FINCHforum

Has anyone tried meal worms by Zoo Med in a can used for some reptiles? It is called Can O Mini Mealies. It says it is ok for birds and tropical fish.

My new owls made their way through about 20 live mealworms today. I bought a can of dried but am unsure if it is good to give them to them.

In the top 5-10 threads in this area, 2 or 3 specifically talk about the zoo med meal worms. Do a search for Zoomed or meal worms and then read the results. A lot of info is out there already.

Additionally, look at the can you bought, it says right on the front of the can... "Ideal for Small Lizards, Turtles, Amphibians, Birds or Tropical Fish."

Here is a picture.
http://www.zoomed.com/db/products/Entry ... JGb29kIjt9


Also, these are not dry meal worms. This is a sealed can that locks in the moisture so they worms dont dry out.

Finch Fry wrote:In the top 5-10 threads in this area, 2 or 3 specifically talk about the zoo med meal worms. Do a search for Zoomed or meal worms and then read the results. A lot of info is out there already.

Additionally, look at the can you bought, it says right on the front of the can... "Ideal for Small Lizards, Turtles, Amphibians, Birds or Tropical Fish."

Here is a picture.
http://www.zoomed.com/db/products/Entry ... JGb29kIjt9


Also, these are not dry meal worms. This is a sealed can that locks in the moisture so they worms dont dry out.

Have you used them? I never used them before even when raising lizards, crested geckos and dwarf sheild tailed agamas...we always used live food. As I wrote the can does say for birds but I would like to know if the birds like them or do they prefer the live kind?

Cindy,

Each bird is different so there is no hard rule on whether they'll take it either live or dead ones. In the wild, most finches don't feed on mealies. Termites, ants etc. are more natural but in a close cage environment that most of face as a hobby, it's just not feasible to provide them those options.

Most of us are left with only mealies or buffalo's as the only live insect type food that is convienant, safe, available and legal.

As for live vs. dead.

1. If your birds take to both, then it's a matter of personal opinion but i am of the belief that live is more nutritious and better for them birds.

2. If they only take to live, then no real choice but to provide it.

3. If they take to dead ones and you're not ok with providing live food, then it's better then not providing any insect treat when not in breeding season and almost required during breeding season for some type of finches.

Not sure what kind you have but they definitely seem to have taken a liking to live ones. If I were you, I'd just offering both options at all times during breeding season and maybe just dead ones during their rest cycle once the babies are feeding themselves.

cindy
check out this post from a while back lots of opinion
http://www.finchforum.com/viewtopic.php ... 794#p59794

FireFinchMayhem wrote:Cindy,

Each bird is different so there is no hard rule on whether they'll take it either live or dead ones. In the wild, most finches don't feed on mealies. Termites, ants etc. are more natural but in a close cage environment that most of face as a hobby, it's just not feasible to provide them those options.

Most of us are left with only mealies or buffalo's as the only live insect type food that is convienant, safe, available and legal.

As for live vs. dead.

1. If your birds take to both, then it's a matter of personal opinion but i am of the belief that live is more nutritious and better for them birds.

2. If they only take to live, then no real choice but to provide it.

3. If they take to dead ones and you're not ok with providing live food, then it's better then not providing any insect treat when not in breeding season and almost required during breeding season for some type of finches.

Not sure what kind you have but they definitely seem to have taken a liking to live ones. If I were you, I'd just offering both options at all times during breeding season and maybe just dead ones during their rest cycle once the babies are feeding themselves.

Thank you for your input..the only concern I have with the Zoo Med Mealies, first they are smelly when you first open the can, 2nd how long are they good for once the can is open. I don't trust that they won't spoil in a couple of days. Think I will pass on these.

One pair of owls dive right in the other pair, do not, they have not touched them, I have offered them twice already. None of the other finches will try them. I will use my stand by of egg food for right now. The male that loves them actually does not wait for my hand to leave the cage, he actually jumped on my hand. That pair is so funny and bold. They also make an egg food with dried insects in it...may try this also. They all love the dried egg sprinkled on their seed.

I am tempted to by fly size crickets to try, just a dozen to start...see if they like them. Crickets are easy to gut load to make them nutritious. (Used to raise reptiles) If the finches don't like them I will feed the crickets to the geckos outside.

This also a good site they have a insect and palm meal I mix it into eggfood http://www.fairestfinches.com/page/page/4448943.htm

I have tried the canned mealworms, but my finches didn't eat them--I think they were bigger than my birds like (I have spoiled them with live minis). I got some freeze-dried mealworms once, and that was a total waste. Others have used the canned mealworms (the ones that are soft) with great success.

B CAMP wrote:This also a good site they have a insect and palm meal I mix it into eggfood http://www.fairestfinches.com/page/page/4448943.htm

Bill thanks for the info. I took a quick look at the foods and perches...This is going in my favorites! I have been using bird.com but I can't get the cage items I have been looking for. I have some ordering to do.

Sally wrote:I have tried the canned mealworms, but my finches didn't eat them--I think they were bigger than my birds like (I have spoiled them with live minis). I got some freeze-dried mealworms once, and that was a total waste. Others have used the canned mealworms (the ones that are soft) with great success.

I am going to order 1000 live ones fairly soon. Only 1 pair of my finches (owls) like them. The other pair haven't touched them. Neither of the 2 gold breasted or St Helena will touch veggies or mealies. I keep offering it to them. They all love the dried egg, oyster shell with finely grated cuttlebone and mineral block mixed in.

I have some recipes for bird bread using pumpkin puree and other goodies. I will have to get creative, maybe add dried insects and veggies.

Cindy,
I have used them and all my birds like them. The Bleus would wait for the dish to be put down so they could dive in, and the Strawberrys weren't far behind. Even my Canarys liked them, as did the BQs. I prefer them because of the convenience. I HATE 'creepy crawlies'. There are only two living things I am afraid of: cows and maggots! (go figure), and live mealworms and phoenix worms are great imposters for maggots. I deal with them only when I have to.

I recently spoke to a breeder that was well known for his finches in the area until he retired from breeding and sold his birds. He told me that the old time bird breeders used to put fish heads on the floors of their aviaries to attract flies which would lay eggs on the dead fish and hatch into maggots for the finches. Yuk!

I am going to order some live mealies this week and try a tiny can of them with the birds that have not touched the live ones yet...no maggots!