Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was just wondering if anyone out there uses Super Worms as a staple diet for adult and sub-adult dragons rather than crickets? I know that some dragons can get hooked on the supers and may not want crickets after but is that a bad thing?

I just don't know the nutritional values of the supers. Are there draw backs? I just am done with the crix, the weather has been real rough(HUMID) on them and I'm loosing too many. Super cost a little more but I never get to use all that I buy with the crickets anyway.

Yes you can use supers asthe only insects fed. I'm assuming you are also feeding veggies.
good luck
-----
Bill DiFabio
Azteclizard.com
Email Me

I only use supers for my adults ( as the insect portion of the diet)

I use the veggies and Rep Cal pellets and just about 5 supers a day per adult. And the Cal. & Vites.

They may cost more but figure,, you have to give 20 or more crickets per day vs. 5 supers.

I may even cut down to less, now that my female is done (hopefully) laying eggs this year, she is really putting on the weight. To a point, that's a good thing but if she keeps going, unchecked, she will look like Humpty Dumpty. LOL

I have had great success with how I'm doing it this year and have no intention on changing it unless a problem arises or something better comes around.

Good luck.
Joel

Yes, I feed my dragons a variety of greens and some will eat the dried food but the crickets are just such a pain. I am also breeding a lobster roach colony which is of to a great start. They are very easy to keep.

Have any of you tried starting a super worm colony with "The Beatles"? lol

Thanks for the replies

I have the mealworms figured out. Sometimes I'm giving them away because I have too many.

The supers have proven to be a little more tricky. I have about 10 beetles now though so we'll see how it goes.

Joel

Hey Gixer, can you give me some info about starting a lobster roaches colony? I have the similiar problems with my cricket, its money going down the drain when I see the amount of dead crickets at the bottom of the container. Are you getting your roaches from an online breeder or reptile supply store? Thanks for any help you can give me.

Feeding supers can be damaging in the long run. I have read of people with dragons that developed problems later in life because of being fed too many worms. I want to say it may have been fatty liver disease? I will do some research and see if I can find the info, but long term I do not think that feeding worms, such as mealies, wax, or supers are good. Chris

On multiple sites I found the info that feeding excessive worms can lead to obesity or fatty liver disease(mealies, wax, and supers). The dragon may get fat, then actually become lethargic from the problems from having been fed too many worms for too long. Also reading just from the amount of shell eaten, that can lead to impaction. I would not advise feeding worms on a daily basis, the only worms that seem to be "healthy" are the silk worms, but Im not sure that enough studies or long term cases have been dealt with regarding them. Occasional snacks should be fine, but long term daily feedings I would say no. Chris Allen

People say this all the time yet no one knows at what point it becomes a problem.
Would it be 30 a day, 10 a day, or even only 5?

In the studies do they say how many were given?
It just seems a bit vague to me. I'm not saying that they are totally safe but I feel that they can be given in moderation with little risk.

Let me know if you have any more info.

Thanks Joel.

I hope you didn't take that personal. Nothing against you or your thoughts on the matter. It's always best to get as many views on any subject as possible.

I'm just trying to figure out how much is too much when it comes to the supers and mealies.
I do wonder how many or how much were given to the ones who become obese from them. Also if they were given as the staple. I do know that some people become lazy and it's just easy to throw in a big handful of worms instead of cutting up a batch of fresh veggies. I am willing to bet,, that is when most problems occur from using them.

Joel

I brought it up because if someone is told "yeah you can do that, Im doing it", they may take it and say ok, I will feed my dragon worms every day and they may feed them alot of worms everyday. And for your dragons, they may be fine, or down the road they may have problems from eating supers everyday, I surely couldnt tell you. Im just judging by past experience of others, and information that anyone can research. In the sites that I went to quickly, it did not say specifically how many, I would imagine that would be near impossible to tell. Age, size, health and other food items im sure would all play a part in how long it would take to get to the point where a dragon developed problems from it. You can do a search on any engine practically and read different sites where it is discussed. I brought it up cause I remember a long time ago reading right here on kingsnake how someone had problems, and I think that their dragon may have died because of it. Probably an extreme case like you said, but nonetheless, something to consider when feeding worms daily and to consider when others are looking for advice. Chris

I have a feeling that it has more to do with the lack of veggies in the diet than it does the worms. If most of the adult diet consists of plant matter, I dont see how using only worms as the insect part would matter. I can tell you that for the past 11 years that I have been breeding Leopard geckos, the staple has been mealworms. Most of my leos have never seen a cricket. It's really not much of a comparison though, because they are carnivores.
-----
Bill DiFabio
Azteclizard.com
Email Me

Well that being the point really......all depends how much you feed them and how often. You would need to worry more about fatty liver disease or obesity because of feeding too many worms, compared to feeding too many crix. Still could happen with the crix as well, with adults, but from the info out there, more possible with feeding too many worms. Chris