Wax Worms

[ThEmAdHaTtEr]

Hey guys, Went to petsmart today and bought some wax worms. I got 50. Anyway, they kept them in the fridge so they are not moving. Are wax worms alright for Leo's and Beardies? (I know that should have been in the Lizard forum). If so, how can I breed them? Im sick of going to get crix every other day. Thanks all.

[Kat]

Waxworms are alright for leo's and beardies but not as a staple, or everyday for that matter. They're really fatty and can lead to fat lizards if fed to much (imagine them as twinkies for us). Just keep them as a treat or like 1-2 every few days! :)

[ThEmAdHaTtEr]

Thanks! What about meal worms? Can those be a full-diet thing? I just need something I can breed and my parents wont lemme breed crix cuz theyre really noisy. Anyway, I heard mealies can burrow through the reptiles stomach and such if they dont bite the head correctly. Thanks again all!

[eyespy]

That mealworm thing is an urban legend, don't worry about that. However, they do have one of the hardest exoskeletons of any feeder and are not recommended for beardies under 12 inches total length, even when freshly molted. Leos do a little better with them as their guts are more acidic but they still aren't the best staple. If you are able to find small superworms (Zoophobas) they have a lower impaction risk.

If the initial cost doesn't bother you I've heard that some folks are having great success breeding silkworms. I breed lobster cockroaches myself, but if your parents are anti-cricket they might hate the roach idea too.

[Linds]

Wax worms are not recommended as s taple, they are high in fat and can be very addictive to reptiles. They are often kept in refrigerators at stores, they should be creamy white, not brown in appearance. They are just hibernating in this case, and will come to life with a little bot of warmth. You will see them start to move within a short while of being in your hand. As for mealies being a staple, they can be sufficient. A few of our leos are pretty picky and will only eat mealies. I wouldn't recommend them being a staple for beardies however.

[Bryce Masuk]

i would breed superworms since they are close to crix in nutrition and food is around all year and mulberry bushes dont have leaves all year around