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I bought some superworms the other day at a show. We all know supers are more easily digestible than mealies, wax worms are fatty, and silk worms are expensive. I bought 50 for like $2.50. I don't read many posts of people feeding supers. Is there a reason for this? My leo loves them, and they only need to eat around 6 or 7 to be a full meal. They gutload easy and are very hardy and long lived. They don't jump around like crix. I even think my leo "enjoys" eating them. He chomps down, then head shakes like a pit bull, then swallows! It's very fun to watch. I posted about roaches earlier, because I like to offer a little variety and roaches seem easy to keep and to breed, but these supers are, well, super (pardon the pun). What does everyone else think?
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-Bill

1.0.0 Albino California Kingsnake
0.1.0 Colombian Red Tail Boa
0.1.0 Leucistic Patternless Leopard Gecko
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They aren't a good staple because they are too high in fat. The best time to feed supers is as a treat or when a female is breeding. Mealies or Crickets are you best staple.
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-Jeff
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I have never heard that before. COuld you please provide a website or two to show verify this? Everything I have ever read never said anything about supers being high in fat, rather the opposite, they have higher protein, lower chitin levels, and average fat content.
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-Bill

1.0.0 Albino California Kingsnake
0.1.0 Colombian Red Tail Boa
0.1.0 Leucistic Patternless Leopard Gecko
0.0.1 Red Flame Crested Gecko
0.0.1 Argentine Black and White Tegu

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BoidsNTegus@insightbb.com

I keep my females on supers and my males on mealworms with the occasional pinky
Supers are great, much better than mealies or crickets and my females love em,

Dan

I have 2 full grown Leos. I was told super worms can be difficult for Leos to eat. One person said to cut their heads off with a razor as the head is difficult to digest. He said the body will keep moving and stimulate the Leo to eat. Another person told me to pull off their mandibles (pinchers) as the head is difficult for Leos. Any input. Are these actions necessary? I know my beardie loves them.

Like my original post says, my leo destroys these things. They may not be dead, but when the worm hits the stomach, its not long till the stomach acids do the dirty work. I have heard all kinds of rumors about cutting heads off different kinds of worms because they bite back, can hurt your herp, whatever. I don't believe any of it. These are ancient creatures who can survive things we never could, and I don't think a nippy little worm would do any harm. To answer your questions though, no, I do not cut the heads off, I just drop the thing in there and my leo takes care of the rest.
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-Bill

1.0.0 Albino California Kingsnake
0.1.0 Colombian Red Tail Boa
0.1.0 Leucistic Patternless Leopard Gecko
0.0.1 Red Flame Crested Gecko
0.0.1 Argentine Black and White Tegu

My Home Page

BoidsNTegus@insightbb.com

sorry but I think wax worms and pinkies are better no offence they beef up leopard gecko much fast than super worms do. Don't get me wrong my leopard gecko love super worms I just get my wax worms and pinkies for cheap prices and they like wax worms and pinkies better than superworms.

I hate the look of supers, as they creep me out, but I love feeding them to my critters! I had 2 leos who were exclusively eating supers prior to the winter appetite slow-down. Now, no one will touch them & all they're eating is mealies.
Anyway, there's no problem using them as a staple diet & no, you don't have to hack them up or anything first, just feed em to your little predator. One of my leos bites them all down their bodies, then eats them, pretty funny! LOL
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1.0 Blue Tongue Skink Indigo (Indy)
0.1.1 frogs Buffy the Cricket Slayer, Butrose Butrose Froggy
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No offense taken, none expected. I have always been under the impression (based on tons of research) that both waxworms and pinkies are VERY fatty and should only be fed as treats maybe 1-2 times per month. If you have any references to verify otherwise, please provide me a link or something, because I am always willing to change my opinion given the evidence. If anyone else has any input on this, please post it. But nutritionally speaking, unless I have been reading false info, supers have a better protein/fat ratio than both pinkies and waxworms.
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-Bill

1.0.0 Albino California Kingsnake
0.1.0 Colombian Red Tail Boa
0.1.0 Leucistic Patternless Leopard Gecko
0.0.1 Red Flame Crested Gecko
0.0.1 Argentine Black and White Tegu

My Home Page

BoidsNTegus@insightbb.com