King/Super Mealworms

[ExcessiveHerps]

Do leos enjoy Zophobus morio? I've neevr tried them and thought I'd try some thing new for my adult leos, I was considering either a few humdred kirs or just the larger than normal giant Tenebrio molitor.
Thanks
Xavier

 

[Grinning Geckos]

The larger Tenebrio (giants) aren't made for lizard consumption. They have been fed chemicals to prevent them from pupating, and are really meant for use for the fishing industry only.

As far as the Z. morio goes, it depends on the gecko, but I would say the majority of mine like them. They're so freakin' huge just a few will fill them up, unlike the mealies. You can't keep them in the fridge, but they won't pupate unless they are alone.

 

[ExcessiveHerps]

The larger Tenebrio (giants) aren't made for lizard consumption. They have been fed chemicals to prevent them from pupating, and are really meant for use for the fishing industry only.

As far as the Z. morio goes, it depends on the gecko, but I would say the majority of mine like them. They're so freakin' huge just a few will fill them up, unlike the mealies. You can't keep them in the fridge, but they won't pupate unless they are alone.

I'm aware of the giants given chemicals to prevent from pupating yet I was under the impression they cause no hard to herps I'm sure millions are use weekly for herps but maybe not. I guess I'll try the kings
Thanks
Xavier

 

[RaiQuee]

I know they are also fed a chemical however I would only imagine if it was marketed as a reptile food that it was safe for reptile consumption. Plus being an insect, they are MUCH more suspectable to getting harmed from chemicals than reptiles are, therefore it can't be a very harmful chemical.

However if your worried, you can always go with Zophs! My leos do like them but it does fill them up quite quickly. I also Zophs are harder to kill. So why did I go with mealworms instead? Easier storing ability I guess. Easier to make my own colony as well

 

[ExcessiveHerps]

I know they are also fed a chemical however I would only imagine if it was marketed as a reptile food that it was safe for reptile consumption. Plus being an insect, they are MUCH more suspectable to getting harmed from chemicals than reptiles are, therefore it can't be a very harmful chemical.

However if your worried, you can always go with Zophs! My leos do like them but it does fill them up quite quickly. I also Zophs are harder to kill. So why did I go with mealworms instead? Easier storing ability I guess. Easier to make my own colony as well

I think you have a good point although I do wonder if the herps which get them often are under and danger

 

[Arconna]

My Leo's take Supers like crazy. They aren't good for a staple diet I hear because they are higher in fat content. So I feed regular mealies as well, but if you gotta fatten up some leo's, supers are great. My male jungle gained 3 grams in a week. Not sure if that is fast, but seems like it to me. I need to weight him again lol. His tail is ginormous...

 

[Grinning Geckos]

I still wouldn't trust the giant mealworms....after all, there's a product called calcium sand that's marketed for reptiles that's shown not to be safe. Nothing is regulating them, they're just out to make money. The supers are just as big (if not bigger), and certainly safer (IMO) given they AREN'T fed chemicals to make them grow that size.

 

[Jeanne]

My Leo's take Supers like crazy. They aren't good for a staple diet I hear because they are higher in fat content. So I feed regular mealies as well, but if you gotta fatten up some leo's, supers are great. My male jungle gained 3 grams in a week. Not sure if that is fast, but seems like it to me. I need to weight him again lol. His tail is ginormous...

Supers are less fatty and more nutritious then Mealworms, but they do have a harder outer shell. All my breeders eat Superworms :main_thumbsup:

 

[Arconna]

That's interesting because I've heard the exact opposite about supers...hmm. Either way, all my lizzies (leo's and the beardie) love supers. I feed all the leo's two and then a bunch of mealies and they seem to like it that way.
I would just avoid the giants altogether even if they 'could' be okay for herps to consume. Would you be willing to take the risk that something bad might happen? Or would you feel better just taking a route you already know is safe (i.e. Supers or regular mealies)? Like, if you look at what a lot of people say about calcisand and all the other similar products that supposedly don't get impacted, some say yeah it's good it works no problems, others say the opposite. But when it comes down to it, would you want to risk using the stuff only to be one of those unfortunates who lose an animal due to impaction? I lost a beardie to impaction, my first beardie ever and I miss him so much . Wish I could have known how he looked all grown up...so now I don't use anything that my animals can ingest, it just isn't worth it to me.

So keep that in mind.

 

[eyelids]

My geckos 40 grams and up get superworms as well. At first I couldn't believe they could eat such huge things, but they won't touch mealies now...

 

[gko reptiles]

We give supers to our breeders ocasionally, and have never had a problem. As far as a regular diet goes, I wouldn't use them (because they're a pain in the b**t), but our second group of leos that we purchased ate supers and crickets only (mostly supers) and they're still alive and doing great!

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

A couple of years ago, I contacted just about every feeder company and asked them about the hormones that are given to postpone the pupation of Giant Mealworms. To my surprise, only two growers told me it was "none of my business", and the rest told me they no longer use the harmful chemically enhanced methods, and rely on 'genetic engineering' instead.

Things that make you go "Hmmmm..."

 

[Arconna]

Genetic engineering still makes me feel weird about them...dunno, just sounds scary. I'd just stick with regular mealies and supers lol.