SarahCab
New Member
I had no idea they bite. Good thing my guy gobbles them up head first.
Super worms
- Thread starter Alaskamike
- Start date
Turtlesfromcolo
Active Member
I have 3, ornate baby box turtles and up till recently I was feeding them meal worms and occasionally wax worms.. I was told to switch to earthworms, bloodworms or crickets. Why are the meal worms advised against? I absolutely love this forum and all the great info. I wish I'd found this months ago.. I'm new to having Hatchlings and worry sometimes.
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ColleenT
Well-Known Member
someone recently told me that the calcium/phosphorus ratios in mealworms are screwed up and it's not good for the turtles, except as an occasional treat. Mine love earthworms.
Turtlesfromcolo
Active Member
Thankfully my babies didn't mind the switch and love the earthworms.. I've heard crazy things like the meal worms will eat their way out of stomachs.. Eek!! Don't know If I believe that though..
ColleenT
Well-Known Member
no i don't think a mealworm can crawl thru stomach acid and eat it's way out of anything. plus the turtles chomp them pretty hard, so def not in a turtle.
This is real strange. For quite some time, all i had that my little boxie would eat was superworms. He would swallow them whole. I'd be amazed at how he could swallow even full-sized ones when he was well under 2 years old. But never were there any recognizable parts in his poop. His poop has always looked good.
I wonder about the digestive health of your boxie.
ColleenT
Well-Known Member
here is the section of the article online that explains why mealworms and superworms are only good as a treat. Written by Sandy Barnett (sp?).
Earthworms are quite different from mealworms, supermealies, and waxworms. The latter three invertebrates are insect larvae, not true worms. (Mealworms and supermealies become beetles; waxworms become moths). Unlike earthworms, which are annelids, nearly all insects have low calcium content and an inverse calcium to phosphorus ratio. In small amounts they are fine to offer as treats – most
box turtles love them – but a steady diet will interfere with calcium absorption and cause calcium to be removed from a turtle’s bones, possibly leading to Metabolic Bone Disease. This can happen especially quickly in young growing turtles with high calcium requirements. If you feed commercially raised insects (e.g., mealworms, supermealies, waxworms, house crickets) dust them with calcium powder (Rep-Cal, ZooMed) immediately before serving. The calcium should have Vit D3 additive if your turtles live indoors.
Earthworms are quite different from mealworms, supermealies, and waxworms. The latter three invertebrates are insect larvae, not true worms. (Mealworms and supermealies become beetles; waxworms become moths). Unlike earthworms, which are annelids, nearly all insects have low calcium content and an inverse calcium to phosphorus ratio. In small amounts they are fine to offer as treats – most
box turtles love them – but a steady diet will interfere with calcium absorption and cause calcium to be removed from a turtle’s bones, possibly leading to Metabolic Bone Disease. This can happen especially quickly in young growing turtles with high calcium requirements. If you feed commercially raised insects (e.g., mealworms, supermealies, waxworms, house crickets) dust them with calcium powder (Rep-Cal, ZooMed) immediately before serving. The calcium should have Vit D3 additive if your turtles live indoors.
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Wow, i didn't know that, Colleen. Luckily my guy was digging into cuttlebone at times.
More earthworms and compost worms for him in the future.
Plus i'm gonna add some calcium to my worm bin right away.
He still won't eat greens. I was gut-loading the superworms with them.
More earthworms and compost worms for him in the future.
Plus i'm gonna add some calcium to my worm bin right away.
He still won't eat greens. I was gut-loading the superworms with them.
ColleenT
Well-Known Member
turtles can be stubborn. i am still dealing with picky turtles but i try to feed them the right stuff bc i worry about their health.
Angel Carrion
Well-Known Member
So was I, which is why I took him to the vet and had a full check up including fecal. Nothing was found and his behavior was that of a completely healthy turtle, so the vet said it could just be that his stomach didn't agree with the supers. My others never had an issue, either.
Turtlesfromcolo
Active Member
Thanks!! Good to know..
