Mealworms

[applesaging]

I need a link where it says mealworms are good for your beardie.

 

[ataraxia]

That is correct they cant show records BUT they can present expert opinions based on clincal observations and cases if your in need of relevant links to vets providing information from clinical observation and cases. i will be glad to provide you doctor ivan alfonso blogs among others. i can also provide you studies of bugs in relation to certain reptiles..

apples - Your link made me laugh thank you. heres some links you requested with vets of all people who would know if meal worms truely cause impaction. Can you believe they actually recommend them!! LOL and some take the advice from just any random someone that can be 9yrs old with 1 month experience.

Veternarian links (just a few):
http://www.canobievet.com/animalcare/beardeddragon.pdf
http://cvm.msu.edu/hospital/services/nutrition-support-service-1/client-education/care-and-feeding-of-bearded-dragons
http://www.exoticpetvet.com/breeds/iguanadragons.htm
http://www.corhs.org/CoRHS_Bearded_Dragon_Care_Guide.pdf

Just random care sheet link:
http://www.bearded-dragon-food.com/

 

[Beardednoob]

http://cvm.msu.edu/hospital/services/nutrition-support-service-1/client-education/care-and-feeding-of-bearded-dragons
"mealworms (less nutritious, hard chitin)"
"Iceberg lettuce is not recommended because it might cause diarrhea which may result in dehydration."
This site also refers it's users to bd.org

http://www.exoticpetvet.com/breeds/iguanadragons.htm
This one has too much wrong information in almost all sections to be deemed viable.

http://www.bearded-dragon-food.com/
"I only feed my Bearded dragons mealworms when they are hatchlings, because as adults they can be slightly tougher to digest due to their thicker exoskeleton."


Other sources of interest may be
http://www.anapsid.org/constipation.html

http://www.beardeddragoncare.net/live-feeder-insects-for-bearded-dragons/
"please be careful when feeding little baby bearded dragons. It is not recommended to feed them with mealworms due to the hard shell that may cause impaction."

http://mybeardie.com/bearded-dragon-diet-feeding
"Mealworms are generally not recommended due to the amount of difficult-to-digest chitin in their exoskeletons."


Can we not come to terms. There should be rules set in place regardless if you cannot except one being generalized for health precautions.
For every box there is an inside and outside. Which are we inside or outside of the box and which are you? It doesn't matter.

 

[MrWhite]

ok so I was poking around looking for vet site only to find out what they say about mealies. I was searching for "bearded dragon mealworm impaction vets" to try to weed out the average forum poster.

http://www.eagleanimalvet.com/veterinary_topics/c_348_bearded_dragons.html
"They are prone to impaction of their digestive system, and the chitinous exoskeletons of insect prey can cause problems. This is especially true of crunchy bugs like mealworms - so it is best to feed these in limited quantities."

http://www.bestfriendsvethosp.com/exotic_care.html
"Impactions occur from eating bedding such as sand, and when small Beardys eat large mealworms. Fatal perforations have occurred when mealworms are swallowed alive."

http://www.nbvethospital.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=58&Itemid=72
"Mashing or crushing up food into smaller pieces is essential in young lizards, as they will eat larger food, often resulting in intestinal impaction and death.

DO NOT FEED MEAL WORMS TO YOUNG DRAGONS! Mealworms are potentially hazardous to small animals."


now I'm sure there are plenty of vet sites that say mealworms are fine, that's why we are having this discussion. Hopefully, people will read through this discussion and will be properly informed so they can make their own educated choice

 

[ataraxia]

Beardednoob - First link: wax worms are right beside it also. I believe they are considered a snack that no one jumps the gun for. iceberg lettuce "MIGHT" cause diarrhea.

Third link: Right, they are saying they only feed young meal worms or newly shed meal worms BUT they still feed them right?

Forth Link - Good link.

Fifth and sixth link: Both are as good as any other random site. In the same category as bearded-dragon-food.com that i listed. Any person can erect a web site and post info.

Yes we all have our own opinion. Some base it off of experience and some base it off of reading material.

-------------------------------------------------------

Mr White - First link: They say limited quantities. They are not condemning these.

Second Link: They are also suggesting perforation caused from ingesting them live. I'm not sure if this can be totally warranted as good info.

They also say Liver disease from eating moldy crickets can occur. UH oh!

Third link: They only warn not to feed young ones meal worms.

Your last paragraph is a good one.

 

[trinity040400]

Well just had to chime in here, I agree kinda with both sides. Would I feed my baby bearded dragon mealworms? No. Would I feed my sub-adult mealworms? Probably not. But I think the fundamental thing that is brought to light is correct, why do you beleive mealworms are bad? Because someone told you? Who said so and are they just talking out their butt or do they have some credability? I have seen people on here site wikipedia as a source before. In my english class we get a automatic F if we use wikipedia since anyone can write anything they want on it, not reliable. I am a bio major and I am planing to become a marine biologist. All this thread does is to get me wondering what the facts are and makes me want to discover the truth for my self.
In the end I wont take the chance with my pets health and I would inform others that there is some question about how safe mealworms are. Better safe then sorry, but I dont think it is a bad thing to question why.

Well thats my 2 cens anyway and when I graduate I will try to find the answers to these questions. :mrgreen:

P.S. Honestly I really HATE mealworms and would never tell anyone to use them.......I guess I'm torn :mrgreen:

 

[Claudiusx]

But I think the fundamental thing that is brought to light is correct, why do you beleive mealworms are bad? Because someone told you? Who said so and are they just talking out their butt or do they have some credability?

This is just my take on the situation - I am pretty sure everyone who has posted on here is in fact speaking on behalf of their own experiences.

-Brandon

 

[Beardednoob]

This is hear say but, my sister just came here from Oregon. She was telling me of a friend who got her daughter a dragon. A few weeks later the people went on vacation and left the dragon with friends. When they had come back the dragon was dead. It's diet was crickets and mealworms. As I do not know all the variables I cannot vouch for basking temp, UV, bathing, amount fed etc...

That brings up a point I have tried to make numerous times and I feel has been pushed aside. OP stated something along the lines that mealworm impaction in a healthy dragon is a myth. I get that but, no one can go to anyone's house and ensure everything is correct. It leave room for error and I would not want to be the one to recommend a feeder that can cause health issues when I do not know all factors involved.

 

[trinity040400]

My thought is if there is a chance why risk it? But I would still like to do a study on it someday.

 

[Claudiusx]

Usually when it comes to the health of a dragon, that saying is key.

IF there is a chance, why risk it?

But of course, that shouldn't prevent you from wanting to find out the truth. But, when it comes down to it, I think its irresponsible to recommend (or even mention) something that has a risk, especially to a new dragon owner who has no clue about proper husbandry.

-Brandon

 

[trinity040400]

This is just my take on the situation - I am pretty sure everyone who has posted on here is in fact speaking on behalf of their own experiences.

-Brandon

I would hope so but I think people like to copy what others say without personaly knowlage. Dont get me wrong not bashing the site and I agree with not feeding mealworms just in case but from experiance in other places alot of people who are new to something like to take what they are told and run with it. You could tell some people that the sky is brown in Antartica and they would start telling everyone they know "Hey did you know the sky is brown in Antartica?"

I know I'm not really adding anything here I just like to pose questions and get people thinking. Sorry if anyone thinks this is trublesome, I dont mean to be. :mrgreen:

 

[trinity040400]

But of course, that shouldn't prevent you from wanting to find out the truth. But, when it comes down to it, I think its irresponsible to recommend (or even mention) something that has a risk, especially to a new dragon owner who has no clue about proper husbandry.

-Brandon

True there is no point confussing people since the internet is confussing enough as it is. Better to think on these questions when they get the hang of beardies and can at that point make a better informed decision.
Not for newbees who are probable already dealing with a bunch of other issues at the time.
Lol Im a newbee myself :laughhard:

 

[Claudiusx]

I would hope so but I think people like to copy what others say without personaly knowledge.

Actually that is one of my pet peeves. I am also on another forum where you actually get banned if you post advice without first getting verified for your knowledge by the board administrators.

Their motto is, "you are hear to learn. And if you have enough experience, come show us and we will decide if you do. If you see an answer that you know you can answer, dont. Leave it for the guys who are trusted to give advice."

I might have given advice on here before without any experience a few times, but for the most part if I have no experience with something, I help with what I can, and for the rest, I just say Im sorry but I have no experience with that so I can't help you.

Ugh, sounds like im putting myself up high and mighty, I am sorry thats not my intentions, was just trying to make my point on this thread that I am posting out of experience, not out of what I have heard someone else say.

-Brandon

 

[Beardednoob]

The sky is brown in Antarctica? :shock:
Shoot I need to go tell someone, their gonna freak out.

 

[Claudiusx]

The sky is brown in Antarctica? :shock:
Shoot I need to go tell someone, their gonna freak out.

I don't get it...

lol.

-Brandon