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Mealworm Care Guide

Mealworm - Scientific Name: Tenebrio Molitor

Mealworms, the larval stage of the darkling beetle (Tenebrio molitor), are a popular choice as feeder insects for reptiles. Mealworms are an excellent source of calcium, fat, and fiber. They are slower moving than other insects, such as crickets, allowing younger reptiles and birds to easily catch their prey. They have less thick chitin than superworms, which makes them easier to digest than the larger superworm. To ensure your mealworms are the healthiest and most nutritious for your pets, follow these care instructions.

Nutritional Benefits

Mealworms are rich in essential nutrients and are particularly valuable for their higher calcium, fat, and protein content. Their nutritional profile makes them a highly desirable choice for many insectivorous pets.

Nutritional Benefits

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Feeding to Reptiles

Preparation:

Remove your mealworms from the refrigerator and remove the number of mealworms you intend to feed.

Allow 30 minutes to an hour for the mealworms to warm up and become more active.

Gut-loading: Gut-load mealworms with nutrient-rich foods such as dark leafy greens or commercial gut-loading diets for 24-48 hours (about 2 days) before feeding them to your reptiles.

Dusting: Dust mealworms with a calcium supplement before feeding to ensure your reptiles receive essential nutrients.

Housing and Bedding

Container: A large plastic container with air holes in the top.

Substrate: Use a thick layer of wheat bran, oatmeal, or Fluker’s mealworm bedding to provide both food and bedding for your mealworms.

Cleaning and Maintenance

Regular Cleaning:

When adding new mealworms to your enclosure, remove the old potato, substrate, and frass (waste) from the leftover mealworms. Fresh Supplies: Provide fresh food and substrate to maintain a clean and healthy environment.

Disposal

To dispose of live feeders responsibly, place in an escape-proof bag or container, freeze for at least 24 hours, and then dispose of in the garbage can.

Initial Setup & Long Term Care Tips

Container Set-up:
Store your mealworms in the refrigerator at around 45°F to 50°F. If you intend to keep your mealworms for longer than two weeks remove the mealworms from the refrigerator and let them become active.
Arrival:
Use a thick layer of wheat bran, oatmeal, or Fluker’s mealworm bedding or a mix of these. Add fresh fruits of vegetables to the container to supply the mealworms moisture.
Storage:
A one thousand count bulk of mealworms can be kept in a large plastic container, with air holes in the top. You should cover the mealworms with a thick layer of wheat middling, oat meal, or Fluker's mealworm bedding to provide bedding and a food source. Mealworms are relatively easy to keep and provide excellent nutrition for your pets. Upon arrival, place them in a refrigerator set at 45°F until ready for use. When you are ready to use them, remove the desired amount and leave at room temperature until they become active, roughly 24 hours before feeding to your animal.
Long-Term Care Storage:
Mealworms can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. This will help prevent growth to keep your mealworms at the right size for your reptile or bird. After two weeks remove your mealworms from the refrigerator and allow your worms to become active.
Long-Term Care Moisture:
If you plan to keep the mealworms for longer than two weeks, remove them from the refrigerator and let them become active. Once they become active, place a slice of potato on the top of the bedding to provide moisture, and let them sit for 24 hours. Then, place them back in the refrigerator. To supply mealworms moisture, feed them a few pieces of sliced potato, carrot or other fruit and vegetables.

 

Common Name Mealworm
Scientific Name Tenebrio molitor
Size 1/2" - 1"

 

Mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) are the larvae of mealworm beetles. Like most holometabolic insects, they have four stages of life: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Mealworms have one purpose, to eat and grow until they have enough energy stored in their bodies to transform into a pupa and, eventually, a beetle!

Mealworms can be found almost all over the world in warm and dark places. Burrowing and eating are a top priority when it comes to being a mealworm, and they will eat just about anything. They will eat grains, vegetables, any organic material, fresh or decaying.  This plays a huge role in the ecosystem. Mealworms aid in the decomposition of any spoiled organic material.

Mealworms are also an abundant food source for many animals. Birds, spiders, reptiles, even other insects prey on mealworms to find a high protein and fat source in the wild, and it is much the same in captivity! Mealworms are used as feeder insects for a lot of popular pets, such as bearded dragons, chickens, even fish. Check out our analysis of a typical Fluker mealworm:

Analysis of a Mealworm 
Moisture 62.62% 
Fat 10.01% 
Protein 10.63% 
Fiber 3.1% 
Calcium 420 ppm
 

Caring for Mealworms:

A one thousand count bulk of mealworms can be kept in a large plastic container, with air holes in the top. You should cover the mealworms with a thick layer of wheat middling, oat meal, or Fluker's mealworm bedding to provide bedding and a food source. 

Mealworms are relatively easy to keep and provide excellent nutrition for your pets.

Upon arrival, place them in a refrigerator set at 45°F until ready for use. When you are ready to use them, remove the desired amount and leave at room temperature until they become active, roughly 24 hours before feeding to your animal.

If you plan to keep the mealworms for longer than two weeks, remove them from the refrigerator and let them become active. Once they become active, place a slice of potato on the top of the bedding to provide moisture, and let them sit for 24 hours. Then, place them back in the refrigerator.

 

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