Crickets vs. Mealworms

Hey Guys,
So I have an adult normal male gecko who I always fed crickets... gut loaded and dusted, This summer I got a baby morph female who was on meal worms only. So turns out my adult male likes meal worms too... He likes food alot...fat lil guy. Anyway crickets really did annoy me any way because they often escaped the cricket keeper and were also difficult to keep alive, although when one would get out it was always funny to watch the cat chase it. Meal worms seem easier to keep alive and I have even recently started a colony. So whats the opinions on crickets vs meal worms and how many meal worms/ crickets do adults juvs and babys need and how often? ( I worry I over feed and hes fat)

You should not feed too many mealworms too often because they have a higher shell to meat ratio, meaning, they are more hard stuff than actual protein filled food. Roaches are the best out of the insect feeders, along with phoenix worms.

When younger animals are fed too many mealworms it can lead to impaction and death.

Mealworms are just fine as a staple, and I have done it that way for years, but only recently I have gone exclusively with roaches. The reason for the switch is I raise them in house by the tons and don't have to rely on anyone else's availability. Every now and then I will purchase more to expand extra colonies (never can have enough), but thats it. I say it really comes down to what you can get most readily. As mentioned by AkHerps there have been cases of mealies causing impaction, but I have yet to have it happen in my collecion(knock on wood). I do believe every feeder has a down side just weigh the pros and cons to see what is best suited for your needs.

Hey thanks for the opinions. I think Ill do a combo. I also recently read some roach postings and am also looking into them.

I agree with what Ga_herps states. I have a large colony of mealworms as well and at one time they were a staple. I now offer a variety to all my lizards, but feed mealworms more because I have way more.

I believe the issue with the chitin is poor husbandry. I'd imagine if your temps are not right, then they may have a hard time digesting the shell. I know two breeders that exclusively start their baby leos on mealworms.

If you read other forums though, they will say your gecko is going to die. That's one big reason why I removed myself from those other lizard forums. I understand that they want the best for every gecko, but when you have a gecko that won't eat crickets and other options are not long-term viable (read expensive) then you do what you have to do.

I heard phoenix worms are great too.

I`v a colony of roaches on the go as there main diet but still feed my Gecko`s Meal Worms, Locust, Moro and for a treat Wax Worms every now and then.


Breading the roaches is the way to go :)

I have always fed my leos mainly on meal worms I occasionally feed crickets but mainly just because it is fun to watch them "hunt" the crickets. The only real problem I ever had with mealworms is that sometimes hatchlings don't eat them because they don't move a whole lot but I used mini mealworms they are just a different species of mealworms that stay really small and are really active. they are a little harder to keep alive but I only used them to get hatchlings used to eating worms out of a dish then switched to regular mealworms. As far as amounts of mealworms to feed I usally tried to offer 10 mealworms (size of worm depending on size of gecko) every other day

I was doing crickets, then went to mealworms and superworms, but have recently switched to mouse pinkies and they seem healthier then ever....they have developed quite a feeding response but im used to tegus so i just think its funny when the leos think theyr tuff :taz:

I use mealworms for my leos, with occasional superworms and waxworms, and sometimes crickets.
10 every other day is a good amount to feed leos.

I usually throw in some carrots to gutload the worms. Anyone have any other suggestions?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nachash

I usually throw in some carrots to gutload the worms. Anyone have any other suggestions?

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Carrots do not gutload! They are just a convenient way to hydrate the bugs. I use ProGecko's ProGutload. I use to use Flukers gutload, but switched because of cost.

huh, really?

I used to use flukers and switched mainly because of costs and also because i figured a healthy vegetable would have a similar if not the same effect.

I assume the professional gutloads are therefore composites of many ingredients?

If you could, walk me through your process. I might not be doing the whole nine yards, and I want to make sure.

I send away for 1000 meal worms and keep them in a tub of Breakfast cereal, mostly Bran flakes and let them reproduce. I throw in carrots every week as a water source. This lasts me for a year or more and then I buy another 1000 meal worms for $18 or $20.
Every once and a while I buy a few dozen crickets or super worms for a dietary variety.
I always have calcium in a dish available to the leos.

This sounds like a low maintenance idea for supplying fresh mealies
I just have a few questions
you don't refrigerate or anything? do you separate the different life stages? what kind of tub?
I have about four animals that could eat mealies, would this method give me too much?
Thanks

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nachash

huh, really?

I used to use flukers and switched mainly because of costs and also because i figured a healthy vegetable would have a similar if not the same effect.

I assume the professional gutloads are therefore composites of many ingredients?

If you could, walk me through your process. I might not be doing the whole nine yards, and I want to make sure.

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You want to gutload with nutritional foods. Carrots only supply the vatamins and minerals that are found in carrots, and a some sugars and fiber I guess. They also need protein and some fat. You want to pass that nutrition on to your animals.

Here's what I do/did for mealworms and supers. Ratio of 3 parts bedding to 1 part gut load. I would use wheat bran for bedding, super cheap ($1 a pound most places). Mix it up and put your worms in it. Every couple days add some carrot, potato, apple, etc. for moisture. If you see some of the bedding mold, keep the moisture down by adding more air circulation and destroy the part of bedding that has molded.

If possible, I'd switch to roaches if you can. They really made a difference for my reptiles.

Hi everyone,

I feed mealworms exclusively and have never had a problem. I can't stand crickets, the smell and constant cleaning and watering is worse then the geckos! I also don't like the crickets being left inside the cage with a gecko because they can feed on the fecies and multiply a disease/problem and they can also chew on your gecko. My advice if you feed crickets, make sure there are none ever left in the cage, and/or add a small piece of fruit inside the cage for the cricket to chew on instead of your gecko.

As for the mealies, I buy about 50k to 75k at a time. Next year it will go over 150k at a time. I place the mealies in large Sterilite containers filled with oatbran in the fridge and keep them cool until I am ready to use them. About a week before I know I am going to feed that mealworm group out, I warm them up to room temps and feed them different fruits and veggies to help gutload them prior to feeding them to my geckos. I then place them into a calcium dish inside the cage and when the gecko feeds it eats the calcium as well as the feeder. About once a week I swap out the calcium for a vitamin dish.

Example of how we feed mealies:
http://www.geckobabies.com/2010/2010_011.jpg

Be careful with using only carrots to gutload your feeders. Carrots at small levels are ok, but at a higher level can interfere with the calcium absorption. I would mix it up some with apples, yams, romaine lettuce etc.

HTH!