Are Giant Mealworms Safe For My Gecko?

[GrimmyX15]

I saw In "P E T S M A R T " They cost only 3.99 I would thought if they are safe but i know they are not true mealworms. but something is in mealworms. as people say in internet.

They are made of growth hormnes that make them giant

They cant change into beeltes because they put something in them.


I dont know . if not sure :main_robin:

 

[leogecko88]

They are mealworms, but they have been treated with a growth hormone to prevent them from turning into beetles. Giants are much bigger than regular mealworms. I think they are safe, but I won't feed them to my gecko.

 

[GrimmyX15]

Thanks, And I probably couldnt feed them to my gecko too. too worried lol.

 

[HugeGenes&LoLa]

I've gotten them from chain stores before, and despite what I've read on these forums, I have witnessed that they DO pupate. I have had several giant mealworms turn into beetles. I have one who is pupating right now, as a matter of fact.

As far as if they're healthy or not, I cannot attest to.

 

[GeckoGathering]

Giant Meal Worm

I saw In "P E T S M A R T " They cost only 3.99 I would thought if they are safe but i know they are not true mealworms. but something is in mealworms. as people say in internet.

They are made of growth hormnes that make them giant

They cant change into beeltes because they put something in them.


I dont know . if not sure :main_robin:

Supposedly the hormone delays cycle
change and gives more time to grow.
But:....
I have heard that if you plan to breed,
(the hormone effect)
it could cause a gecko to become sterile.
No facts this is true, but IMO I wouldn't
risk it if breeding were of interest.
Take care. HJ

 

[Tony C]

but IMO I wouldn't
risk it if breeding were of interest.

I agree. Hormones are powerful things, and their use can have unintended consequences. Why risk it when you can just feed multiple regular mealworms or a superworm?

 

[Redleg]

I have been feeding my leos Giant mealworms for some time now. They love it and do not care if its the large or giant, they eat them all the same.

Instead of eating 10 large, they eat 4 giants

Yes, Giant mealworms have been treated with a growth hormone and YES they do progress to change into beetles. I occasionally see these 'aliens' before the black beetle emerge from it :main_laugh:

The supplier that I purchase my giants from did tell me that the growth hormone does delay their morph into beetles so that they can grow larger, but when they do turn to beetles, they are sterile. I was only made aware of that when I had asked that if there is anything different that I should do if I want to breed the giants.