Mealworms are the everyday workhorse of feeder insects: protein-rich, easy to handle, and, unlike most feeders, happy to be refrigerated. That last part is what makes them so convenient, a little cold slows them right down so they keep for weeks. Here's how to store and feed them.
What are mealworms?
Mealworms come from a darkling beetle, a firm, protein-rich feeder that's convenient to keep and readily taken by a wide range of animals. They're a reliable everyday option for reptiles, amphibians, and other insectivorous exotic pets.
We carry them in a few sizes:
- Medium — approximately 1/2″ to 3/4″.
- Large — approximately 3/4″ to 1″.
- Giant — approximately 1.25″ in length; a larger, meatier mealworm and a higher-energy treat, popular with bearded dragons, leopard geckos, blue-tongued skinks, monitors, many turtles, amphibians, tarantulas, and hedgehogs.
Feed as part of a varied diet, and dust them
Mealworms are naturally low in calcium, so dust them with a calcium supplement before feeding and offer them as part of a varied diet rather than the only thing on the menu. Giant mealworms are higher in fat, so treat those as more of a high-energy snack and balance them with calcium.
How to keep them alive
This is the feeder where the fridge is your friend.
Store them in the ventilated container they come in. The wheat bran or oats they need is already in there, so there's nothing to add.
Keep them in the fridge, around 7 to 10°C, to slow them down. Unlike hornworms and superworms, mealworms go dormant in the cold, so a cool fridge slows their development and extends their life for a few weeks. This is the opposite of superworms, so don't get the two mixed up.
Add a slice of carrot or sweet potato for moisture, and change it every 1 to 2 days. Fresh veg keeps them hydrated; swapping it out prevents mould.
Remove any that have passed, and let them warm to room temperature before feeding. A cold, sluggish mealworm is less appealing; letting them warm up brings back the movement that triggers a feeding response.
A quick word on freshness
Feeders are only as good as they are fresh. Fresher mealworms are plump and active, so order what you'll use over the next few weeks and keep them cool in between.
The short version
Mealworms are a convenient, protein-rich staple, low in calcium so dust them, with giants as a higher-fat treat. Keep them in the ventilated container they arrive in, in the fridge at 7 to 10°C to slow them (they're one of the few feeders you can refrigerate), add a slice of carrot or sweet potato changed every 1 to 2 days, and warm them to room temperature before feeding.
Ready to try them? Shop our mealworms.
