Mealies for juvies!

[ZombieDharma]

I was at PetSmart yesterday and I was getting some small crickets and mealies for my 9 week old leo, Phoenix. The lady that was counting the crickets was advising me against feeding meal worms because they are "hard on the digestive tract." I was wondering if this was true or if she was full of beans.

I've been in the habit of keeping mealies in the terrarium all day and feeding 5-8 small crickets in the mornings before I go to school or work.

I'm just checking my info.... thanks for any help.

 

[moosassah]

I'm way too new to be an authority but it sure seems like everyone here feeds mealies. Maybe the store was refering to the size of the meal worms? You wouldn't want to give a juvie large ones.

 

[Scott&Nikki]

Mealies are hardER to digest. However, it should not cause a problem. Mealies are a great staple will make your leo gain weight faster than crickets will. If you are still concerned about it, buy the small mealies and only give your leo the light colored, or white ones. Those are freshly shed and will be easier to digest. All in all they will not cause a problem.

 

[geckofreak570]

mealies are fine i feed my juvie them every day

 

[SirKevin]

A juvie will be fine. A lot of very healthy geckos have eaten only mealies since hatching.

 

[leolover2]

mealies are fine i feed my juvie them every day

same mealworms are fine if there not to big.

 

[eyelids]

Mine get full size mealworms from the start and it works great. I think it also makes it easier to get them on supers once they're big enough.

 

[ReptileMan27]

Mealworms are fine and safe, they make a good staple or part of a varied diet. Their is a few myths that have been going around for years, and their just that, myths and theirs no truth to them.

 

[ZombieDharma]

Thanks for all of your replies!.... I always wonder with corporate pet stores where they get their info from. Plus you have to keep in mind the staff usually doesn't have geckos of there own. Of course there are always exceptions.

Thanks.

 

[Jayyoung]

Leo's love mealies!
i have a juvenile blizzard that was sick but now improving won't eat crickets but loves mealies

 

[Gregg M]

Mine get full size mealworms from the start and it works great. I think it also makes it easier to get them on supers once they're big enough.

Mine get full sized meal worms from the start as well... Never had an issue... Reptile will have trouble digesting any food item if they are not cared for properly... As long as their requirements are met, there should be no problems digesting meal worms...

 

[GroovyGeckos.com]

I think that rumor comes from something else, another type of reptile I mean, like maybe Beardeds?, that do not digest them well.