Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am wondering if it is possible or if anyone has used mini superworms as a primary source of food instead of crickets for newly hatched and very young bearded dragons.

I have some babies that are hatching now and do not have good crickets for this long weekend and curious ifthe very small mini superworms could be an issue. My babies that were 2 weeks old thru 4 weeks old seem to enjoy them with no problem

thanks

If they are the mini ones, yes. They are fine to feed babies and you will get a much better growth rate than you will with crickets.
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www.moonstonedragons.com

thank you.

By mini superworms do you mean just small superworms or mealworms? (which is a completely different species).

Personally I wouldn't feed mealworms as a staple insects to hatchling dragons. Gut loaded crickets are still pretty much the best feeder insect to use. Small to medium phoenix worms are good as well, though these are more costly to use, especially for alot of hungry babies.

If the dragons just hatched today, they should be Ok, if you can get an order in by Tuesday of crickets. Otherwise, you will have to make due with what you have, whether its good for them or not..starving isn't better. But most hatchlings are full of yolk after hatching for 2-4 days, so that does give you a bit of a grace period.
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PHLdyPayne

You have to be very careful...i don't know anyone that uses them as a staple...as PH mentioned,baby SUPERWORMS are different than small mealworms. Two different kinds of worm. There is a real danger of a baby not being able to digest it and dying from the impaction,or becoming paralyzed. Years ago a reputable breeder that vends the Taylor Michigan shoe told me that he did an experiment using 2 groups of dragons...one fed mini-mealies,the other baby crix. he told me that the babies eating the mealies died.Just thought I'd pass that on,although it's hearsay...2nd hand info.

Hey Alan.....just an idea but there was a guy that used to have a reptile shop up on rt 18 in east brunswick flea market that would have boxes of crickets for the weekends. I'm not sure if he is still there, or if he still does that, but you might be able to look up his number and give him a call tonight and ask. Also there was a shop Krazy kreatures in jackson, and they opened a second shop down in either bayville or beachwood. The one in jackson used to also sell 1000 ct boxes of crickets when they had them.

The guy Courtland at coldbloods.com that I use ships Friday for Saturday delivery if you are in an area that fed ex delivers on Saturday. My wife called fed ex and they told us we were in an area they deliver in on Saturday, so you may be as well, just have to call and check. I haven't done this yet, but if you need a last minute order, thats an option to look into in the future. He closes I think 12 noon on Friday, so the order has to be put in Friday morning.

chris

hi
thanks everyone for the info. I was talking about baby superworms and not mealworms. The baby superworms are very tiny. Probably as small or smaller than the phoenix worms. I had originally started with pin head crickets and 1/8 crickets. you could barely see them, so there was no way for me to judge which ones were eating or not. with the baby superworms i am sure they are all eating. On my newest hatchlings I was curious if they started with the superworm if it would be ok or not.

I never buy smaller than 3/8 for hatchlings and babies. Pin heads (understanding that every cricket breeder has a different size for the standard measurment) are only good for baby spiders and I would guess frogs and some really small lizards. Don't waste your money. My crickets are not growing as fast as cricket breeders say, but so far this is so easy it is not funny. My babies hatched two weeks early, so the crickets are not feedable size yet, but so far there is nothing to breeding my own crickets. Just should have started sooner since I now have babies.
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www.moonstonedragons.com

I would recommend mini mealworms instead. Meat-to-shell ratio is better. If you can... Try to do small dubias instead to avoid any digestion problems at all.