Meal worms and Berdies

[Snorkette]

Hi guys,

Just a quick question.

Can I feed Meal Worms to my beardie??
I keep on getting different answers to this.
Freddy is 10 months old, a good size and absolutely loves them.

so is it alright or not??

 

[ravan]

sparingly.... i give mine every couple of months as a treat.

 

[GeckoJosh]

Yeah they love them, just not all the time as they are a bit fatty

 

[Tristan]

Yeah they love them, just not all the time as they are a bit fatty

because they are fatty?, i thought it was because of the low nutritional value and the difficultly of digesting there shell

 

[GeckoJosh]

because they are fatty?, i thought it was because of the low nutritional value and the difficultly of digesting there shell

The low nutritional value is because they are fatty, also if beardies are kept at appropriate temps they digest them just fine

 

[Snorkette]

Yes Tristan,
I got told that hatchlings and up to 6mo had difficultly digesting shells, but I have been told that if they are eatern whole, they can borrow through them inside out.

 

[GeckoJosh]

Yes Tristan,
I got told that hatchlings and up to 6mo had difficultly digesting shells, but I have been told that if they are eatern whole, they can borrow through them inside out.

Do you have any evidence to support this?
My dragons eat them all the time, yet to have one eat its eat its way out lol

 

[Tristan]

ah ok cheers geckoman,

snorkette, i have been told about the burrowing thing as well but believe this is bs as the stomach acids etc would kill the worm first, also i don't think i have even seen a worm get eaten whole lol

 

[Chris1]

tristan, the shell is a problem for babies, since cos theyre so small and their intestine walls are very delicate and can rupture from blockages. at 10 months old they wont cause immpactions unless it totally stuffs itself stupid on them and only them. (ive also had that happen with adult roaches wings so too much of anything with chitin CAN but probably wont cause probs when theyre a decent size, mine wasnt hugely impacted, i saw her straining and managed to pull the bit that was protruding,..then the rest came thru, lol,..).
the low nutritional value is why they shouldnt be used as a STAPLE, it would be like you eating hot chips for every meal

and as geckoman said, fat is going to be the biggest problem at his age since beardies dont process it well and too much of any fat, (or even too many veges that make ur beardy fat) will lead to fatty liver disease and the lizard will die young.

theyre fine as a treat, just a few a few times a week,...

 

[GeckoJosh]

Yes they are a little bit harder to digest than some other foods, but as long as you take this into account and dont do things like feed them late in the day or give them 100 in one sitting they will be fine,
Sorry I should have mentioned before that I was talking about older beardies, juvenile beardies can get impacted alot easier than adults and as Chris mentioned it can happen with just about any insect

 

[Snorkette]

Nar Geckoman no evidence. I thought it Bs as well!!
Thanks to everone again for your all your info.
I guess Freddy will only be having them once every month now.
Don't need an obese beardie

 

[GeckoJosh]

Nar Geckoman no evidence. I thought it Bs as well!!
Thanks to everone again for your all your info.
I guess Freddy will only be having them once every month now.
Don't need an obese beardie

Yeah dont worry I was told that as well about them eating into the stomach by a local frog and reptile shop, plenty of people have fallen for that rumour