Stupid question, are superworms bad?

[Mina]

I apologize, I know this must be a really stupid question, but I was told once by a pet store employee that superworms should never be fed to any lizard that will swallow them whole. The said the worms are big enough that they don't die right away and can eat holes in the lizards stomach and cause health problems and death. This isn't true, is it?

 

[mynewturtle]

I use supers on leos that are 40grams+. Although all of my leopard geckos always put a big CRUNCH on there food I guess theres a possibilty if a young leopard swallows it without a crunch yet I'm still unsure.

 

[Scott&Nikki]

That is very false. Superworms are perfectly fine, as long as the leo is big enough to swallow them. Some people feed superworms very early, so that isn't even that big of a deal. As far as I know, there are no documented cases of that actually happening.

 

[TWC]

never had it happen to me

 

[rhino43grr]

urban legend... pet store employees are generally not to be considered a reliable source of information (most of them don't have any more knowledge about zoology than the average high schooler) i've fed mine supers and he's only about 4 months old

 

[Inlovewithherps]

I apologize, I know this must be a really stupid question, but I was told once by a pet store employee that superworms should never be fed to any lizard that will swallow them whole. The said the worms are big enough that they don't die right away and can eat holes in the lizards stomach and cause health problems and death. This isn't true, is it?

I was told the same thing at the petstore. I just smiled and nodded :main_laugh: It never seems to get through to them when I contradict what they say. :main_rolleyes:

 

[Nigel4less]

Thats one of the oldest Grandmother Legends in Reptiles today...

 

[Stitch]

My vet has never seen a lizard die from a worm eating it's way out. The stomack acids would kill it before it had a chance. Even better yet the worm would probably suffocate first.

It probably started when some ones lizard died and an uneatened worm started to feed off the dead body. Stomach and eyes are the softest parts so that is where is would start eating first. So when the person came home they see the stomach torn open with a worm eating away at the lizard. :main_robin:


Yes folks it takes a rocket scientist to figure this stuff out. :main_cool3: I don't even talk to pet store employees any more. I get in and I get out.

 

[Mina]

Thank you everyone. I was pretty sure it wasn't true, but I didn't want to take a chance of putting my sweet Hestia in any danger.
And I have to admit, I really don't like the superworms, they give me the creeps.

 

[RaiQuee]

The biting isn't really the issue. What I have noticed with both beardeds and Leos is if they eat a hearty meal of supers and don't crunch em too much sometimes it will upset their stomach. Wiggling mass of worms in the belly would upset my stomach too I like mealies a bit better. I don't worry about the upset tummys and to me, superworms smell TERRIBLE. Maybe thats just me tho haha.

Now, if I could find a reliable supplier of silkworms.....

 

[matt s]

There was another post on here too and yes it is def. false.
http://geckoforums.net/showthread.php?t=12761

 

[grizz2534]

Hey, don't knock all pet store employees! I work at Petsmart and I know that 4 of the 6 of us that work in the "small animal" department know a lot about animals, since we all have some pets, most of us lizards and snakes. Granted yes there are a lot of dumb pet store employees, I like to go to pet stores just to mess with them! It's great!:main_thumbsup: