Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i've had 3 pacman babies for about 3 days, i offered them small mealworms on sunday... are mealworms ok for babies, or do i need to feed crickets?

Mealworms and/or crickets are an okay food item provided that they are supplemented with a good vitamin/mineral supplement and have been fed and given water for at least 48 hours (and preferably 72 hours) before feeding out.

With the small frogs you can get bette growth and health by also offering them small fish such as livebearers or rosey reds (just check to make sure that they do not use a copper treatment for the feeders before you buy any) as this provides a excellant source of protien and calcium for the froglets.

I would not use goldfish as they are high in cholesterol and other saturated fats. When choosing fish to use, livebearers, cold/cool water and marine fish appear to have a better fat profile.

If you use frozen thawed fish then you need to also supplement with thiamine as this will be deficient in frozen thawed fish.

You can also use pinks as an occasional meal but as these are nutrient dense they should be offered infrequently.

Ed

I've heard and read that, at least some, herps cannot digest the exoskeleton of meal worms which could lead to impaction? Is that not a concern with the pacs?

Mealworms tend to have a higher amount of exoskelton (chitin) in relation to the rest of the insect than other insects. (Now this applies more to regular mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) than King Mealworms (Zoophobas) as they (T. molito) are smaller so they have a greater chitin content). If they are fed in excess there are records of impactions due to the amount of chitin but if they are fed in moderation there shouldn't be any more risk than feeding them most other insects with respect to the impaction..

Ed