Reptile & Amphibian Forums

the local bait shop was out of "mousies" or rat tailed maggots and my flies did absolutely nothing during their short life span so, now we've got maggots labeled as "spikes", any ideas? I'm thinking these ones may actually be pheonix worms but I've never seen one to say for sure.
oh and kids.. this is why you never should put coins in your mouth.
the darker tip thing is actually their head, the fatter end is their rear end, either that or they walk backwards.

aparently these ones are bluebottle flies.

Rouen, you have access to some cool critters up there! I looked at the photo yesterday, but didn't have time to search. It would have been tough, since many Dipterid maggots look almost identical. Phoenix worms are pretty flat, hairy, and appear more dry.

Those maggots look to be about the perfect size for newly hatched turtles. Hopefully, they'll be available to you for this year's brood.

Ok, I'm throwing away all of my quarters! Suddenly, a cashless society is looking pretty good

>>Ok, I'm throwing away all of my quarters! Suddenly, a cashless society is looking pretty good

LOL this is one reason why I always carry hand sanitizer with me.
You never know where ANYTHING has been!
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PHRatz

Yeah, but too much hygiene can have a negative side, too. Just think of polio. Me, I don't use any anti-bacterial soap or any of that stuff.

would I be wrong in thinking that maggots make up a good portion of a wild hatchlings diet? mine will only refuse them if they are full, even my stubborn eater will usually eat them without trouble.. though he usually kills more than he eats.

as for sanitation I am with Steph, I believe some bacteria and germ helps build immunity.

I am hoping these maggots will be easier to culture.

>>would I be wrong in thinking that maggots make up a good portion of a wild hatchlings diet? mine will only refuse them if they are full, even my stubborn eater will usually eat them without trouble.. though he usually kills more than he eats.

Look at it this way.. wild turtles eat carrion when they are in the wild. What's in the carrion when they are eating it?
Maggots are in it so yeah that would be a part of their diet anyway.
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PHRatz

yes I know turtles are scavengers and will eat carrion, and mushrooms usually have maggots in them as well, but my hatchlings weren't as thrilled about pinkies as they are about maggots, both of which they would eat in the wild.

>>yes I know turtles are scavengers and will eat carrion, and mushrooms usually have maggots in them as well, but my hatchlings weren't as thrilled about pinkies as they are about maggots, both of which they would eat in the wild.

Personally I'd rather feed mine maggots than pinkies because, pinkies are ok for an occasional meal but they are kind of fatty & they don't really give all that much calcium unless their stomachs are full of mama's milk. Pinkie bones aren't fully developed so the calcium level isn't all that great. Since my turtles are more insectivorous than carnivorous.. I'd just rather use the maggots or other live insects with an occasional mammal meat.

I did not know that mushrooms have maggots in them. ewww
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PHRatz

>>Yeah, but too much hygiene can have a negative side, too. Just think of polio. Me, I don't use any anti-bacterial soap or any of that stuff.

I can't help it. I was raised by the Lysol Queen LOL.
When I go out to eat I have to have my hand sanitizer because ketchip bottles, bar-b-que sauce bottles, salt & pepper shakers are on the tables.. I don't know who handled those things before I got there & bus people don't wipe those things off between customers.
I don't want to handle something some nose picker touched then eat my food without a little hand sanitizer first.
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PHRatz

Ah, see, my Mom wasn't like that at all...and she was an RN!
I also have science-nerd siblings who love to remind people of the unintended consequences of over-use of antibiotics and antibacterial cleaning products...SUPERBUGS!

>>I don't want to handle something some nose picker touched then eat my food without a little hand sanitizer first.

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0.1.0 ornate box turtle
1.0.0 eastern box turtle
1.0.0 Yellow belly slider
0.1.0 Red belly cooter
0.1.0 Australian shepard
1.11.0 chickens
1.0.0 Dutch(rabbit)
3.2.0 children (do I still count the married ones?)
1.0.0 husband

Golfdiva.. that little yellow guy is hilarious!!!
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PHRatz

Ha ha ha. That maggot is likely infinitely cleaner than that coin. The natural microbial-grazing capacity of these larvae is one of the many benefits of medicinal maggots.
Hey, think of it this way, at least you do not have to do this:

A quick rinse in the lake is all that is required after that (over-use of sanitizer is a ticking time bomb, though the effects of antibiotic resistance are alreay quite apparent...).
Ryan

>(over-use of sanitizer is a ticking time bomb, though the effects of antibiotic resistance are alreay quite apparent...).

Define over-use. We all know that under-use led to many a nasty epidemic in the past so how do we define which is over, under, or reasonble use?
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PHRatz

Any unnecessary use should be considered over-use. Since the exact same result can be achieved through physically sanitizing (i.e. washing with regular soap), chemical disinfection is unnecessary and quite dangerous. What nasty past epidemics could have been avoided through use of antibacterial hand sanitizer (as opposed to basic hygiene practices)?
The point is, all bacteria have the capacity to rapidly evolve resistance due to mutational changes and conjugation, and we are effectively artificially selecting these cultivars by killing the non-resistant strains. Thus, all we have left are the so-called "super bugs".
It is a very effective strategy that marketers have used to take advantage of people's irrational fears (anti-bacterial is merely a sales gimmick, dangerously tricking people into believing that these products are somehow superior). Doctors are now less willing to dole out antibiotics than they were in the past (even penicillin is becoming more and more useless due to overuse). It's not as if people are less sick now as a result of this anti-bacterial revolution; however, it is a certain fact that there are many new resistant bacteria now.
Some quick searches on the internet will bring up more detailed reports for anyone interested.

Ok I get it, you aren't saying anything I haven't heard or read before.
I do understand it & I do think doctors should have curbed their doling out of antibiotics as they have already done.

I do not use hand sanitizer all day long around the house, in fact I never use it at home. I wash with regular soap when I need to. I know that just the physical action with regular soap & water is good enough.

That still won't stop me from using my hand sanitizer in public places.
I see too many people in restaurant restrooms, use it, walk out without washing there hands then they sit at a table and eat food.
That just really grosses me out!
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PHRatz