Meal Worms/Super Worms

[GazB1984]

Hi All, Hope everyone has had a lovely Christmas and I hope you have a lovely new year. Today I spent 8 hours with a bearded dragon vet who also breeds them with 20+ years experience to gain further knowledge. I asked the question about feeding mealworms and superworms and this is what I was told. Mealworms and Superworms should be fed with a variety of other bugs not as a staple. Superworms are actually better nutritionally than mealworms but superworms should only really be used when an adult due to there size. Mealworms and Superworms do not cause impaction. The actual outer skeleton of the worm is a high fibre layer that actually helps your dragon internally help with digestion. Sorry if this has bored you to death but I hear horror stories about meal worms or superworms. Again mealworms and superworms should not be used as a staple diet but actually have alot of benefits.

Happy New Year All

 

[AHBD]

Hi there, yes mealworms + superwoms are O.K in moderation and the supers are more nutritious. However they can cause impaction when fed to smaller dragons and/or are the most common feeder insect to be vomited after a meal. Just Google bearded dragon threw up meal or superworms.

I've owned + raised b.d's since the 1990's and had experience in raising lootttts of babies. Mealworms are not a good item to feed them until they are a little older because just in case they eat a few too many and they vomit, it will affect a baby much more than it would an adult.

Of course having the proper lighting and heat are key to proper digestion so that's a huge actor.

 

[xp29]

Hi All, Hope everyone has had a lovely Christmas and I hope you have a lovely new year. Today I spent 8 hours with a bearded dragon vet who also breeds them with 20+ years experience to gain further knowledge. I asked the question about feeding mealworms and superworms and this is what I was told. Mealworms and Superworms should be fed with a variety of other bugs not as a staple. Superworms are actually better nutritionally than mealworms but superworms should only really be used when an adult due to there size. Mealworms and Superworms do not cause impaction. The actual outer skeleton of the worm is a high fibre layer that actually helps your dragon internally help with digestion. Sorry if this has bored you to death but I hear horror stories about meal worms or superworms. Again mealworms and superworms should not be used as a staple diet but actually have alot of benefits.

Happy New Year All

Variety is the key. It don't matter insect of choice, if that's all that's fed deficiencies, and boredom of food will happen. Also issues such as gout (with to many dubuas being fed protein) can happen with over feeding of one insect variety.
A good diet will include multiple insect varieties including supers and mealies. And of course a variety of greens as well.
That is good info you provided btw

 

[GazB1984]

Hi there, yes mealworms + superwoms are O.K in moderation and the supers are more nutritious. However they can cause impaction when fed to smaller dragons and/or are the most common feeder insect to be vomited after a meal. Just Google bearded dragon threw up meal or superworms.

I've owned + raised b.d's since the 1990's and had experience in raising lootttts of babies. Mealworms are not a good item to feed them until they are a little older because just in case they eat a few too many and they vomit, it will affect a baby much more than it would an adult.

Of course having the proper lighting and heat are key to proper digestion so that's a huge actor.

I mentioned that about the throwing up and he said that because they are a feeder that do not need to be hunted the bearded dragon will just continue to eat until they do throw up. It's not due to impaction it's due to the bearded dragon eating more than they can hold. When they eat prey like locust and crickets they have to chase there food so when full they just can't be bothered. I hope that makes sense

 

[AHBD]

That's more just an opinion the vet came up with. We feed our dragons in bowls and free range and if feeder insects are too large or fed too many they may vomit any of the insects. But it's still the mealie + superworms that can cause the problem most often.

ETA, that's also why it's very important to not feed them too many bugs at once and to be sure they are a proper size. Little dragons need little insects.

 

[GazB1984]

That's more just an opinion the vet came up with. We feed our dragons in bowls and free range and if feeder insects are too large or fed too many they may vomit any of the insects. But it's still the mealie + superworms that can cause the problem most often.

Good to know, thank you

 

[AHBD]

You're welcome ! BTW how is Lizzy doing ? We like pictures here if you have any but no pressure of course.

 

[GazB1984]

You're welcome ! BTW how is Lizzy doing ? We like pictures here if you have any but no pressure of course.

She is all good now, she is eating again no problem, thank you for asking

 

[AHBD]

She's a pretty girl ! Looks like she's enjoying a healthy salad there. Was she off her food for a while ?

BTW, beardies love to climb so if you don't mind I'd suggest getting her a nice big log or branches to climb on .

 

[GazB1984]

She's a pretty girl ! Looks like she's enjoying a healthy salad there. Was she off her food for a while ?

BTW, beardies love to climb so if you don't mind I'd suggest getting her a nice big log or branches to climb on .

She had antibiotics for pin worm so went off her food, she is ok now. That video of her eating greens is few and far between she is a pain for eating her greens at the mo. She has a bridge and big log in the warm side, but was actually thinking today should I get one for the centre of her tank.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

She does look very vibrant there, great colors!
Hopefully she will start eating her greens more especially if she starts feeling better!
At least she is finished with her medications now, that helps with her overall digestion
too.
That is terrific you were able to spend the day with the vet, for more knowledge & some
experience also!

Tracie

 

[Claudiusx]

Moved by Moderator from General to Feeding

 

[Sue E.]

Beautiful and healthy looking dragon she is!