 | Posted by: | Debbie, delliott@telocity.com | | Subject: | giant mealworms | | When: | 10:54 PM, 30 Nov 2000 | | IP: | 216.227.111.97 |
The first mealworms I bought were about an inch long tops. Those were the kind you keep in the fridge and I am told (by the pet store owner) they were beetle larvae. He also owns glider(s) and sold me the kind of mealworms he feeds his. These are REALLY big, about 3-4 times the size of the others, are kept only at room temp and are millipede larvae.
Now, the obvious difference is that I'll only feed one of the big ones 2-3 times per week instead of 2-3 of the little ones. Anything else I should know about the difference between these two?
Thank you for your patience. There just seems to be more and more surprises at every turn!
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| Posted by: | IrishCreme | | Subject: | none | | When: | 11:31 PM, 30 Nov 2000 | | IP: | 209.71.89.48 |
These 'room temp' buggies are actually not giant mealworms (Tenebrio) - they're Superworms (Zoophorba).
These are actually 2 different species; therefore they each offer different nutritional values...
I have the info. here somewhere - just have to find the links to their values (which could take a bit of time).
| Posted by: | Robin, 4dbirdie@bellsouth.net | | Subject: | none | | When: | 12:16 PM, 01 Dec 2000 | | IP: | 208.61.135.10 |
Now I'm confused....I got these large mealworms too (about 1 inch long) but have to keep them in the refrigerator to avoid them turning into beetles. She gets one every morning, and when I had the little ones, she got two or three per day.
Is there a difference between the two sizes?
Please advise cuz it's almost time to pick up more!
Thanks!
| Posted by: | Erik, admin@gliderspot.com | | Subject: | none | | When: | 12:35 AM, 02 Dec 2000 | | IP: | 12.82.171.165 |
There was a discussion around here that said somewhere that the superworms could lacerate glider stumaches, or something along those lines.
Just a heads up.
Erik
| Posted by: | KarenE, KarenElfrank@aol.com | | Subject: | Robin | | When: | 7:03 AM, 02 Dec 2000 | | IP: | 64.12.104.26 |
Robin,
The mealworms you are talking about are the same kind ... one is just obviously larger than the other.
I feed the larger ones because my gliders perfer to have something they can hold in their hand and munch on rather than the ones they seem to just swallow whole.
I have also found it more economical to feed the larger ones.
I give my adult gliders 3-4 of the larger ones each at a feeding - 2 to 3 times per week.
Hope this is helpful.
| Posted by: | IrishCreme | | Subject: | none | | When: | 8:10 AM, 02 Dec 2000 | | IP: | 209.71.57.93 |
The huge ones (Supers) are a different color (darker overall) than the small ones (Mealies), which are a tannish color. Thats pretty much the only visible difference in them.
They are both ok to feed to your glider though - so dont worry about that. I would determine the amount given by the individual sizes of the bugs. (I feed about 5 Supers every other night to my adults.)
You can order mealworms anywhere from 1/4 inch long to 2 - 2 1/2 inches long. It all depends on what you want/need. The store owner most likely gets whatever is in stock at the supplier he uses.
Keep in mind that if they are mealies, they can go into the frig and simply drop into a dormant stage.
If they are Supers, and go into the frig - they all die.
| Posted by: | Robin, 4dbirdie@bellsouth.net | | Subject: | none | | When: | 10:00 AM, 02 Dec 2000 | | IP: | 208.61.134.205 |
Thanks...then I'm positive I have mealies because they've been in the fridges for almost two weeks and still alive! I just thought these big ones would be better because I figured there would be more guts than a few of the little ones combined.
How many big ones are safe per nite? Right now I only give her one cuz I was told that I was giving her too many of the small ones (was 7-8 per nite). But she's not real fond of crickets and I want her to get extra protein somehow.
Thanks for your help!
| Posted by: | Sassy | | Subject: | super/mealies | | When: | 3:36 PM, 04 Dec 2000 | | IP: | 209.156.238.64 |
Are two supers ok? I usually get about 20 supers, and a hundred mealies. Some nights we give 2 or 3 mealies and one super. Other nights just a few mealies. What's the best route with the Super? Are they higher in fat?
Thanks,
Sassy
| Posted by: | Mary/Beck, intr01dc@frank.mtsu.edu | | Subject: | none | | When: | 7:33 PM, 04 Dec 2000 | | IP: | 12.77.82.205 |
Erik: the people from the reptile boards insist that the superworms eating their way out of stomaches is a myth.
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