super worms

[joer]

what you think about feeding them super worms>?

[rattler keeper]

What are you feeding them too leos or chams?,they are ok for leos,not sure about chams,pretty sure chams prefer silks,correct me if i am wrong,super worms are fatty so only as a treat.
Hope this helps:D

[Bighead]

Since it's in the leopard gecko forum, I'm assuming you were talking about leos, although it's pretty much the same for both. As long as they are not too big for your lizzard (you should already know how to tell), they are ok in moderation. They are tasty and fatty, but they have a hard exoskeleton that isn't great for them. If chams are fed too many over a long period of time they will develop fat lumps on there body which can be harmful for a few reasons. Silkworms, as rattler mentioned, are a better choice. They are the only bug other than crickets that can or should be used as a staple diet. They are much more expensive than superworms, however. Hope that helps.

[Icefire]

real Super Worms are soft!
King MealWorms are different, it's BIG mealworms so they have
hard exosqueltom.

I feed most my leo mealies, they are going great on that
so I guess it would be good with superworms.

superworms dont like cool/cold temp so no fridge like mealies

[ChristinaM]

Actually superworms are not that fatty.
Mealworms have a harder exoskeleton than superworms.
Waxworms are the really fatty, treat only worm.

Silkworms or butterworms can be used as a staple.
As can mealworms ( which the majority of leo keepers use ).

If you are looking to substitute something for crickets, use the mealies for leo's.

Here is a good link on nutritional diffrences:
http://www.grubco.com/Nutritional_Information.cfm
http://www.chameleonnews.com/year2002/sept2002/nutrition/nutrition_sept_02.html

Hope that helps.

btw: both my dragons and leo's are fed superworms. The dragons, only get crix as a treat, they are fed on supers, silks, and butters.

My leo's get mealies and supers, silks and butters when I have them.

[joer]

thanks alot all.

[Bighead]

Superworms do have a hard exoskeleton, although not as hard as mealworms. This is much less of a problem for leos than it is for chams, however. Compared to crickets, superworms are extremely fatty (6% compared to 17%). True, most large scale leo breeders use only mealworms for their leos, but that doesn't mean that is the best thing for them I use mostly mealworms too, but always supplement with wax worms, super worms, crickets, butter worms, silk worms, etc. A balanced diet is always best. I have personally seen the effects a fatty diet can have on veileds. They weren't mine but the breeder I got a couple of my beardies from. I didn't know about it until then. She used mostly superworms as a staple until she noticed some big lumps starting to form and took them to the vet. I haven't too many scary stories about leo nutrition mistakes, but you can never go wrong with a balanced diet.

...sorry for blabbing

[ChristinaM]

Originally posted by Bighead
...Compared to crickets, superworms are extremely fatty (6% compared to 17%).



agreed, compared to crickets, yep they are a bit more fatty.

True, most large scale leo breeders use only mealworms for their leos, but that doesn't mean that is the best thing for them I use mostly mealworms too, but always supplement with wax worms, super worms, crickets, butter worms, silk worms, etc.

Yep, I definately agree here too :) A varied diet is always best, not just feeding the same ol thing every day


A balanced diet is always best. I haven't too many scary stories about leo nutrition mistakes, but you can never go wrong with a balanced diet.

...sorry for blabbing

don't be sorry, you've raised some valuable info and points :) How else will we learn. I wasn't trying to discredit what you were saying, just adding to it :)

Cheers.

[Gregg M]

I give my leos a varied diet....... Crickets, super worms, king mealworms, regular mealworms, silks, and wax worms....... I do not feel wax worms should just be given as a "treat"........ They should get some atleast 3 times a week....... Given in moderation they are a very good food item........ They are especially good for females that have just laid some eggs...... Now super worms are great for leos........ They have alot less chitin in there exos than mealworms do........ If a leo is cared for correctly there should be no problems with impaction due to mealworms of super worms...... I still feel that crickets are one of the best things to feed your leos as long as they are gutloaded and you know where you are getting them from....... A varied diet is the best diet but alot of big breeders think that mealworms or crickets alone are enough....... They are wrong....... Just because someone breeds leos does not mean they know everything........ Most breeders are just breeders that really do not care to learn anything about the true nature of leos and think their way is the best and only way........ There are some very good and educated breeders here on this site but I cant say the same for other sites........

[Bighead]

Thanks Christina. Sounds like we're all on the same track. :)

-Jordan