Reptile & Amphibian Forums

just curious what everyone thinks about feeding meal worms instead of crickets? the reason i ask is mealworms are soo much easier to clean up and care for and etc, so is it ok to feed mealworms instead of crickets? i mean they would still get greens and etc but meal worms instead of crickets?
-Robert

Mealies are high in chitin. From what I've read on this forum and on numerous beardie pages, most would not recommend them as a replacement for crickets. And I agree. Silkworms or butterworms would be a much better replacement. And they contain a lot more calcium.

Veronica
Beautiful Dragons

i wouldnt reccomend mealies, they have a rather thick chitin and are harder for a dragon to digest, if you want to go the worm way superworms would be a better idea, they have a thinner chitin then mealies, or even better yet, silkworms, they are very nutritious, high in calcium and softbodied. you can go to www.herpfood.com if you wanna give them a try, if you like them you can go to www.mulberryfarms.com and buy em in bulk, good luck! keep in mind that if you feed supers be careful how many you feed out, they are a lot higher in fat then crickets so you will want to feed less. By the way, are we talking about adult dragons?
-----
reiko
photos

no right now we are talking about 3 baby "about 3-4 months old" bearded dragons. so out of the worms silkworms would be the best? thanx for all the help
-Robert

go for silkworms, i raise my guys on them, they are awesome feeders, give em a try, bet your baby will love them. when you order ask for small or medium, probably medium will be just fine for his size

>>no right now we are talking about 3 baby "about 3-4 months old" bearded dragons. so out of the worms silkworms would be the best? thanx for all the help
>> -Robert
>>
-----
reiko
photos

i think i am going to order them, how long do you think 500 silkworms will last me for 3 baby dragons? is there anyway to set up a breeding colony? or is it easier to just order them when you run out? thanx for all your help!
-robert

if you want to raise them buy from mulberry farms and buy some eggs, are you in an area where you can buy a mulberry tree? if not you can buy the chow for them, i prefer the leaves, i have more luck with them. well 500 worms.. if each eats 30-50 a day not long you might want to order from mulberry farms instead of herpfood, especially if you are feeding that many mouths, buy a few hundred (maybe 500-1000) small worms, and buy eggs, let the eggs hatch and grow and by the time you finish the few hundred silkies the babies will be ready to feed out, then re order when you are almost done with the eggs you raised, then again buy small worms and eggs, thats what i do you have to order less often that way and the babies are easy to raise and grow quickly
-----
reiko
photos

I have 350 silk worms coming. I have a 10 gallon tank i use for my feeder insects, I dont use a top for it or anything but do you think if i used the chow stuff it would still mold and cause over humididty for the worms?

that big of a tank for that many worms should be just fine, they like it about room temp and on the dark side
-----
reiko
photos

I tried silkworms. Fed them the Mulberry feed. But everytime I lost alot because they got moldy. Have you had this broblem. If so how did you resolve.

they need ventilation or yes they do get mouldy, thats why i like the mulberry leaves much better then the chow, keeps things a lot dryer, not as much moisture at all
-----
reiko
photos

how much does mullberry charge for shipping? they don't say on their website thanx
-Robert

you should e-mail him, give him your location and what you want order and he will be able to tell you what shipping will be, it shouldnt be anymore then crickets would be for you. Im close to where the farm is so shipping is very inexpensive for me, even went to pick em up once, which was pretty good.

>>how much does mullberry charge for shipping? they don't say on their website thanx
>> -Robert
-----
reiko
photos

Do you get the mulberry leaves from Mulberry Farms. How do you keep them fresh?

mulberry leaves from a mulberry tree if you get some leaves you can keep them fresh in the fridge
-----
reiko
photos

God last year i had a full grown mulberry tree =) We cut it down because we would step on the buggers. I wish i had that tree now =/

bummer.. you could plant another, they are fairly inexpensive from a local nursery
-----
reiko
photos

Ya maybe i will i have a lot of hungry dragons (2) lol but there very agresive bottomless pits.

agressive eaters that is.

i messed up and fed a a baby dragon 3 times that size one meal worm a day for about 5 days and guess what? for threw up undigetsed meal worms for about 2 days and is still not completly over that meal worm impaction luckly i was covering the mealworms with probiotics (this was the reason i was feeding a meal worm any way cause he hates the eyedroper so i would just put it on a mealworm) i feel certin had i not been giving acodophilus he woudl have died from it.

Mat Price

n/p

those are only good as treats, they have little nutritional value and are extremely fatty for a daily feeder. butterworms make a far better treat, they are very high in calcium, and just as yummy as waxies
-----
reiko
photos

Wax worms put a lot of fat around the heart and liver.
Apparently (here in the UK, I dont know about anywhere else), Waxworms are sprayed with something to stop them turning into moths, this spray can make lizards infurtile.

You have to get into your cart and estimate shipping cost. There you can choose how fast i think it ranges from 3 days to over night. But remember they only ship things on Mon. Tues. Wed. So your order will be shipped on monday if you order today.

n/p

some do use those as feeders for their adults, they are higher in fat then crickets, you ahve to be careful with how many and how often you feed, i wouldnt feed supers daily, but every other day along with good salads and a pelleted diet, they shouldnt be too bad, my one female gets a lot of supers, she really needs the extra fat, shes not an easy keeper.
-----
reiko
photos

What king of nutriotional value do horn worms have? I got a cup of them to try them out =) THey look like a tasty treat!

as far as i know, they are quite high in fat, they are great as an alternative to pinkies for breeder females and also for dragons to gain some extra weight, and dragons love em, i know that too
-----
reiko
photos

Have we broken the longest kingsnake thread record yet? If not keep going!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks again reiko. You are always the 1 to answer my silk worm questions!

i really think they are great feeders, and great for babies or fussy eaters
-----
reiko
photos

reiko where at in cali do you live? i live right by knotts berry farm!!
-robert

Encinitas CA, North County Coastal San Diego
-----
reiko
photos

I feed my adult dragon mealworms and waxworms occasionally. But most of his insects are still crickets. Mealworms are good for variety, and he LOVES them, but they aren't nutritious enough to be a staple.