Are Mealworms Unhealthy For Fish?

Taker

Taker

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I feed my Snakeheads live feeder goldfish, minnows, tilapias, common guppies, frozen fish from the market, hikari pellets and mealworms. Going to add frozen prawns soon.

I heard that mealworms are unhealthy and fattening. So are feeder goldfish (I feed comets). But I gutload the mealworms with Hikari pellets.

My Emperor Snakehead and Striped Snakehead especially love the mealworms. Should I cut it and shift to prawns?
 
administrator

administrator

Gambusia
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Aug 21, 2011
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That is news to me. I worry about meal-worms not because they are unhealthy but that most of the dried ones on sale come from China. Nothing against China, but I am concerned about what they use to feed the meal-worms and what chemicals are used if any.
 
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predatorkeeper87

Potamotrygon
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no they are not unhealthy and infact you can hand-tailor your fishes' diet with food like that, depending on what you feed the worms.
 
Taker

Taker

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Aug 6, 2005
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administrator said:
That is news to me. I worry about meal-worms not because they unhealthy but that most of the dried ones on sale come from China. Nothing against China, but I am concerned about what they use to feed the meal-worms and what chemicals are they using if any.
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Dried ones? I would be suspicious of dried ones. Mealworms smell quickly because they poop a lot and they also smell quickly once dead and rotting. I have never seen dried ones though.
 
Taker

Taker

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predatorkeeper87 said:
no they are not unhealthy and infact you can hand-tailor your fishes' diet with food like that, depending on what you feed the worms.
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Okay cool thank you for the response.
 
administrator

administrator

Gambusia
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Aug 21, 2011
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Taker said:
Dried ones? I would be suspicious of dried ones. Mealworms smell quickly because they poop a lot and they also smell quickly once dead and rotting. I have never seen dried ones though.
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They come as freeze dried or baked.
 
xraycer

xraycer

Arapaima
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Sep 5, 2013
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administrator said:
That is news to me. I worry about meal-worms not because they are unhealthy but that most of the dried ones on sale come from China. Nothing against China, but I am concerned about what they use to feed the meal-worms and what chemicals are used if any.
Click to expand...
All the live MW sold around me are farmed raised in the USA.

MW aren't unhealthy, they just aren't very nutritious. But since you're gut-loading them with fish pellets, they should be fine as a staple. I'd also recommend stuffing pellets into those shrimp and fish fillets as well
 
Taker

Taker

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