Do cresteds eat meal worms

[Air23Jordan]

Do cresteds eat meal worms???

[Sanskrit]

It depends on the gecko. Some of them eat mealworms but I recommend cutting the heads off before feeding. Their have been reports of the worms eating through the stomachs of lizards. I'm not sure if that's true but I figure it's worth the trouble.

[Flip]

My gecko always crunches it to peices before eating it. You cant feed them too much tho cause the guys at my pet store says it causes comstupation and dehydration.

[infernal_star]

Three things I'll point/add. Meal worms are high in fat, so if your gecko will eat them, I wouldn't use it as a staple food. Feeding your gecko mealworms could result in impaction also, but it's a low chance scenerio. Thirdy the roll of thumb I've heard about head removal is only on supers with animals that swallow whole. If the animal chews it's food vigoriously before swallowing, the super can't harm the stomach lining.

[DDReptiles]

Some of mine like them some don't I only use them to faten up breeding females though.

[infernal_star]

As Derrick hinted at, mealworms are high in fat and are not really a good staple. They also have a very small, but real chance of causing impaction. As far as I know Sanskrit, the only worms you have to cut the head off of is supers and that's only with animals that don't chew vigorously. For example, most Bearded Dragons don't have issuses with supers, but a few do. That's why I don't risk it with mine and just feed them mealies as treats instead.

[Chao0104]

Mine loves mealworms, although I reccomend you only feed them to your crested as a treat.You should feed it crix that have been gut-loaded to your crested for insect feeding.

[poison_iv]

mine won't touch them ... however they love wax worms, butter worms and silk worms ... they just have no interest in mealworms

[bleeding_sarcasm]

some of mine will. i offer mine small meal worms as a treat in addition to crickets, only because i have them around for my tremper leos. my hatchlings LOVE the tiny meal worms. i think its a bit easier for them to get. but the majority of my animals are complete pigs and will eat just about anything. except silk worms, and in that case, i dont really blame them.

[Chao0104]

It does'nt matter what worms I offer to my juvie, he chugs them down.

[geckos]

mealworms dont eat threw animal false i feed my leos w/ mealworms but no clue if crested eat them im buying one today i googles and eneded up lol.

[cassicat4]

Mealworms can't chew through the stomachs of reptiles - that's a fallacy.
There have been reports of superworms doing so, but the incidence is rare, and like it was mentioned, only in creatures that don't chew it well thereby not killing it before swallowing.

Mealworms do have a very real risk of impaction in crested geckos. The only time I ever feed them to mine is if they are fresh moults (pure white and soft) - that way, there's no crunchy exoskeleton to cause problems. Even with my Leos, I try to only feed them fresh moults as they're not the greatest chewers, and too many mealworms can cause impaction in Leos as well.

There have also been reports of butterworms causing problems in cresteds.

You'll really need to trust your instincts regarding what to feed. Do lots of reading and research online and see what many people have to say. Ultimately, it is a personal choice assuming it's an informed choice.

Personally, I choose only to feed mine crickets, the occasional waxworm, the occasional phoenix worm, and the very occasional mealworms when it comes to bugs. However, others may feed differently. Just know the possible risks inherent in each bug, and then decide from there.

[rhatfield]

I still remember getting a trio of geckos online. Came in just fine but they were eating, and there were no poops. I talked to a friend, dosed them with mineral oil - lube up the system - and the next day there were HUGE poops full of undigested meal worms. I have never feed meals worms.