Mealworms as Live Food

Mealworms are the larvae of a small species of darkling beetle (Tenebrio molitor) which grow to a length of approximately 25mm before pupating and later hatching as the adult beetle.

While rich in both proteins and lipids (fats), mealworms have an indigestible exoskeleton (outer shell) which makes them difficult for some insectivores to digest.

There have been a small number of reports of mealworms eating their way out of pet amphibians, however it is unclear given the very small number of cases and lack of information whether the mealworms did in fact burrow out of the animal causing its death, or burrow into the animal following its death. In nature mealworms are scavengers, and a dead amphibian would therefore offer an attractive food source.

To prevent any risk of mealworms eating their way out of or otherwise harming your pet, you may choose to remove the heads prior to feeding. This can be done with a sharp knife or the edge of a coin (probably safer) and will leave the mealworm wriggling for some time afterwards.

Feeding

For information on feeding mealworms, please see our article on gutloading

Housing

While mealworms will survive several days in the containers they are sent in without any ill effects, it is recommended that if you plan to keep them longer they are transferred to a larger container, such as an ice cream tub. A substate of bran should be provided.

Heating and Humidity

Keep mealworms in a cool dry place for a long shelf life, and only provide occasional moisture-providing foods as details in the gutloading section.