feeding beetles?

[BrightReptiles]

Our mealworn colony is starting to get a bit too large for our needs this winter. What are the good or bad aspects and possibilities of trying to feed a few of the mealworm beetles? Figured it may be a little treat since we have an abundance..? Looking for some opinions before we give it a try

 

[doublet74]

Once they turn black they might be to hard for a gecko to digest. Can't see a problem when they are white when they first come out of the alien.

 

[TranceZ]

You could try, but from my personal experience and understanding leopard geckos don't really car for mealworm beetles. I think I heard they give off a defense smell to warn prepators they don't taste good

 

[Dimidiata]

Ive done it with fresh white-orange ones but from what ive learned they are rather hard to digest and low in nutrition.

 

[soccerdad]

When I had my last Leo and my mealworm colony was gettign too big i'd just feed him the aliens so that they never reached the beetle stage and he tore them up big time

 

[lillith]

Some geckos will eat them, most won't. I have a few that eat pupae and freshly molted beetles, but none like the black adult ones.

 

[endrien]

My beardie will eat them, but he will eat anything that moves. Can't speak for Leo's. They give off a scent that tends to put off predators.