Why Crickets are Better than Mealworms

[Zoe]

There might have been a post about this before, but I thought this was interesting.
For those of you who feed mealworms and not crickets, consider this: Note that I left out unimportant stats like ash and moisture, which were very similar between the two anyway.

Crickets:
Protein: 20.72
Fat: 5.74
mg/100g Calc.: 21.53
mg/kg Vit. C: 105.90
Dietary Fiber: 2.80
Calories/Fat: 51.66

Mealworms:
Protein: 18.65
Fat: 13.64
mg/100g Calc.: 3.28
mg/kg Vit. C: 38.10
Dietary Fiber: 2.00
Calories/Fat: 122.76

(http://www.angelfire.com/tx/facehugger/insect.html)

I think the stats speak for themselves, but basically crickets have more protein and dietary fibers, and WAY more calcium and vitamine C. Plus, they have way less fat and calories than mealworms do. All in all, mealworms are far less nutritious and far more fatty.

If you're feeding mealworms out of price difference (mealworms are usually cheaper), you'll find that crickets are actually less expensive, because unless you're feeding the superworms (stats are about the same as the normal ones, only more calc and less vit c... but they are mostly exo skelleton... not something you want your herps to be eating all the time), one large cricket is the size of like 5 adult regular mealworms.

If you're feeding mealworms because of the noise, well, I don't blame ya! I hate the sound crickets make!!! But at least they give the herps a run of their money (instead of just sitting in a bowl)

Zoe

[V.hb]

I think superworms are a great food source personally.. simple to gutload, for any lizard that digs they'l burrow deep giving them something to do..

I can throw a whole bag of mixed leafy greens into my superworms and it'l be gone within 3 hours..

[Zoe]

Yep, nothing wrong with mealies (especially a gutloaded one), but crix are more nutricious over all.

lol, when mine escape and burrow into the substrate, they usually reapear as beetles in my clothes :P

Zoe

[V.hb]

ever pickup one of those things? they let a stink go, it smells wierd.....

I never use regular mealworms, only zophobias (supers) the small ones are crap. Whenever i feed zophobias i always pick out freshly shed ones too they're alot softer and easier to digest.. yes i have to much free time........

[Zoe]

Yep, it's a good defense mechanism tho! And my chameleon doesn't care, he likes them anyway. Weird bugger, he'd rather eat gross beetles than mealworms.

I try and pick out frehsly shed ones too, but if I'm just placing them in a dish for the night it doesnt really make a difference. I only do it when I'm hand feeding the chameleons.

Zoe

[jay76]

Interesting... I remember back like a year ago I was told on another website (wasn't ks though) that crickets were nothing but a vehicle for gutloading and supplementation and were worth nothing in and of themselves. Good info Zoe

[anders_240sx]

I have heard of a study recently done (on leos) that they took 30 leos (all within the first 2 weeks of hatching) and divided them into 3 groups of ten : first group, fed completely mealworms daily(sitting in a dish of vitamin and mineral supplements), second group, fed a 50:50 weight ratio of crickets and mealworms (crickets were dusted and mealworms left in a dish of dust), The final group, fed solely on dusted crickets. Every group was fed the same weight (before dusting). After reaching sexual maturity (exactly one year for accurate study purposes), the first group had a mean weight of 82 grams and a mean lenght of 9.25 inches. The second group had a mean weight of 69 grams and a mean length of 9 inches. And the third group had a mean weight of 61 grams and a mean lenght or 8.9 inches. Now some will argue that genetics plays a role in size of the animal ... put from this study, they apparent randomy selcted 30 (normal, not morphed) leos. So take it for what you think its worth ... the stats may say crickets are more nutritious... but I am a firm beleiver in the fact that either mealworms, crickets, etc. they are all used to get the animal to take their vitamins and minerals .... I find more is ingested when they have to go for mealworms ... there is only so much dust that can go on crickets...... Thanks for your time ...
Anders

[Zoe]

Good point anders, but mealworms do have much more fat in them, which undoubtedly contribute to the weight of the animal. However, one must ask oneself, is it the good type of weight? If you feed a child cake and avocado and fatty beef for a year, it will weigh much more than a child who has been fed fiber cereal, apples and chicken. But the second is healthy.

Mealworms, of course, are healthy, but I do believe that crickets are healthier because they have so much more calcium and vitamins and protein... as opposed to mostly fat, which more than makes up for lack of dusting area

Zoe

[eyespy]

In my experience, leos fed on mostly mealworms reach adult size more quickly but also develop fatty liver disease at a much higher rate than leos fed on less fatty diets. They tend to live significantly shorter lifespans too.

Leos fed on mostly crickets eventually equal or even exceed the sizes that mealworm-mostly leos do, but it takes longer. Slow and steady growth produces fewer toxic metabolites than fast growth and is less likely to trigger immune system or joint problems.

[Siretsap]

It basically all comes down to what you will feed your crickets or mealworms. All the babies we feed, some will only or practically only eat mealworms and superworms. Up to now, they are much bigger than the babies who will mainly eat crickets. I never had a problem feeding exoskeleton insects to my geckos. I am aware that some people have had problems with it. But it's a case by case problem. I do find that the geckos are more active when they eat mealworms and superworms. I still give them crickets, but in my opinion they are not as good or less than mealworms or superworms.
And the studies made vary from a webcite to an other so it's give and take on those informations.

[Ron]

I think feeding mealworms is more of a convenience thing, I personally feed only mealworms mostly because I hate dealing with crickets.

It's tough to convince people to do the extra work for the well being of their animals. Look at dogs, there are raw fed Great Danes in Australia that are living to 15 years of age and the typical kibble feed Danes live to 8?????

I guess if I was shown that I was reducing my Leos life span in half I would reconsider my feeding practice....ackkk...dealing with crickets suck!

[Linds]

I was always under the impression that superworms (zoophobas... not giant mealworms) were much more nutritious than mealworms? I know they have far less chitin than mealies, and I believe also crix even? I rarely offer crickets to any of my guys, I hate crickets and there are enough alternatives IMHO to avoid feeding them if you wish. I offer them occassionally as a treat. I use superworms as a staple for my bug eating children and have been trying to get a hold of roaches as well since they are an excellent food source and much easier to breed than supers. I give my leos mealies as a treat a couple times a month, or if I happen to run out of supers they make a good backup..lol