Deadly mealworms

[moosassah]

Ahh, geckoforums is always enlightening! We're growing our own mealies too. But each time I sift through I feel your pain. I hadn't considered allergies. I take care of that part outside now. It helps, but the itchy nose & eyes haven't completely stopped.

Make sure you tell the allergist what kinds of bedding you are coming in contact with & about the mealies so that they can rule it out or pinpoint it much more quickly. Good luck. Try to stay out of the ER.

 

[MichaelJ]

I agree with Jeremy and Dan in that I think it's most likely the droppings. This is very common with all insect species that people can develop allergies to their feces.

This is very common with roaches.. People call it, "Roach Allergies".. I would try the benedryl type products, and if not consult an allergist..

Good Luck and do something soon.. blood coming up can be a sign of many issues.. ulcers, torn esophagus, or even just excessive dryness in the sinuses..

Feel Better man..

 

[cheeseball705]

there good possibility it is the sheds and the fecal dust. i used to work in bait shop and i found out the hard way i was allergic. i had been counting them out for yrs and no probs one day wind blew mealworm poop in my eye and it swelled shut almost. and then after that i had hard time breathing. now when i am pats little den and it feeding time i get hard time bratheing cough and sneeze. ryan of ryval geckos suggested maybe i looking into one of those professional painter breathers that can filter air a bit

 

[Inlovewithherps]

My daughter has developed asthma symptoms (asmatic cough,wheezing)in the past week. She's never had any problem in the past. Could it be caused from the mealworm bin in her room? I had never considered that. We have a Dr. appointment on thursday but until then maybe it's time to take away the mealies.

 

[OSUgecko]

Wow, I'm allergic to practically everything else, but I've never had problems with mealies. I guess I'll have to thank my lucky stars!!

Sorry that you're struggling with this... I feel your pain on a daily basis with different allergy activators...

 

[nwheat]

I have problems with them too. For me, I think it is the frass (waste) that causes my itchy eyes and sneezing. I've started doing pretty much everything with them outside as well - definately helps.

 

[Lizard Lair]

When I feed I use a sifter to separate the worms from the bedding and it creates a LOT of dust that I'm paranoid about breathing. Cleaning the filter on my air conditioner showed me how much of that dust is airborn, and floats the entire length of the room. What I do now is turn my shop vac on and sift the worms in front of that. Works great!! It also does a great job sucking up all those exoskeletons off the top of your worm beds.

 

[fabian60115]

Its weird how people can become allergic to something so quickly. I've had ferrets for a few years now and all the sudden when ever I'm around them I start sneezing and itching all over. Hang in there bro we're gonna make it.:main_robin:

 

[Franks_Geckos]

I have issues with the waste. I get a slightly painful tingling sensation in my fingertips from handling the worms and sifting through the exoskeletons and the bedding. I am going to start wearing nitrile gloves or something. I just have to make sure the gloves are powder free so as to not pass that onto the geckos. I have been getting by with sanitizing my hands after putting mealies in 3 or 4 dishes and then continuing, but the sanitizer dries out the hands after a while.
They also make me sneeze every now and then as well, but my Sinuses have already been surgically repaired and have been shot for years. "Better living through chemistry" is the reason I breathe on a daily basis, so the steroids and allergy meds minimize any nasal condition that would be created by the mealies.

 

[bohannbj]

I was wondering if this might be like the bat caves that people gets guano from. The workers have to wear special breathing apparati becuase the ammonia is so strong. Maybe this is similar but on a smaller scale.

 

[Select Gex]

I think this would be the perfect mealworm container..

Just kidding! Such a serious thread I had to bring a laugh to it. I had to switch to crickets the last few months I had my geckos just because if I ordered more than a few thousand and I didn't use them within a few days, I would sneeze and get very itchy eyes but never any skin breakouts. I also have problems with dust to some extent and seasonal allergies. I look forward to hearing the outcome from the allergen doctor though! Get well soon man, you're in my thoughts.

 

[cheeseball705]

anyone have any updates on things that work for them. with cold weather coming counting outside isnt gonna be much of an option.

 

[paulnj]

Shawn, maybe try to get the shells out every few days with lite suction if they molt. I can't find anything that won't pick up mealworms too, but something out there has to work. Also I do believe the crap is an issue to , so sifting out the bedding and replacing it with a new one every few days should do the trick. Being as I work outside, cold isn't an issue to me

 

[Geckoreo]

I know it sound stupid, but wear ski goggles and a face mask,
I have had the same problem, and ever since I started doing that I was fine.
I tried the face mask first but I realized little particles were still going into my eye and irritating them.
I only put the ski mask and goggles on when I first get my mealworms delivered and need to put them in a container to refridgerate, I dont put them on when Im moving mealies from the fridge to the gecko enclosures.