Weird Question

[LittleFoot]

OK, this may seem a bit odd, but has anyone noticed that after eating superworms and occasionally butterworms that they are being pooped out whole? I have noticed the last three times LittleFoot has pooped there has been the shells of the bodies...they are hollow but are still entirely intact. Has anyone else noticed this? I am concerned that he hasn't been digesting his food properly and might not be getting enough nutrients that he needs. He is still eating voraciously every other day. Thanks in advance for any info and advice.

[Tigergenesis]

If I feed Phoebe wax or butterworms I have to limit the number she gets or I see the same thing. Silkworms and phoenix worms she can eat a lot more no problem - they are supposed to be easier to digest over the other kinds. You might try limiting the number you give and/or be sure your bluey has the appropriate basking temp to use for awhile after feeding.

[LittleFoot]

I have been mixing up his meat sources, just have noticed it the last three times I fed him the superworms....he has no problems with the pinkie mice or regular waxworms. He wont eat silkworms and I have yet to try the Phoenix worm ( I have only had him for about a month)

[wildlifewarrior]

they have very thick shells and if too many are fed ( doesn't matter if skink or beardy or tegu) the body just sorta moves it along, only digesting the gooey insides and not digesting the hard exoskeletons.

[Zach]

How much do you typically give him at a time? Superworms are huge....

[LittleFoot]

A typical meal for him is either 2 chopped grapes (or other similar fruit, right now I have grapes) some chopped greeny veggie like escarole, and to top it off 3 or 4 superworms....he eats it all, though he usually tries to avoid his veggies...he is about 15 inches long (age unkown) and eats every other day. Fearing he wasn't diesting it properly I gave him some ground turkey baby food mixed with 3 blueberries and some green leaf lettuce....man he loved it and ate it all.

Should I hold off on more superworms for a while or completely cut them from his diet?

[Tigergenesis]

Be sure to check out the food charts in the diet section if you haven't already. You bluey needs a lot of variety and a lot of greens and veggies - these are 2 seperate things. The charts will help you pick the best food choices.

[LittleFoot]

He loves squash and cactus, both the pads and the fruit from my prickly pear cactus...I really have been trying to give him a variety. I just has been worried about the leftover carpaces in his poop.

Lovely conversation before dinner to be having

[Blotch]

My blotchies poop out the meal worm exoskeleton - nothing to worry about - start worrying when the worms come out full - not hollow and moving - then you have a problem!

[NomadOfTheHills]

What is your basking temperature?

[DeadEye]

Yep ive seen it to preety safe, id worry if they were still wrigling

[LittleFoot]

Yep ive seen it to preety safe, id worry if they were still wrigling

OK, just shot some water out of my nose reading that one, thanks!!!

His basking spot is at 100 degrees, but I feed him on the cooler end of his tank (55 gallon)

[Tigergenesis]

How long after he eats do you leave the basking/heat lamp on? Are you using a high quality thermometer such as digital or a temp gun, or are you usung those stick on analog/dial types?

[Richard.C]

its natural for them to not digest the chitinis exoskeleton,excuse the spelling,lol,wild blotches do it when they eat these small irradesent beatles in my area at certain time of the year ,there poo is irradesent green with the beatle shells,like said if they come out wriggling then u have probs,lol,but they r tough to fully digest,so they pass it

[LittleFoot]

I use two thermometers in his tank on both ends, the are the circle ones (not digital) His light stays on from about 7am to about 7 - 8 pm and I feed him no later then 4pm and never before noon since I want him to be warmed up to eat and and want to eat and digest before I turn the lights off...usually for about 30 minutes before I turn off his lights he basks on his rock then burrows himself, once I see him do this I turn off his lights. Usually right after feeding him he lays on his log which is on the cool side of the tank but under the UV light.

[Zach]

Hmm...

As far as temperature; I'd strongly suggest getting a temp gun -- you may be surprised the difference you get!

[Nature's Gift]

You wouldn't feed a dog a whole live chicken (well maybe you would - don't want to know).

Have you heard of chopping?

[LittleFoot]

You wouldn't feed a dog a whole live chicken (well maybe you would - don't want to know).

Have you heard of chopping?

??? Huh???

[Tigergenesis]

Hmm...

As far as temperature; I'd strongly suggest getting a temp gun -- you may be surprised the difference you get!

Agreed! Those analog/dial thermometers can be very inaccurate.

[NomadOfTheHills]

You wouldn't feed a dog a whole live chicken (well maybe you would - don't want to know).

Have you heard of chopping?

Well, that would probably be the healthiest option lol. In the wild, wolves would be eating everything from bone to the organs. The organs are the healthiest part of the animal, particularly the stomach of herbivores, which contains the valuable vegetative nutrients.