Superworms; fact or fiction?

[bubblez825]

So, I've read and heard people talk about how, when swallowed by a leopard gecko, could "eat through a leopard geckos stomach" because of its teeth :main_rolleyes: I know of many people who's geckos LOVE superworms, along with my own, and have never had a problem. So, just curious, has this actually ever happened to anyone? Or is it all just a myth? And how did it get started? :main_robin:

~Emily

 

[grboxa]

http://geckoforums.net/showthread.php?t=56103&highlight=super+worm+myth+eating+stomach :main_thumbsup:

 

[30secondstobob]

Been using them regularly for going on two years now - never had a problem. That being said, I could see how if belly heat is not provided to facilitate rapid digestion, a mealworm or superworm could probably eat it's way through a sick or weak gecko's belly. I've had them chew their way through reptile rugs and the wax lined paper cups I sometimes keep them in. Bob

 

[OnlineGeckos]

Not sure about eating through stomach, but one caused internal bleeding in one of my geckos. She survived the ordeal, but she won't touch superworms again. I think it's more common for supers to bite a gecko's mouth & insides and causing an infection than anything else.

 

[bubblez825]

George: That's about the little mealworms, I'm talking about the big honkin super worms

bob: That makes sense, but between stomach acids and being chewed to smithereens in a gecko's jaws, wouldn't they be dead already? I watch each of my geckos and they make SURE they crunch down on the head several times over before swallowing. I'd like to see a superworm survive that! :main_thumbsup:

OG: That's really weird... did she not chew it or something? That seems really weird... like i said above, i wonder how a superworm can survive all that? I'm sorry about your girl, I'm glad shes okay now though

 

[Russellm0704]

When will this idiotic myth die?

 

[bubblez825]

When will this idiotic myth die?

:main_laugh: I really don't know. I was basically asking if it has ever really happened and/or where the myth came from. I've been getting the question of "WONT THAT EAT YOUR LEO?!" a lot lately whenever someone sees me feed any of my reptiles super worms... :main_rolleyes:

 

[Dimidiata]

So look it p first there are 100s of threads on the same darn topic.

 

[eccentric_amber]

This is a concern in the bearded dragon world too.....myth

 

[sweetgecko]

Supers are known to cause internal damage if not the head isn't chewed first, Note: crush head when feeding to geckos as to prevent any weird incidence or just stick with slightly medium meal worms but no large or supers.
giants & Supers give me the creeps.

 

[Russellm0704]

The stomach acid will take care of any superworms that are not killed immediately by your gecko. This is a complete myth and there is no debate. the only possible damage is the superworm biting the inside of the geckos mouth(out out of my 19 current geckos, i have never had one issue with this or even close to this). Once it is digested there is no way it can cause damage.

 

[contracteryin]

Fact, all fact. I voted on this before I saw this thread:
http://www.geckosunlimited.com/comm...eding-caution-zophobas-morio-cricket4u-4.html

Long story short, it really did cause this gecko a lot of harm. For those who don't believe me, open the link and then look at the pictures on the thread. It's a lot of reading, but by all means worth it.
But hey, if you want to feed superworms, crush their jaws first. I don't know about you, but I NEVER want this happening to any of my reptiles.

 

[GexPex]

Fiance used to feed superworms until he started noticing abscesses on his leopard geckos' heads. Afterwards, he stopped feeding superworms and hadn't had a problem with abscesses since. I imagine that supers could cause some damage. When I pick them up, they actually bite (reason why I used hemostats to pick them up), and I have seen them chew through the PLASTIC lids of the cups they're sold in. Don't want to see what they could do to a leopard gecko if not chomped well enough. Mealworms on the other hand, I would imagine to be safe, as they are smaller and even I (with my delicate hands lol) can't feel their bites.

 

[Rmorales6]

"I do not think that means what you think it means." I believe abscesses mean there is a nutritional deficiency.
I personally have watched one of my males who loves superworms eat and he always crushes the head before swallowing. He will quickly rotate it in his mouth to do it too. Having watched him eat many times it seems to be a very purposeful action. Nature may be far ahead of us on this topic.

 

[grboxa]

This shouldn't be a debate lol. If some keepers are SO worried about supers harming there gecko then crush the heads, its that simple:main_cool3:

 

[The Gecko Person]

I had a juvenile holding a cricket in her mouth, and the cricket rotated it's head and started to chew on her eye/eyelid area. I crushed the cricket's head as soon as I noticed it.The possibility of damage is not from the gecko being internally damaged by the insect, but by the chance of it being bitten, as it tries to hold on to the insect.

 

[Russellm0704]

Fact, all fact. I voted on this before I saw this thread:
http://www.geckosunlimited.com/comm...eding-caution-zophobas-morio-cricket4u-4.html

Long story short, it really did cause this gecko a lot of harm. For those who don't believe me, open the link and then look at the pictures on the thread. It's a lot of reading, but by all means worth it.
But hey, if you want to feed superworms, crush their jaws first. I don't know about you, but I NEVER want this happening to any of my reptiles.

Yes, the worms can bite the geckos. But once digested there is no way they can harm them.

 

[contracteryin]

Yes, the worms can bite the geckos. But once digested there is no way they can harm them.

Believe whatever you want. But obviously there is no other way that gecko could have been so hurt. When they bite, it hurts. He acid in the stomach, from that alone, shows it doesn't just destroy the worm right away.
You can lead a horse to water but can't make him drink. Though, as other people have said and I said a few posts ago, clipping the jaws with toe nail clippers or something gets rid of this risk.

 

[Dimidiata]

Lets not criminalize people who feed Supers, or infer they are being ignorant.

 

[Russellm0704]

There are plenty of established breeders on here who have fed supers for years without a problem. I personally feed mostly mealies but sometimes give my females supers after laying. The benefit of them recovering quicker from laying greatly outweighs the risk. The risk which has never occured in all 15 of my adults. It is a personal choice and it is not a right or wrong decision. It is whatever works best for your geckos and your situation.