It would be nice if we could get a biologist specializing in herps to
comment on this. I'll see if I can find something on the net.
I would hazard to guess that for digestion in herps to happen, there must be
a mechanism comparable to mammalian digestion with digestive fluids which
are acidic. I _have_ heard that lizards need an adequate temperature in
order to digest. I would imagine that any animal that eats live insects
would have a mechanism that disables the food before it can harm the animal.
Also, while I think it is true that lizards do not chew, I think that they
have very strong jaw muscles and teeth and that they do serious damage to
their prey in the initial attack and every time they swallow a little and
bite again.
----- Original Message -----
From: Julie Bergman
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Saturday, December 30, 2000 10:51 PM
Subject: Re: [Gecko] mealworms
"I read a book from what I feel is a very reputable Herp. keeper; I'll quote
from his Gecko
book "Geckos" by Jerry G. And Maleta M. Walls- page 22."There are repeated
stories of large mealworms literally eating through the gut of a small
lizard and exiting alive through the belly. Large mealworms should be killed
by crushing the head, dipping them in hot water, or slitting then open....""
This is a very bad piece of advice, I am sorry to see it in print. Hilde or
someone else (excuse me if I have this wrong) made the much more appropriate
suggestion of matching size of food item to the gecko/herp. There is never
any need to crush food except in the case of sick herp.
######################################################################
THE GLOBAL GECKO ASSOCIATION LISTSERV
WebSite: http://www.gekkota.com
The GGA takes no responsibility for the contents of these postings.
######################################################################
