whats the difference between giant mealworms and regular mealworms?

[12many]

When i say giant, i don't mean supers.

My local pet store (petsmart) sells these giant mealworms but i have no idea what they are or how they got that big. I'm not sure if they are chemically enhanced or it's just another kind of mealworms.

Anyone know what they are?

 

[prettyinpink]

Well my pet store has Giant mealies and then the small ones... I'm trying to remember if they're called Giant or not...

Anyway, the 'big' ones are older ones, they shouldn't be as big as supers though and should be refrigerated. The small ones are just babies.

Hope that helps!

 

[12many]

Well my pet store has Giant mealies and then the small ones... I'm trying to remember if they're called Giant or not...

Anyway, the 'big' ones are older ones, they shouldn't be as big as supers though and should be refrigerated. The small ones are just babies.

Hope that helps!

Ok... well just making sure. I've bred mealies before and never seen them that fat and big.

ok then. thx.

 

[TokayKeeper]

this subject was actually discussed quite recently, but...

The giants are regular mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) sprayed/fed a growth hormone that suspends their ability to pupate, resulting in extended, larger growth.

Regular mealies (Tenebrio molitor) are the "small" or "baby" ones that reach about 1/2 to 3/4 inch in total length before pupating; they are about a little thinner than a strand of yarn, whereas the giants are about 1.5 to 2 times thicker than a strand of yarn.

"baby" mealies are about 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch, or at least that's about how tiny they are when I can visibly see them.

Superworms are an entirely different species, either Zophobas atratus or Zophobas morio, and reach around 1.5 to 2.25 inches in length and are about as thick as 2 strands of yarn (about 3/16 to 1/4 inch).

additional info:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mealworm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zophobas_morio

 

[OnlineGeckos]

In other words, don't feed giant mealworms to your geckos. They are best suited for fishing. Feed your leopard geckos mealworms (small, med, large), superworms, crickets, dubias roaches, etc..

 

[TokayKeeper]

In other words, don't feed giant mealworms to your geckos. They are best suited for fishing. Feed your leopard geckos mealworms (small, med, large), superworms, crickets, dubias roaches, etc..

correct...

Do you recommend/sell "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!

 

[OnlineGeckos]

I bought 100 of them from Petco back when I didn't know, and fed 1/4 of them to my leopard geckos before I just happen to have read a forum post somewhere that gave further information. It should be against the law for them to sell giant mealworms without putting the disclaimer on the containers about growth hormone.

 

[Wowoklol]

I bought 100 of them from Petco back when I didn't know, and fed 1/4 of them to my leopard geckos before I just happen to have read a forum post somewhere that gave further information. It should be against the law for them to sell giant mealworms without putting the disclaimer on the containers about growth hormone.

A warning is not even required for human consumption let alone the pet trade heh. Have there been any studies regarding the effect of Insect growth hormone(if indeed that is actually whats used) on reptiles or possibly mammals that are eating it? I'd be curious to see.

http://www.wormman.com/pd_giant.cfm

Eek! There's a pretty good disclaimer heh. I wonder why he says that. He must have some really good proof! Hopefully he didn't lose any animals to the evil giant mealworms!

http://www.bigappleherp.com/Giant-Mealworms

Hmm. They seem to be advocating their use. Interesting.

http://store.wormbiz.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=wormbiz&Category_Code=GMLW

Ahhh here we go. Some actual useful information!! Facts??

http://jenny.tfrec.wsu.edu/opm/displayIPM?pn=60
The chemicals look to be mostly plant derivatives.

Seems what they are using is actually called "Juvenile hormone analogs or mimics".

The early juvenoid IGRs were true analogs of juvenile hormone and were unstable when exposed to ultraviolet light. This seriously limited their use in plant protection. Another group of juvenoid IGRs, called juvenile mimics, was discovered. Entomologist found that extracts of many plant tissues have juvenilizing effects, but they have different chemical structures from juvenile hormones and are much more stable. They have been used as models to synthesize some highly effective and stable juvenile hormone mimics which have potential to control tree fruit pests.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juvenile_hormone

One JH analogue, methoprene, is approved by the WHO for use in drinking water cisterns to control mosquito larvae.

This one seems safe for human consumption but not your lizard? Hmm. I'm not buying it. It sure made Worm Man look like he knew what he was talking about though didn't it? Maybe he knows something these people don't. Maybe they were using another forum of JH that's not so friendly. I couldn't be sure I suppose.

Sorry for the lengthy posts and links. Hopefully it gives you enough information to make your own decision regarding these. OR at least now you know exactly what you are dealing with to do your own research. Have a nice day!

 

[OnlineGeckos]

This one seems safe for human consumption but not your lizard? Hmm. I'm not buying it. It sure made Worm Man look like he knew what he was talking about though didn't it? Maybe he knows something these people don't. Maybe they were using another forum of JH that's not so friendly. I couldn't be sure I suppose.

Are you really comparing human consumption with leopard geckos? That's like saying chlorine, chemicals, and metal in our tap water are perfectly fine consumed by human so therefore it should be fine for leopard geckos. You may find people who don't believe in that. We humans can consume and tolerate a lot more than these lil creatures we call as pets.

Either way, since there is little studies about it, if you care about your leopard geckos, bottom line is to not feed giant mealworms treated with hormones. There are so many other feeder choices. If you need something larger than mealworms, go with superworms as they are a perfect step up from mealworms.

Since there are conflicting information, I don't know about anybody but I'd rather play safe with my leopard geckos. If you want to feed yours giant mealworms that's fine, they are your pets. But with superworms, dubias roaches, and crickets as alternatives, I find little reason to even take the chance to use giant mealworms just to see if they are harmful later.

Heck the very fact that some feeder breeders don't disclose the use of growth hormones, or don't even get into details about them, should tell you that perhaps you should stay away from them. Besides, if you don't exactly know what they use, then why chance it? There are so many other feeder choices out there. Friends don't let friends feed giant mealworms to their leopard geckos

 

[Wowoklol]

Are you really comparing human consumption with leopard geckos? That's like saying chlorine, chemicals, and metal in our tap water are perfectly fine consumed by human so therefore it should be fine for leopard geckos. You may find people who don't believe in that. We humans can consume and tolerate a lot more than these lil creatures we call as pets.

Either way, since there is little studies about it, if you care about your leopard geckos, bottom line is to not feed giant mealworms treated with hormones. There are so many other feeder choices. If you need something larger than mealworms, go with superworms as they are a perfect step up from mealworms.

Since there are conflicting information, I don't know about anybody but I'd rather play safe with my leopard geckos. If you want to feed yours giant mealworms that's fine, they are your pets. But with superworms, dubias roaches, and crickets as alternatives, I find little reason to even take the chance to use giant mealworms just to see if they are harmful later.

Heck the very fact that some feeder breeders don't disclose the use of growth hormones, or don't even get into details about them, should tell you that perhaps you should stay away from them. Besides, if you don't exactly know what they use, then why chance it? There are so many other feeder choices out there. Friends don't let friends feed giant mealworms to their leopard geckos

Did you read the thread about the killer crickets or the superworms that eat geckos? Talk about chance!! I don't care what anyone says or any reports I see, I wouldn't feed superworms OR that new species of cricket. There are more people raising their animals on chlorinated water than not. They have been studying and using the JH for quite a while. What conflicting information are you talking about? You chose to start and end your research with a post on an internet forum. That is your choice. Theres plenty more out there if you want to form an educated opinion. I at least gave you some facts. You do with them as you wish. I'm not trying to tell you what to do if I came across that way. Feed what you want! Im friends with a guy who feeds cooked chicken to his corn snakes!! heh

I agree whole heartedly about the Dubia roaches. Those are my feeder of choice

 

[Zencoran]

Well regular mealies are to small, my gecko hates supers, and im not allowed to have crix or roaches so I feed my leo giant mealies.
Sent from my MB525 using Tapatalk

 

[12many]

ok got it. thx.

 

[sweetgecko]

Giants and Supers are more for fishing than anything else. They have a nasty bite and will injure your gecko.
Rule of thumb: only stick to the appropriate size no bigger than the width of the geckos head. Gut loading mealworms is as important as gut loading crickets; I use natural rolled oats mixed with cornmeal, and wheat bran, natural brown rice (to keep moisture at bay).
I just keep the container out for 24 hours and refrigerate at 50° to keep them dormant. and only take out what my gecko eats (14), and let those mealies warm to room temperature.

 

[Russellm0704]

Before buying giant mealies, always contact the company and make sure there are no growth hormones given to the worms.