Mealworms

Mealworms have long been a staple feeder insect in the reptile and amphibian hobby. Actually larvae of the darkling beetle Tenebrio molitor, mealworms are inexpensive and easy to store before feeding them to your reptile or amphibian. Regular mealworms are the larval form of the mealworm beetle, a sub species of the darkling beetle. These mealworms at full size are a lot smaller than the superworms and are appropriate for small sized lizards, birds, and fish. They are very high in protein!

Keep your mealworms at room temperature or you can put them in your fridge to keep them dormant for longer keeping. Do not put them in the back of your fridge where it tends to get too cold, the best place to store them is on the door of your fridge and don’t forget to put airholes in your container! If you keep them at room temperature you can feed fruits, veggies, grains or All Reptiles Gutload. They will keep for a long time! To prevent from beetling, keep them at lower temperatures.

How to Feed

Mealworms can be fed as a treat or staple, depending on the animals you’re feeding. Make sure to dust mealworms with a proper vitamin and mineral supplement before being fed to your pet. Feed mealworms using feeding tongs or in a worm dish.

Mealworms are great feeder insects for: leopard geckos, crested geckos, fat tail geckos, bearded dragons, lizards, geckos, wild birds, and fish. In fact, some fishermen swear by mealworms, calling them the ideal bait! Wild birds absolutely love mealworms as a treat – these high protein feeders provide a big energy boost!