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mealworms
- Thread starter wtbullins
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Now if you were to get some leo geckos.. those mealies would be a nice meal !
Janie
Janie
How about silk worms for beardies? Are they nutritional for them. Also I was skimming through the care sheet from the main website and in the feeding section it talks in multiple places about feeding mealworms. I'm confused...are there different types of mealworms or am I reading something wrong?
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shell = chitin.
Hope that helps !
Janie
Hope that helps !
Janie
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Mis information is everywhere.
That's why we help others to understand the good, the bad, and the to be avoided, from personal experience or just basic science.
Janie
That's why we help others to understand the good, the bad, and the to be avoided, from personal experience or just basic science.
Janie
I am on my phone so i cant look at that. I am
not sure what it says on the caresheet, but personally i DO NOT suggest mealies at all. You can use crickets, silkies, and some use roaches. When i can i will look at the caresheet, but i know the one i use does not recommend mealies.
not sure what it says on the caresheet, but personally i DO NOT suggest mealies at all. You can use crickets, silkies, and some use roaches. When i can i will look at the caresheet, but i know the one i use does not recommend mealies.
this is just the link to the care sheet I was given when I joined the forum. what I'm referring to is under Feeding and then under Bugs.
http://www.dachiu.com/care/abeard.html
http://www.dachiu.com/care/abeard.html
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Granted mealworms have a thick exoskeleton and that is the reason that the idea of not using them as feeders came about. But as to their nutritional value, I do believe that this information may be slightly askewed. I have looked into this often and it would appear to me that per most breakdown charts I have found the Mealworm is not very different from a Superworm (nutritionally speaking)
Mealworm Breakdown
59% moisture, 13% fat, 10% protein, 1% ash
Superworm Breakdown
59% moisture, 16% fat, 20% protein, 1% ash
Supers are slightly higher in fat while mealworms are lower in protein. Compared to other feeder insects neither are high on the nutritional scale but to say that mealies are a bad feeder due to nutritional content is incorrect. And I plan to try and search out any real proof that the chitin of a mealworm is any harder to digest than that of a super. I think it may be a "myth" that was propagated by responsible keepers due to people feeding mealies to babies that were not heated properly and thus resulted in impaction. Just my .02 cents. If I find something to the contrary I will post it.
Mealworm Breakdown
59% moisture, 13% fat, 10% protein, 1% ash
Superworm Breakdown
59% moisture, 16% fat, 20% protein, 1% ash
Supers are slightly higher in fat while mealworms are lower in protein. Compared to other feeder insects neither are high on the nutritional scale but to say that mealies are a bad feeder due to nutritional content is incorrect. And I plan to try and search out any real proof that the chitin of a mealworm is any harder to digest than that of a super. I think it may be a "myth" that was propagated by responsible keepers due to people feeding mealies to babies that were not heated properly and thus resulted in impaction. Just my .02 cents. If I find something to the contrary I will post it.
wtbullins
That is why the forums are a good place for information. If you read or hear something you can come on a forum, start a thread, and get the information that has been compiled from people who have been dealing with beardies for years. Even on great forums, caresheets need updated. Many times it is one or two people (who have lives other than forums) that take care of all of the forum and information on caresheets and such. I had a feeling even before Renee posted that the case was she was changing some of the info. dachiu was around even before I started with beardies. A lot of information has changed since that time.
That is why the forums are a good place for information. If you read or hear something you can come on a forum, start a thread, and get the information that has been compiled from people who have been dealing with beardies for years. Even on great forums, caresheets need updated. Many times it is one or two people (who have lives other than forums) that take care of all of the forum and information on caresheets and such. I had a feeling even before Renee posted that the case was she was changing some of the info. dachiu was around even before I started with beardies. A lot of information has changed since that time.
I am not sure of their nutitional value. It truly didn't matter to me whether or not the were or weren't nutritious since I never used them on with a beardie. I do know that they are widely fed with leopard geckos, so you are right, they must have some nutrional value.
That said...regardless of the values, I still would never recommend them for a beardie.
That said...regardless of the values, I still would never recommend them for a beardie.
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li said:I am not sure of their nutitional value. It truly didn't matter to me whether or not the were or weren't nutritious since I never used them on with a beardie. I do know that they are widely fed with leopard geckos, so you are right, they must have some nutrional value.
That said...regardless of the values, I still would never recommend them for a beardie.
And that is a fine choice. But do you feed supers? As there truly is not a huge difference between the two. And please do not think I am trying to start an argument because I am not. Just would prefer to push the truth than a made up "boogyman" story.
