and back then I had heard something about superworms being the size they were due to steroids in their diet. I've avoided them since, but if this isn't the case then maybe i will try them...

Its funny because I think that my 2 adults will eat them sometimes, but my little guy is the one that doesnt seem to eat them at all... I dunno...

[Bighead]

Giant mealworms are the ones that get the steroids (actually- it is "growth hormone" not sure if it's the same as steroids.) Sometimes they seem to just be normal adult size mealworms, but the could be smaller "giant mealworms". I guess it does get confusing. Superworms are an entirely different species. They are quite a bit larger than even giant mealworms and much more active which is why some herps enjoy them more. They are also more fatty which means they shouldn't be a staple to most herps. Some get eye problems or fattly lumps if they are fed too many, i.e. chameleons and water dragons.

[LISA127]

yep, it's the giant mealworms you're thinking of. the superworms are a good food. i do stay away from the giant mealworms myself.

[golfsk8er]

Are my leos weird they always eat infront of me? And with superworms iv heard the head of them can attatch to the lining of there stomach. so you should cut thair heads off before feeding.

[Neo]

some leos just dont like mealies and are stubborn. either that or maybe they just dont see the mealies move cause they react to movement of their prey.

[Dani33]

Oops, one of females will. Just my albino won't. She is super shy.

[Fritz]

Don't worry about the supers biting your leo from the inside.
If they happen to survive the chomping jaws, the stomach acids will kill it pretty fast.

I've never seen a leo actually chew their food until I started offering supers. Those suckers are as good as dead by the time they are done chomping :)

[DarkHunter]

golfsk8er.......I think you got your information a little mixed up hehe The super worms can bite yes, thats why some people cut their heads off its more of a fear of them biting at their face or body i highly doubt that the super worms will make it into the stomach alive and if they do...like Fritz said, i think the stomach acids would take care of the rest ;)

[Alicewave]

If you want to make sure not to get the ones with steroids, make sure the scientific name is Zophobus Morio (I may be a little off on spelling). I have never had a problem with supers or mealies. I wouldn't feed the beetles though, I have hear leos can impact on their shells. Not sure if there is any truth to it though.