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There's a dead duck in my yard, full of maggots. Can I feed the maggots to my herps, or is that just nasty?
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Robins Critters
1.0 Corn snake Jack Skellington
1.1 Hog Island Boas Harley & Isaboa
0.1 Albino Sonoran Gopher Snake Jasmine
1.0 South American Boa Elvis
0.1 Western Hognose Addy the Adder
1.0 Tricolor Hognose Yoshi
1.3 Leopard Geckos Yoda, Geo, Tang, Ginger
1.2 Crested Geckos Fox, Peek & Boo
1.0 Blue Tongue Skink Indigo
1.1 Eastern Box Turtles Squirtle II & Yurtle II
0.1 Pacman Frog Buffy the Cricket Slayer
0.0.1 Sulawesi Red Toad Mr. Toad
0.2 Tiger Salamanders Tiger & Sally
1.1.3 Firebelly Newts Wayne Newton, Isaac Newton, Fig Newton, Olivia Newton John & Thandie Newton
1.1 Cats Gus & Mena

The usual pro's and con's of feeding wild bugs are in order, but otherwise, they should be fine to feed

Ian

"There's a dead duck in my yard, full of maggots. Can I feed the maggots to my herps, or is that just nasty?"

Wild boxies would come across this delectable meal and consume till their hearts content. However wild boxies have viruses and parasites. There is some research currently indicating that parasitic riddled boxies seek out/ crave specific wild plants that control their parasitic load.

It is well known that boxies consume mushrooms that are fatal to humans and many other animals; yet have no harmful affect on them.
Captive boxies don't have those options; as we control their diet.

So if they pick up viruses or parasites we as their caretakers assume all responsibility for their health. With bird flu threatening to be a pandemic; and you have found a duck dead of unknown causes, this raises a red flag. This duck may have died from some very virulent bug. And while phoenix worms are maggots they are raised under controlled conditions; a pile of maggots from an unknown species can also be carriers from their last dead animal or feces which their parents/ancestors ate.

Truthfully I'd be more concerned about the unknown cause of the dead bird with reptiles being so close on the evolutionary scale. For me I wouldn't take the risk; as I have available uncontaminated food.

Now if the meat was of known origin and the maggots obtained via a lab....I'd say Bon Appetit...

Ric

Florida Boxies pipped 7/28/06

Very good point, Rick. It's highly unusual for a duck to be in our area, much less dead. We do have a wondering dog in the neighborhood, which I suspect is the cause of death. However, the bird is way too far gone to know that. I will be better safe than sorry. Thanks to both of you. Robin
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Robins Critters
1.0 Corn snake Jack Skellington
1.1 Hog Island Boas Harley & Isaboa
0.1 Albino Sonoran Gopher Snake Jasmine
1.0 South American Boa Elvis
0.1 Western Hognose Addy the Adder
1.0 Tricolor Hognose Yoshi
1.3 Leopard Geckos Yoda, Geo, Tang, Ginger
1.2 Crested Geckos Fox, Peek & Boo
1.0 Blue Tongue Skink Indigo
1.1 Eastern Box Turtles Squirtle II & Yurtle II
0.1 Pacman Frog Buffy the Cricket Slayer
0.0.1 Sulawesi Red Toad Mr. Toad
0.2 Tiger Salamanders Tiger & Sally
1.1.3 Firebelly Newts Wayne Newton, Isaac Newton, Fig Newton, Olivia Newton John & Thandie Newton
1.1 Cats Gus & Mena