One of the remarkable things about mealworms is their ability to thrive on almost anything. They readily consume various green plants, fruits, and even decayed food, making them highly versatile feeders.
Mealworms are incredibly adaptable and can be housed in various containers, including jars, plastic trays, and cardboard boxes. Wire containers are a popular choice, but tin cans offer the best protection against mold and other pollutants due to their limited space for contamination. Click here to get started
As autumn arrives and temperatures drop, overwintering mealworms begin stirring from hibernation. If the weather remains mild, you can remove some from storage to kickstart a fresh indoor breeding population. During the colder months, mealworm breeding units are cooled down to near-freezing temperatures to halt activity before resuming in the spring.
Research conducted by Seagrove in 1968 found that two-week-old mealworms consume approximately 21.69% of their body weight daily. Young mealworms, in particular, can eat over twice their weight in food, making them efficient converters of nutrients.
Let’s address a common concern—handling live mealworms isn’t for everyone. If the thought of wriggling bugs makes you uneasy, dried or ground mealworms offer an excellent alternative, delivering the same nutritional benefits without the squirm factor. If you’re interested in sustainability, raising your own mealworms can be a cost-effective and engaging option, provided you maintain a clean environment and offer a steady diet of oats or vegetables.
Some pet owners worry about the ethics of feeding live mealworms to their animals. While it’s a valid concern, it’s important to note that mealworms lack complex nervous systems like mammals. For insectivorous pets, live mealworms closely mimic their natural diet. However, for those who prefer an alternative, dried mealworms provide the same nutrients in a more humane form.
Mealworms require minimal maintenance. Live ones thrive in a cool, dry environment with bedding like bran or oats, while dried mealworms can be stored in a pantry or cupboard—just ensure they remain moisture-free to prevent spoilage.
Affordable, nutritious, and versatile, mealworms are an excellent choice for feeding a range of pets, from ferrets to geckos. Adding mealworms to their diet introduces variety and enrichment, ensuring they don’t grow bored with the same meals every day.
Despite their creepy-crawly reputation, mealworms are nutritional powerhouses that benefit pets in numerous ways. Next time you visit the pet store, consider grabbing a container of mealworms. Your pets may not express gratitude in words, but you’ll soon notice the positive effects on their health and vitality