black mealworm beetle?

Question

i found one morphing into a beetle can they be fed to my leopard gecko

Answer 1

Mealworm beetles, large and small, secrete a chemical defense. I keep colonies of both and the chemical smell of the large beetles is really noticeable after you handle them. Some reptiles will consume the beetles regardless but others will spit them out and never eat a second one. They're not toxic, just distasteful.

Answer 2

The beetles are safe, but I have had toads and lizards such as anoles when I was younger, and for some reason, they wouldn't eat the beetles. They would eat the mealworms, but would not touch the beetles no matter what. I never did figure out why, so hopefully someone who knows will see this.

Answer 3

It's a darkling beetle. I breed them for my gecko's. They are really easy to care for. Not much work and eventually,a lot of free food. =)
Just throw some dry oatmeal and wheat bran in a empty margarine tub with your mealies, add a few pieces of carrot and potato a couple of times a week and let them set for a couple of months. That's all that there is to it.
To answer your question,
some gecko's will eat the beetles but mine won't touch them.

Answer 4

They can definatly eat them! I actually prefer feeding the beetles because the shell is not as hard. Mealworms are not the best choice to feed your leo because the chitin in the shell is hard for your leo to digest. The beetles shell is not as hard.... just harder to catch!

Answer 5

Yes,you can.They are called darkling beetles and I have a bunch in a tank right now to feed to my box turtles.I think they're kind of pretty,but the turtles have to eat. :o(