Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Recently, we have purchaased mealworms to feed to the leos. I ws reading about them, and found that evedently, they can chew right out a a herp's stomach. Is this true? Wouldnt the stomach acid break them down? Also, can they be fed that cricked food, the stuff with ground up corn and oats? What substrate should they be kept in, and how long can they live for out of the refrigerator for?

Thanks.

The eating through the stomach is just an old myth that won't die.

The mealworms will eat pretty much anything a cricket will. keep enough grains in there to cover them up (wheat germ, oat germ, cricket food, etc) and give them fresh fruits and veggies for water.

If you don't want them to change into a beetle, then keep them in the fridge and pull out just enough to gut-load for 24 - 48 hours. They can turn into "aliens" in a day or two if kept out (depending on the temps)...though it usually takes a week or more.
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Official Leopard Gecko Freak

1:1 Leos - Gilean and Aurora (1:3 more on the way! WOO!)
2:0 Cats - Troi and Mitsu (shhhhh...don't tell them they're neutered!)
4:0 Betas - So pretty, yet so violent!
1:0 Husband - Eric (He's a lot of work, but it's worth it.)

Heh heh I love that myth. Watch the gecko when he attacks ... the worm wont be doing much of anything after being crushed and bent. Its safe. Just make sure the worms are the correct size for the lizard and that you only feed to "soft" ones. If it had a hard shell its ready to shed.
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1 hedgehog
10-20 leos (varies from one hatching to the next)
1 Pug
4 Firebellied toads
2 gold dust geckos