Why shouldn't I trust feeders from big huge Pet stores

[HeatherRose]

I want to try breeding mealworms but my parent's don't like the idea....can anyone give me some good arguments on why buying feeders from big chains that shall remain nameless itsn't a good idea?

Thanks

[Snake_Hunter]

Well cause it costs money for gas to go to the store and its time consuming and then you have to pay for the food and then you have to spend more money on gas to get back home, and because you'll have to make the trip at least once a week, and on top of all that the food could contain parasites that are harmful to your animal and that they aren't the ones that have to run the breeding farm so why the hell do they have a problem with it. Anyways hope that helps ya out.

Andrew

:groove:

[reverendsterlin]

are you thinking regular mealworms or Zophobas morio the superworm? The superworms are a bit harder to successfully breed and raise, so it could be thought of as a learning experience to work on your ability to husband more difficult species. lol but still sounds like a load of BS

[HeatherRose]

regular mealworms :)

[Edwin]

Aside from the cost, you can never tell what they have been fed. By breeding your own, you at least have control over what goes inside them and subsequently into your herp.

Besides, breeding mealworms is so much easier in comparison to crickets and rats. They dont need much space and attention.

[Linds]

Quality control ;) You don't know how those were raised, what kind of contaminants they have come into contact with the store, or via the person handling them (who knows what diseases have been passed from the store animals onto their hands?).

[Lisa]

I don't have any meal worms but i can relate, I always balked at the idea of raising rats and mice. now i find it way cheaper and our stuff is way nicer then anything we've bought.

[eyespy]

I've actually seen pet store employees take uneaten prey items out of cages and put the critters back in the bins and that leads to all sorts of contamination issues, from parasites to bacteria and fungal and viral infections.

[SnowFoxx]

I know they "what they are fed" thing has already been mentioned, but I will be more specific. At large chain pet stores, crickets are usually fed egg cartons. EGG CARTONS. That means your reptile is getting a belly full of cardboard with every meal. That has absolutely no nutritional value, which means that it is actually harmful to the health of your herps to feed pet store crickets. Meal worms are no different. They are fed the cheapest crap possible in order to keep them alive until they are bought. If you can breed your own (yuck) go for it!! Gut-load them with all sorts of yummy vitamins for your babies to eat, and they will thank you (your babies *and* the worms...until they get eaten, anyway;))

- Victoria :w

[krrc]

how bout buying your feeders from a good local reptile shop? (if you have one) it suports them even if it's alittle more money.

BTW I would breed my own feeders rather than by them from ANY chain store. who whats to support that garbage. :)

[HeatherRose]

Alright guys thanks...I've started to breed them! lol mealies are so cool.....(I'm a little too excited about it)

Heather