Mealies VS Supers

[Euphillia]

So I see a lot of people seem to really love supers. I've never tried. I have a fabulous breeding colony of mealies going right now. And now I am wondering if I should have done supers!!

Why do you prefer one to the other? I am looking for some more feeding options because Eggo seems burnt out on mealies and doesn't care too much for crickets anyways.

THANKS!!

 

[Dog Shrink]

There are several great threads that go into this debate that are worth reading, but my reason for preferring supers to mealies is you don't have to feed as many worms per feeding. Eros eats 1-3 supers per feeding at 11 mos old 3x a week. There's less shell and because of that, imo less chance for my leo to become constipated. They're just as easy as mealies to keep, they don't morph as long as you keep feeding them, and they don't need refrigerated (that actually will kill supers).

Hope some of this helps

 

[Euphillia]

Do you think they move around more and are more exciting for the gecko? I think that is part of the Eggo's disinterest.

and let me make sure I have this right, the super worm stays a worm as long as it has food? No turning into stinky beetles???

 

[Dog Shrink]

Yes I do think they move a lot more than mealies, well at least their movement is a lot more obvious than a mealie and that's right they won't change if you keep feeding them. I've had some of the original ones I purchased back in october still in the keeper and no ones changed yet. When I say food tho I don't just mean the rolled oats bedding you might keep them in, I mean, like for example I keep 2 baby carrots, an apple wedge (minus seeds and core) and a potato wedge in there 24/7.

 

[Euphillia]

Oh ya my mealies and beetles eat good at my house! I have thousands and I just started in September!! I have been feeding them to the tarantulas cause I have so darn many! I didn't think I would get this lucky.

 

[Psychotic4mb3r]

I put my order for 1000 mealies in yesterday. They should get shipped out tomorrow.. How many did you start out with for breeding? And what was your whole setup and everything? Im seriously thinking about breeding them myself so I dont have to pay 25 bucks every 5 months or whatever lol.. Plus I could probably sell some on craigslist if I needed for cheap Make a little money off em too lol

I like feeding mine mealies just because I breed mine also.. The mealies are small enough for a hatchling to eat so I dont have to worry about buying anything else unless I need a few small crickets to get the baby leos eating at first. But I wouldnt need thousands, I dont ever have that many babies lol. Just enough to make a few trips to the pet store at first

 

[Euphillia]

I started with 1000 from a big box pet store. LOL I have a 3 drawer container. I have been using wheat bran for bedding. I keep the mealies in the bottom. If I remember I will pick out pupa and put them in the middle and I keep the beetles on top. Every 4-6 weeks clean out the mealies and put all the stuff the beetles are making with the mealies and give the beetles fresh.

Its been pretty fail proof and they don't take up a ton of space. I have been thinking of selling some on craigslist. I have a few cups with separated worms in my fridge already.

 

[fl_orchidslave]

Supers are more active and can escape food dishes more easily. Both type worms are fairly easy to keep, they use the same bedding and food items. As far as breeding them, it takes more effort and patience to get supers going, about 6mos to have a steady colony of decent sized feeders. I breed both, using meals for hatchlings/babies, supers for juvs/adults. I wean them to supers at around 2mos, starting with the smaller worms. All my babes have been healthy and happy with this arrangement. The adults have been less that pleased when they had to eat mealies for a week when I ran out of supers. I've seen folks say on the forum that some of their geckos won't eat supers. Before considering to breed them, you may want to buy a small amount (a cup at the pet shop) to be sure your leo will eat them.

When I have excess supers, I sell a box of 200 to a few folks in our herp society. I've also donated a start-up mealworm colony to a rescue.

 

[prettyinpink]

I like supers because all my reptiles eat them, my bearded dragon can't have mealies so I keep supers. I also like that I don't have to keep them in the fridge. But when babies come I'll be going back to mealies for them, unless I start breeding my feeders.

Some of my guys won't eat mealies, others wouldn't eat supers. Now they all love the supers and are happy campers

 

[Euphillia]

I might get some supers and give it a try to see if he would be more interested.

 

[Dog Shrink]

It certainly can't hurt and worst case scenario is you're out a few bucks if he doesn't eat them, but don't give up on the first try if he doesn't go for it right away. Maybe give him a couple days to make sure he's good and hungry then offer the supers.

 

[Euphillia]

I feel like I am waiting for the good and hungries to kick in! He used to eat like a total pig, but then the weather changed and it got dryer now he just kinda looks at his food and says "oh I will eat so I won't die". I figure over the next few weeks when the sun starts staying out longer he will eat more and I will try then.

 

[Dog Shrink]

Some leos do slow down their eating in the winter. Less day light and drier conditions can contribute to that. My Eros went from eating 3-4 supers a feeding to 1-2 as soon as winter hit, but that could also be because he is also now 11 mos old and not 7. They can also cut down how much they eat once they're approaching maturity. I honestly wouldn't wait, but it won't hurt if you do. I'd see if the change in food helps peak his interest in eating again just in case it isn't winter slow down (but it likely is). Besides changing up feeders and offering a varied diet for our leos is supposedly the most nutritious thing we can do.

 

[Euphillia]

I've done some wax worm bribing this week. He's taken a few. I will go pick some up today while I am out and see what we can do. I feel like he should be fatter. I have no idea how old he is.

 

[Dog Shrink]

Do you have some good pix of him you can post. Be careful with the waxies, they can be addicting and he could possibly refuse other food in lieu of waiting for those.

 

[Euphillia]

Oh ya I know about the waxies. He gets them as a treat once in a while. Ill see about getting some pics. I dont have a scale(/hangs head in shame).

 

[Dog Shrink]

Neither do I, don't feel bad altho I hear you can pick up a gram scale with a tare factor (to take off the weight of a carton you might use to weight the leo) at walmart for under $20.00