SuperWorm Issue

[Surf_420]

ok so this past week i bit the bullet and got some supers to try out with my geckos. they actually eat them alot better than regualr mealies. however i had a big problem yesterday.

3 of my girls that are housed together are currently laying eggs, one of the supers got out of the ashtray i keep them in. one of my girls decided not to use the lay box and the damn super got to the egg and ate a hole through it . it was very sad and me and my wife were very pissed. needless to say i pulled the supers out and wont keep them in my tanks unless they are actually eating them at feeding time. has anyone ever had this problem ?

i know theres not much i can do other than pulling the dish out after they have gotten full. just wanted to share my experience and see if anyonelse has ever had this problem.

thanks Steve

 

[gothra]

Not exactly the same as your situation, but I have had escaped mealworms and supers eating a hole into the cork bark that I use for shelter, and left a puddle of sawdust in the tank...

 

[acpart]

I had some escaped mealworms eat a hole in one of my gecko's tails. Now this isn't one of those "mealworms eating through the gecko's stomach" stories. When I got this gecko as a juvenile, he had already lost his tail and it had grown back in a funny shape. It's always been prone to getting cracks and tears in it. Last year it cracked again and just would not get better. Eventually I discovered him with 2 mealworms in what was now a small hole in his tail snacking away (sorry for graphic description). Needless to say there are never any feeders left to roam in his cage anymore.

Aliza

 

[GeckoGathering]

Gotta Eat Something

My feeder stations in the gecko tank all contain food (carrot round) for the feeder prey worms...
( but I don't feed supers)....any prey not eaten are usually content to eat the easy carrot, if the carrot that's left is a fine grain,next they will eat wax worms(if combined with meal worms as I do) then they will eat each other. My way...not necessarily good for super worms unless I were to change my type of feeder station bowls for the larger worm.
Take care. HJ

 

[Gecko Ranch]

The answer is using a dish the superworms cannot escape. If you go to a pet store chain that sells the blue bottomed ceramic dishes you'll find something that works. I have been using these for years - about 2" tall x 5" wide.

 

[fallen_angel]

I have a pic of one actually..

but mines' only 1" tall..it's white at the bottom because that's one of those calcium blocks that dissolves in the water. And this was also taken when we had coco fiber for substrate (bad idea!) But those dishes are awesome, I'm sure that a 2" tall one would work perfectly for supers

Steve, my fiance and I would have been RAGING, I am so terribly sorry to hear what happened!! One of our females even laid outside of the moist hidebox when she had two that were re-moistened the day before.. no worms got to her eggs, but one of the leos must have stepped on them, as one was oozing out of one end, and both were turned onto the side

I'm also sorry to hear about your leo's tail, Aliza

 

[david13]

i got soap dishes (SUPER slippery), i'm sorry to hear about your egg

little green dish is what i use.. it was like $2

 

[fallen_angel]

that's a VERY great idea David!

 

[david13]

why, thank you Jess

 

[Gecko Ranch]

I have a pic of one actually..

but mines' only 1" tall..it's white at the bottom because that's one of those calcium blocks that dissolves in the water. And this was also taken when we had coco fiber for substrate (bad idea!) But those dishes are awesome, I'm sure that a 2" tall one would work perfectly for supers

Steve, my fiance and I would have been RAGING, I am so terribly sorry to hear what happened!! One of our females even laid outside of the moist hidebox when she had two that were re-moistened the day before.. no worms got to her eggs, but one of the leos must have stepped on them, as one was oozing out of one end, and both were turned onto the side

I'm also sorry to hear about your leo's tail, Aliza

That's a good dish. I like this kind because the bottom is too heavy to tip over.

 

[fallen_angel]

You're welcome David, I think I will buy some soap dishes in the future

That's a good dish. I like this kind because the bottom is too heavy to tip over.

Me too, they are very good for that exact reason

 

[david13]

the one i have is (i think) impossible for a leo to tip over..i never saw or tried the kinds of dishes you got Jess

 

[98XJSport]

I had to make a ~3" tall dish to keep the supers in. They will still get it if I put to big of a chunk of food in for them. The problem is, the geckos can't really get in, and have a hard time getting out!

 

[Gecko Ranch]

I had to make a ~3" tall dish to keep the supers in. They will still get it if I put to big of a chunk of food in for them. The problem is, the geckos can't really get in, and have a hard time getting out!

Easy to solve, put a sturdy rock next to the bowl they can climb up.

 

[liljenn]

I have a pic of one actually..

but mines' only 1" tall..it's white at the bottom because that's one of those calcium blocks that dissolves in the water. And this was also taken when we had coco fiber for substrate (bad idea!) But those dishes are awesome, I'm sure that a 2" tall one would work perfectly for supers

Jess, where did you find these? I have some similar from Home Depot. They are glazed clay planter saucers. Always looking for other places to get stuff - especially if I can get it cheaper!

 

[fallen_angel]

Acutally it's just a local store called the Arizona Reptile Center. Maybe you could try finding some local reptile stores that are privately owned.. Although your similar ones from Home Depot are probably just as good and most likely cheaper! They are a little pricey at the Reptile Center, so we just bought one I really do like them, though.


We use cut-up deli cups for food containers.. We cut the walls down a little bit so that they are high enough for worms, but not too high for the leos.. they don't get pushed over, but they do get pushed around since they aren't as heavy

 

[liljenn]

Yeah, I pay $1.59 for the mini-planter saucers that are glazed at home depot. They work really well. Always looking for better prices though!

 

[98XJSport]

Easy to solve, put a sturdy rock next to the bowl they can climb up.

Not that easy. Tried it, the problem then becomes getting down in and then back up and out. They aren't flexible enough, they have to push thier noses against the wall and "walk" into it to get thier front claws up high enough to get out.