Is it OK to feed moldy mealworms?

[JoP]

This may seem like an odd question, but I prefer not to waste feeders if I can. I keep a stash of mealworms in my fridge, typically on a blend of oatmeal and whatever other meal I have in the house. I just got back from vacation, and there's a fair amount of mold growing on the oatmeal/food substrate in the mealworm container, but surprisingly, plenty of live mealworms left wriggling about. I separated out the live mealworms into a new, fresh oatmeal mixture, but I wanted to ask whether you all think it'd be safe to keep feeding them to slings? My slings and true spiders love them, but I certainly don't want to risk making them sick. Thanks for your advice!

 

[Mirandarachnid]

I don't know that it would necessarily make them "sick", as they don't really get sick like we do.. But I have absolutely no doubt that if you fed with those mealworms, you would start noticing mold growth in your enclosures. Especially slings, since (I assume) they're on damp sub.

EDIT: Okay, "absolutely no doubt" might be taking it a little far. Anything is possible, never say never and all that.

 

[boina]

Leave the mealworms on the fresh and dry (!!) oatmeal for a few days - at room temps - and they'll be fine to feed. Do not feed veggies! Fungus spores are everywhere anyway so any remaining fungus spores that haven't blown away by then aren't really a problem.

 

[viper69]

Why risk it???