Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm getting a little tired of people saying oh "dont feed giants they ae bad 4 your leo". They're just saying what the previous person told them, and they really have no clue what they're talking about. I dont even feed them, I just dont like people saying stuff that isnt true. They're given a chemical that melaworms ALREADY HAVE. Melaworms have this (cant remember what its called, think it might be ph or jh) and when they run out, they pupate. If you give them more of it, they wont pupate, and continue to grow. If they already have it, how would it be harmful? I fed my leo giants before, and she didnt fall over dead, so just stop telling people its bad for them when its not. Not a big deal, just getting on my nerves, later
Mac

If I am not mistaken, the giant mealworms are given a growth hormone. Look at it this way: insulin is also a hormone. While it is true that it is already in our bodies, why would you want to take more of it (unless you were diabetic and lacking it)? I wonder if the mealworm growth hormone is healthy (the beetles from giant mealworms are sterile). With leopard geckos being higher on the foodchain, it seems like they would build up an even higher percentage of this in their bodies. Why risk it? What is so bad about regular mealworms?
-----
1.0 leopard gecko- adult
1.0 bubblegum snow corn snake- adult
0.1 creamsicle corn snake- adult

I'm in accordance with everyone here that says that just because it's natural doesn't mean it's safe. And just because it's extra hormone doesn't mean it isn't, but why not just play it safe?
-----
Got hips like Cinderella / Must be having a good shame / Talking sweet about nothing / Cookie I think you're Tame

I don't think it really harms the geckos either but but just because something is natural doesn't mean it is safe. Hormones when introduced at the wrong stage of life are known to cause health problems in all animals. Of course none of these health problems would be recieved by eating one of these animals but it is possible that many of the mealworms health is degraded making them less nutritious than regular mealworms. Besides if you get king mealworms from a store near me the price is outrageous why would you pay so much extra for a larger mealworm. It's the same thing for superworms here, although I have bought them. I know this isn't the same everywhere but at my local pet stores the largest container you can buy them in is ten and it costs two or three dollars.

Thats exactly my arguement... Hormones are meant to regulate growth for a specific period of time.. Extending that causes problems and health issues... Not to mention, hormonal treatment CAN and will affect animals that consume larger doses than would normally be present in any animal they'd naturally consume. Take for instance Salmon... The numbers are steadily going down and not all from overfishing... Researchers believe right now, that human estrogen therapy for women who have had hysterectomies is responsible for the decline in some species. Their theory is this.. The surplus estrogen is evacuated in urine which then goes into the water supply and leaches into ground water tables.. Cycled through into the ocean and absorbed by small plankton..eaten by larger fish and those eaten by salmon etc. The male salmon aren't going through their dimorphic changes during the breeding season and their testosterone levels are being surpressed so breeding isn't taking place like it should. Also, in Alaska, the Polar bears are being born Hermaphroditic.. they aren't sure exactly whats doing it yet... Mercury levels.. or hormonal changes... it could be either... My point is this.. we don't know what elevated levels of that growth hormone would do to our geckos and their growth rates or health.. so why take the risk? Mealworms and superworms are just fine as a food source.

saying that giant mealworms are harmful because of the hormone is pure speculation. it seems pretty rare to me for breeders to feed their geckos giant mealworms, and the ones that DON'T feed g. mealworms seem to be the ones against them. i do recommend feeding regular mealworms or superworms, but only because the average person can breed them their selfs.
-----
your head will collapse, but there's nothing in it, and you'll ask yourself, "where is my mind"

if you have AIM, IM me at chichandoCONrosa

Speculation yes.. but speculation done in light of other facts about elevated hormone levels interfereing with growth, health and reproduction in other animals.. Personally, I'd rather not take the risk.. its like the use of calci-sand...it COULD impact your geckos...so why take the risk when there's other alternatives that are just as good and much safer?