Mealworms

[tempusfugit]

Well usually when someone makes a claim that totally goes against the norm, its good practice to back it up.

-Brandon

roflcopter.. I said ignore me!

The norm would be sandfire dragon ranch, petco, petsmart, and the MAJORITY of bd resellers using sand - now make good on your practice and back something up

 

[Claudiusx]

I back it up with over a decade of experience and the experience of thousands others on this site.
Your turn.

-Brandon

 

[tempusfugit]

I back it up with over a decade of experience and the experience of thousands others on this site.
Your turn.

-Brandon

lol no you totally win bro. I've seen your zombies turn overnight from mealworms, red light, sand, no uvb to proper bd.org soldiers.. Your thousands on this site are all feeding from the same trough. All the companies I mentioned are insignificant and ONLY go off of outdated care sheets, and have done no research on their own...

comedy

 

[tempusfugit]

Oh, and zoomed did just enough research to make the reptisun tube the perfect light, but all their other lights cause eye infection and don't put out enough uvb... The parrots said so, it must be true

 

[Claudiusx]

You are still not backing anything up.

At this point I am just trying to ignore the sarcasm in your posts and trying to pick out what I can to have a meaningful conversation with you.

What I don't understand, is it seems to me that every thing we recommend on this site, you disagree with? Can you at least mention how many years (months?) experience you have with dragons?

I don't understand why you are so dead set on disagreeing with everything this site recommends.
EG. Sand, red lights, uvb lights, feeding.

-Brandon

 

[tempusfugit]

Aaaaand since this site has outlived its usefullness..

10 years from now you'll all probably realize you killed more dragons with your ridiculous feeding regiments, than sand, mealworms, bad uvb, or any other husbandry combined

 

[Claudiusx]

OK seriously, you are talking a lot but not backing anything up.
Please post how long you have been caring for bearded dragons.

-Brandon

 

[tattykassy]

My only point was that variety is best and to use your head in reguards to what to feed. There is no one food out there that is going to hit all the nutritional bases, same goes for people. Its a variety blended together that gives you the best nutritional cocktail.
I personally did not say that mealworms are going to kill your dragon, all I said is that its not wise to feed them exclusively, just as its not best to feed nothing but crickets exclusively.
Whatever choice you make is really your own, you make your own decisions based on data that you are able to gather from other's experiences, not just relying on what "scientists" say because quite honestly science changes all the time.
One year its good to eat eggs suddenly its bad to eat eggs, etc. Really nobody has died from an egg(other then allergies), rather just from eating too many proteins and fats without a healthy balance.
If you want to feed nothing but mealworms, thats fine. Its your choice, I don't think anybody should scold you for that.
However, if people want to make their opinion that mealworms are a bad choice, you really shouldn't get angry at that. In the end, its their choice. It deserves the same respect that you expect to receive for your opinion.
I guess for me, personally, I like the idea of people making their own choices, even if I think they are a poor one. I'm sure alot of people think I make poor choices. In the end I'm the one that has to face consequences for my own decisions, I just don't expect others to feel sorry for me or try to bail me out when the cards come down. I would hope that others would not expect me to do that for them, either.

Choices are important, I think that all that people want is to hear from a large number of people so that they can formulate their own choice based on group data. If you disagree with their opinions, that is fine, make your own choice.
But don't get angry at others that make a choice different from your own. THAT, to me, is disrepectful.

 

[dylanravenj]

Well I don't hear of people's dragons on here dying from "ridiculous feeding regiments" so

 

[MrWhite]

Your thousands on this site are all feeding from the same trough.

well, thank god "our" trough doesn't have mealworms in it as a steady diet, the chitin makes my bowels irritable

All the companies I mentioned are insignificant and ONLY go off of outdated care sheets, and have done no research on their own...

the funny part is, I'm noticing that the petco/petsmart around here are switching around their setups to be more like the recommended setups on this site .... I wonder if they are doing research or just listening to the recommendations on this site ....

comedy

certainly is when you have one person that disagrees with every single "recommendation" by anyone because they don't have hard scientific facts ... I think that's why they are called "recommendations"

BTW, I'm in full agreement with tattykassy, that mealworms should not be a diet staple but could be added for variety.

 

[MissT]

Oh, and zoomed did just enough research to make the reptisun tube the perfect light, but all their other lights cause eye infection and don't put out enough uvb... The parrots said so, it must be true

I watched my beardie stagger around, temporarily blinded by a Zoomed Powersun UV bulb. That was proof enough for me. I was the one whos thread was made a global announcement on here when it happened. Other people realised their issues coincided with them switching to the powersun. The old powersun was fine but then they changed the coating on the bulb which caused the problems.
Lilacdragon tested a number of these bulbs and found problems with them. When her website is back online, Im sure the info will be there, as it was before she began updating.

And to the OP, you are feeding mealworms as PART of their diet. You are not feeding a 10 inch beardie 50 mealworms per day over a long period of time.

On the sand discussion, issues with impaction are usually found when using calcium sand. That is why most people here will say that you *can* use washed and sifted playsand much more safely if that is what you wish to do.

 

[Drache613]

May I remind everyone of the forum rules! If this type of discussion continues, this thread will be locked and warnings will be sent out accordingly.

Thank you.
Tracie

 

[ataraxia]

sorry all. this has gone into some places not meant to go.

1. This thread was to give a chance for those that state they will cause impaction to provide relevant sources to back the statements.
* I know this was not going to happen because it is a false statement.
2. I in no way shape or form said mealworms are to be used as a staple with bearded dragons specifically. Ask me what i think about leopard geckos and i will give you another answer. The replies i do see on this forum as someone has pointed out is that people are blind followers. I do see a bunch of replies about mealworms being this problem causing insect. When in fact they are far from it. They are to be used moderately and along with other feeders in a diversified regiment.
3. Mealworms used as snacks or moderately within a feeder regiment WILL NOT cause your dragon harm. For those that believe this, again are new keepers and or blind followers.
4. Someone in this thread said how a pet store sells things. I do own a pet store and will give you the best advice you can find hands down. I will tell you the pro's and con's to anything i have knowledge to. I am here for the animals well being not to make a buck off of junk or misinformation. Any customers of mine or anyone that personally talks to me knows this. Anyone here in indiana is welcome to pm me for details to the location of my shop. You will enjoy my zoo

MissT- Did i mention using mealworms in excessive amounts with bearded dragons? please quote me if i did.

claudiusx - Im not sure if i understand your stand point exactly. Are you needing info to back up mealworms are ok to feed in a diversified regiment?

tempusfugit - You have hit the nail right on the head. Whether others have the experience to recognize this.

Beardednoob - You asked "what is my stand on calcium sand". My experience with calcium sand as a substrate is exclusive to leopard geckos and bearded dragons. I will first start off with saying calcium sand is fine if used properly. it needs to be replaced regularly. Personally i never have had an issue with impaction from sand. I do however container feed all feeders within habitats with substrate. The occasional escape artist gets out of the container and is eaten in a free range type setting. However i personally believe that for a bearded dragon to get impacted from calcium sand. Other husbandry issues will be in direct effect causing this.

 

[Claudiusx]

No, I stand my point of being that I believe mealworms to be a god awful feeder, and say Yes, they can cause impaction in younger dragons.

-Brandon

 

[Beardednoob]

What is your goal with this thread?