Feeding question...

[goose_uk]

Are meal worms an ok meal for juvenile SA/CA cichlids?

My LFS sells these tiny meal worms that would definatley fit into my little monsters mouths....and I am looking to give them a growth spurt.....pack on that protein!!

 

[thebase#1]

they should be fine, but i have heard some horror stories that if you feed a live mealworm to a fish it can burrow it's way out of it's stomach, so only dead mealworms should be fed

 

[goose_uk]

they should be fine, but i have heard some horror stories that if you feed a live mealworm to a fish it can burrow it's way out of it's stomach, so only dead mealworms should be fed

no way......can anyone confirm this???? Surely not!!

 

[Cichlaholics Anonymous]

I've heard it too, but with herps, so I don't know if it's just an urban legend, but if it eases your mind just make sure they are dead first.

 

[1fatdovii]

I don't think that could happen since they usually drown in less than 30 seconds. It may be possible with small reptiles like baby bearded dragon, but not fish. I've been feeding my fish live mealworms for years without an issue. If they can fit them in their mouths, they get them as treats. If I have a breeding pair of fish or an injured fish, I tend to give them live mealworms more often. I believe they're nutritional and the fish will take the live mealworms when they will not take pellets.

 

[greenterra]

I don't think that could happen since they usually drown in less than 30 seconds. It may be possible with small reptiles like baby bearded dragon, but not fish. I've been feeding my fish live mealworms for years without an issue. If they can fit them in their mouths, they get them as treats. If I have a breeding pair of fish or an injured fish, I tend to give them live meal worms more often. I believe they're nutritional and the fish will take the live meal worms when they will not take pellets.

I too have been feeding meal worms to my fish for years as an extra to their diet.For me the bigger the better and always live.It's amazing how long they will live when refrigerated.I have never had any problems so if anyone can show some real substantial evidence that they could eat through the stomach lining of a fish I would be very interested.

 

[elting44]

I heard this rumor back in then early mid 90's when I was just a little kid. We raised herps and would hear stories of meal worms and super worms eating through the stomachs of geckos and iguanas. We fed hundreds upon hundreds of meal worms to dozens of geckos and never had any problems. I believe the "chewing" and stomach acids of the reptile or fish kill the mealworms way before they have a chance to burrow out. It makes a good bedtime story but I don't think it holds any water.