SUPER WORM Issue

[beardedneato]

I am not trying to freak anyone out but I felt I should share the following information.

I just arrived home from the vet. I see a reptile specialist in Cincinnati Ohio.

Anyway he said something shocking. He says the reptile vets are seeing problems in beardies and other animals that are fed super worms. He and other vets believe that the super worms are now being fed hormones to make them grow bigger and this is causing our beardies health problems.

I would really appreciate it, if people would ask vets and anyone else who might have any information, If they have heard about this issue. MY Neato loves his supers but I will try to find a new feeder. He has been very, very sick and really feared I would lose him. I would hate to think it is from his feeders.

The vet never said the supers were the cause of his illness but he said at least 4 times that I should start to feed him smaller worms. Neato is 7 1/2 years old.

 

[Gail]

I've never heard of super worms being given hormones and all the ones I've raised reach the large size all on their own. There are however, mealworms that are given hormones to grow large. Most of the time they are sold as king mealworms but I have also seen them sold as superworms too.

 

[dylanravenj]

Yes I've also heard of the giant mealworms that are given hormones, not the supers. I hope this hormone thing isn't true because I've been giving Trey supers for two months now :shock:

 

[Claudiusx]

What exactly are the problems they are seeing with superworms?

To be honest it sounds again like ignorant vets.

If he tells you the problems he is seeing in beardies eating superworms, it would help us see if it is actually from superworms, or if they are from poor husbandry.

-Brandon

 

[jjh1]

All my beardies here on the west coast in Canada eat superworms and they are fine they come from an organic farm that raises them.
I buy 500 every 2 weeks have never had a problem and have started a colony of my own . I have asked the farm that the supers and all the bugs come from and they havent heard of this hormone problem here though they dont use them as they are certified organic.

But would be interested in seeing more information if you have some available from your herp vet...
Thanks
Joanne

 

[trinity040400]

If you are worried you could always breed your own supers too.

 

[Screamin99]

I live in Cincinnati.. My vet has said no such thing. My guy is 2 years old and has been having a hard time with going to the bathroom and eating greens. The we checked for Parasites and he was negative for everything. The vet said he looks good and that he didn't wanna run blood work that he looks great otherwise.

Curious as you your info and vet. I won't disclose my vet until I hear who or where you visit.

 

[beardedneato]

The vet is Dr Robert Dahlhausen in Milford.

When Neato had cancer last year Dahlhausen came highly recommended as the best exotics vet in the area. I have to drive about an hour to get to him. We took Neato all the way the the university of Tennessee for radiation treatments.

After doing some online research I wonder if he isn't talking about the "king or giant meal worms" Tenebrio molitor. Apparently they are often called superworms but they are refrigerated and are a different worm than the zophobas moro super worm that is killed if you refrigerate it. The Tenebrio molitor "Giant mealworms are treated with an insect growth hormone to make them bigger and to prevent them from pupating or turning into beetles".

SO i'm not really sure if he is talking about the giant meal worm or the zophobas moro super worm. When I looked online there were lots of discussions on how the giant meal worm is called a super worm at many stores/ pet suppliers.

I will have to call him to ask which worm he was warning me about.

 

[Screamin99]

When I was searching for a herp vet I don't recall seeing his name come up anywhere I will take note of this tho it is about the same distance as the vet I see now. How much are fecals at this office?

I don't know where your coming from, but The Animal Hospital on Mount Lookout Square is where I go.. I've been very happy with it. Dr. Paul Levitas is who I go to.

 

[Gail]

Could be that he doesn't know the difference between a giant mealworms and a superworm. If I go into almost any local pet store and ask for supers, I have a 50/50 chance of being sold giant mealies.

 

[beardedneato]

scream99

I'm not sure about the fecal cost. Those little things are usually done at my local vet. That office is only 14 minutes away, Milford is about an hour. She is really good with Neato but doesn't know as much as Dalhahlsen. I have heard of your vet and he is supposed to be really good. He was my other choice when Neato had cancer but Dalhahlsen was more known by my local vet for treating exiotics.

I really do believe the vet was referring to the giant mealworms that are often called superworms. The best way to tell the worms apart is their storage. If the container says refrigerate it is meal worms. Superworms cannot be refrigerated. I emailed the supplier of my worms and they said giant meal worms get a "SAFE" hormone and superworms DO NOT.