G
Geck-O
Guest
A friend told me that a big worm could cause impaction is this true?
N
Nigel4less
Guest
Well if you use Common sense then you will have no problems. Basically if something looks to big it generally is.
- Messages
- 15,290
- Location
- Somerville, MA
I have found that with too big a mealie, it's more likely the gecko will throw up, rather than get impacted.
Aliza
Aliza
Grinning Geckos
Tegan onboard.
- Messages
- 2,515
- Location
- Chicago-land
I've fed gecko roaches that are the size of several mealworms at once...they can get down and digest more than what people give them credit for. If the food is too big, like Aliza said, they'll throw it up.
G
Geck-O
Guest
Will they throw up when they eat too much or just when they eat something too big?
Grinning Geckos
Tegan onboard.
- Messages
- 2,515
- Location
- Chicago-land
Both...they both have the same effect - too much for the stomach to handle. The only real difference is if you try to feed one large item instead of many small is there is a chance of them choking. It's very unlikely, but possible.
H
henward
Guest
i have heard that bearded dragons, cannot be fed crickets or locusts longer than the width of eye to eye.,
but this is BS!
i mean really
in the wild, theyd ont hvae a rule that measure crickes
they go for what ever is there!
they chomp it up
so i think if a leopard cannot eat it, they wills pit it out or give up
i keep arowanas too - if food is too big, they will leave it alone
they know they cant swallow it
but this is BS!
i mean really
in the wild, theyd ont hvae a rule that measure crickes
they go for what ever is there!
they chomp it up
so i think if a leopard cannot eat it, they wills pit it out or give up
i keep arowanas too - if food is too big, they will leave it alone
they know they cant swallow it
A
Alliemac
Guest
My beardie was impacted from mealworms so it can happen. She was a juvenile when it happened. It did have to do with a basking temp that was a little too low but it was still the mealie shells that got stuck and they are definitely smaller than the space between her eyes.
H
henward
Guest
.
oh yes, granted, of course it may happen
all im saying is that, i bet is remote.
i have not known anyone in my country to hvae this happen.
then again, i started my babies with crickets and waxworms
mealworms only adults
only recently i started with mealworms as it is economical and good value for money.
but beardies need very hot basking spots. i mean hot, alot hottr than leps.
oh yes, granted, of course it may happen
all im saying is that, i bet is remote.
i have not known anyone in my country to hvae this happen.
then again, i started my babies with crickets and waxworms
mealworms only adults
only recently i started with mealworms as it is economical and good value for money.
but beardies need very hot basking spots. i mean hot, alot hottr than leps.
A
Alliemac
Guest
That was part of my problem. My basking temp was closer to 100 than 110. My beardie won't eat crickets so it's created quite the feeding issue.
clear
New Member
- Messages
- 307
- Location
- North Carolina
Beardies are a different story than gecko's. Beardies shouldn't be eating mealworms anyways, but mealies and supers have very tough shells and a young BD's intestines has tons of bends that the shells get stuck in and causes impaction, that's why you don't feed food to large to beardies. Roaches and crickets are both softer than mealies and supers. Impaction in beardies for feeding to large of food isn't BS, join a few bd forums and your see how many people go through impaction because of large food or bad food.
Gregg M
Registered Member
- Messages
- 3,055
- Location
- The Rotten Apple NYC
Its not the hardness of the shells that are a problem... It is the material that the shell is made of... The material is a polysaccharide called chitin...
High levels of chitin can be nearly undigestable but not totally... It is a glucose derivative...
Super wroms have a very low chitin level in their exoskeleton... Might even be less than crickets...
I am willing to bet that the majority of bearded dragons that suffer impaction due to chitin are not being kept hot enough...
A
Alliemac
Guest
So in theory a younger beardie could handle supers if the size was ok and the temps are correct? Or the supers could be cut into smaller pieces?
clear
New Member
- Messages
- 307
- Location
- North Carolina
Undigestable because its to hard for the smaller intestines inside them to break down, larger dragons do not have a problem with digesting them.
Roam over to bd.org and check out how many people have had proper temps and still had to have surgery to remove impaction because of supers and mealies.
Last edited:
H
henward
Guest
or passing them.
i am unsure if lizards actually digest the chiton on the mealworms.
i am unsure if lizards actually digest the chiton on the mealworms.
H
htadothk
Guest
I'm new to all this but what I did witness is that when the belly temp is around 90F my leos passed live mealies in their stool and those mealies were "crawling" around in the terrarium... ewww....
After I upped the belly temp to 95-97F it never happened again.
After I upped the belly temp to 95-97F it never happened again.
H
henward
Guest
thats some cazy stuff~!
live worms out of a leos bum!
thats crazy, i would hae thought they died in the stomach liquid or acid:S
live worms out of a leos bum!
thats crazy, i would hae thought they died in the stomach liquid or acid:S
H
htadothk
Guest
Yeah that was crazy, I wish I had my camera out when I saw it...
JordanAng420
New Member
- Messages
- 3,280
- Location
- Miami, FL
Thank you, Gregg. I second that. :main_thumbsup:
S
Sturt
Guest
+1, was about to say that!
Visit our friends
