Posted By: chattrbabe
Danger of Wax Worms - 09/30/11 03:41 AM
Not sure how many people know what the above photo is. These are called wax worms.
I will not be feeding them to my gliders, any-longer. I usually feed them to Boomer, for his teeth. He has only a few teeth left, and they are soft enough that he can nom them with no issues, and they won’t cut his gums like regular worms.
Well, I had all three boys out – sitting at my desk and I was feeding each boy their worms. Doodle and Ranger were getting giants and Boomer, the waxies.
Well, I went to put the pouch up, but Ranger wanted just one more worm. (please mom????) I had Ranger his worm, Doodle a worm, and offer one more to Boomer. Boomer was hunched over and making a weird hissing noise. He flings back a little and faces me, showing me a VERY purple nose.
Grab him out, and try to figure out what the deal is, while heading out the door to the vet. All of a sudden, he opens his mouth, and at the back and side of his cheek, is the end of a wax worm. I had to get him to open his mouth, which, at that point, was easy… I pulled it out and BOOM, Boomer was fine.
Now, I have heard of this happening before, and the person uses tweezers now, when she feeds wax worms to her gliders.
I personally, will not be feeding them at all, anymore. What if I decided to put the worms in foraging cups, and wasn’t here? What if I had put the pouch back, and walked out of the room? What if I put the pouch back, assumed Boomer was looking for more worms at the bottom of the pouch, and turned music on?
Boomer is fine, chirping and sleeping and grooming away, in the pouch. I wanted to post this warning, as many people like to give their gliders new treats. Boomer, on the other hand, will be getting hand squeezed mealies... blech!!!
Now, time for a drink, for me! LoL!!!