Nutritious mealworms??

[Jace]

I was wondering if you could "gut load" mealworms to make them more nutritious? I use them as an occassional treat for my frogs and geckos, but if there was a way to make them healthier, I know the animals would love to have them on a more regular basis...

[John]

Not of which I'm aware, sorry. Dusting them is about the only way to improve them.

[Jace]

Hmmm, well, I already dust them when I do give them as a treat, so I guess that kills that idea. Oh well. Was worth a shot. Thanks, John.

[Musicpanda]

I was wondering if you could "gut load" mealworms to make them more nutritious? I use them as an occassional treat for my frogs and geckos, but if there was a way to make them healthier, I know the animals would love to have them on a more regular basis...

Can't you give them fruit and salad so that you know they are somewhat gut loaded?

[John]

Most insects of this ilk don't retain much in their digestive tract. Still, no harm in it.

[Greg M]

I encountered an old study that suggests that the nutrient composition of mealworms can be improved by feeding appropriate diets...

Zwart, P. and J. Rulkens. 1979. Improving the calcium content of mealworms. Int. Zoo. Yearb. 19:254-255.

I also found a more recent study about gutloading that concurs...

Finke, M.D. 2003. Gut Loading to Enhance the Nutrient Content of Insects As Food for Reptiles: A Mathematical Approach. Zoo Biology 22:147–162 (2003)

[Greg M]

Here's the PDF on the second article, for those interested...

[Jace]

Awesome, Greg-thank you!!

[Greg M]

No problem, Jace! Since I can't always be increasing the number of amphibians in my collection (sadly), I've become quite interested in trying to optimize their feeding (and husbandry, in general)...

[Jace]

Time very well spent, I must say. Not being a big fan of crickets, I am always trying to find new, nutritious and easy food sources for my frogs, toads, geckos and tarantulas. However, being in Canada, I am finding myself to be limited on that goal. However, your efforts in finding and your generosity in passing along those findings just made my day!!