Mealworm sizes?

[SLB1989]

I currently feed my gecko just mealworms and they are the small ones.
I have seen in the shops that you can get giant or large mealworms, are they any better or does it not really matter?
Thanks

 

[Lady_Kiya]

I would assume that your leo would eat less of the giants because of their size. They would probably be more filling for her/him.

 

[Lady_Kiya]

Overall it is a matter of choice, some people prefer the small ones and others prefer the giant. I myself would not stop giving her/him the small ones, I would simply add some giants to her food dish with the others. Or feed the larger ones to her, and still leave a bowl of the smaller ones in case he/she gets hungry later on.

 

[LeapinLizards]

Depends on the size of the gecko. Some geckos even PREFER larger feeders (obviously not TOO large). I mean...it's really not beneficial to feed an adult gecko, small meal worms. They need tons of them to be full, that and it's a smaller target.

 

[SLB1989]

Thanks for the advice everyone.
I will probably buy some of each and mix them up.

 

[Bennayboi]

"Giant" mealworms are treated with hormones and do not make good feeders. Which size to use just depends on your preference and size of the gecko.

 

[LeapinLizards]

"Giant" mealworms are treated with hormones and do not make good feeders. Which size to use just depends on your preference and size of the gecko.

I would like to know where you get your information Bennayboi...or is it mere personal choice? I can understand people being hesitant due to the fact that they are treated with a hormone, but the levels of that hormone that remains in the worm is not known to be unsafe, or effect our reptiles.

I have fed, and been feeding Giant Mealworms for 5 years now, and have had NO problem whatsoever...my geckos are incredibly healthy, robust, have no problems health wise (that I have been faced with *knock on wood*), have produced eggs that in turn produced a very healthy baby, etc...

Not to mention the numerous other people, and breeders that I've talked to, that also used Giants.

I have NEVER heard of a Giant Mealworm related death, sickness from eating them, sterility, etc...

 

[Bennayboi]

Direct quote from nyworms.com, who raise giant mealworms -

The so-called "Giant" Mealworms are created by spraying "common" Mealworms with an insect growth hormone to keep them growing instead of pupating as they would normally. Because of this, we feel that the "Giants" are a poor food choice for your Reptiles. However, we do highly recommend them as fishing bait!

I also hear theyre not good feeders from many people online. I dont not recommend them because theyre known to kill leopard geckos, but rather because their effects are unknown and their use is unecessary. Large mealworms or superworms are plenty big.

 

[Spooki]

all i have heard against the "giant" mealworms is that they can be hard to digest. i've never heard of anything dying from hormone treated food... almost everything we humans eat is hormone treated.

 

[LeapinLizards]

Exactly Spooki...you'll be hard pressed to go in a grocery store and find fruits and veggies that are not hormonally treated to be larger, more colorful, etc....unless it's from an organic source.

You quoted the nyworms company as a source...for that source, I can give you 10 others that state there is no health risk. I've spent quite awhile on the phone with one specific worm supplier talking about the growth hormone.

From experience...a few of my geckos will NOT touch large mealies, but go nuts for Giants. To some leopard geckos, size DOES matter. I also have some that will not eat Supers, but will eat Giants.

 

[Bennayboi]

Well, i simply disagree with you

 

[LeapinLizards]

And that is perfectly fine! I just wanted to point out that by feeding Giants you are not killing or poisoning your gecko, otherwise 5 years later I would not have healthy geckos!!! It's a matter of opinion, and what you are comfortable with It is your personal choice to not feed Giants, not that they make "bad feeders"...

I think we can both agree on the fact that roaches are FAR better