Nutrition
How Many Silkworms to Feed Your Reptile (Feeding Chart)
How Many Silkworms to Feed Your Reptile
Silkworms are the leanest feeder insect available at 1% fat — making them ideal for species prone to obesity and as a low-calorie complement to protein-rich feeders like discoid roaches. Because silkworms are a variety feeder (not a sole staple), feeding amounts are generally moderate — enough to provide nutritional diversity without replacing the protein backbone of the diet.
Silkworm Feeding Chart by Species
| Species | Silkworm Size | Per Feeding | Frequency | Weekly Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baby bearded dragon | Small | 5-10 | 2-3x/week (mixed with roaches) | 10-30 |
| Adult bearded dragon | Medium-Large | 3-5 | 1-2x/week | 3-10 |
| Veiled/Panther chameleon | Medium | 3-5 | 2-3x/week | 6-15 |
| Jackson's chameleon | Small | 2-4 | 2x/week | 4-8 |
| Leopard gecko | Small | 3-5 | 1-2x/week | 3-10 |
| Crested gecko | Small | 2-3 | 1x/week | 2-3 |
| Blue tongue skink | Large | 3-6 | 1-2x/week | 3-12 |
| Monitor (juvenile) | Large | 5-10 | 1-2x/week | 5-20 |
Why Chameleons Get More Silkworms
Notice that chameleons receive silkworms 2-3 times per week — more frequently than most other species. This is because silkworms are the #1 recommended chameleon feeder. Chameleons are extremely sensitive to dietary fat, and silkworms' 1% fat content provides essential nutrition without the caloric burden that causes gout, edema, and fatty liver disease. For chameleons, silkworms are not just a variety feeder — they are a dietary cornerstone.
Silkworms for Overweight Reptiles
If your reptile needs to lose weight, increase silkworm frequency and decrease roach/mealworm frequency:
- Overweight bearded dragon: 3-5 silkworms 3x/week, reduce roaches to 2x/week with smaller portions
- Overweight leopard gecko: 3-5 small silkworms 2x/week, eliminate mealworms entirely, reduce roaches
- Overweight chameleon: Silkworms as primary feeder 3x/week, roaches 1-2x/week, eliminate all high-fat feeders
At 1% fat, silkworms allow your reptile to eat a satisfying meal without adding significant calories — the reptile equivalent of a salad.
Silkworm Sizing Guide
- Small silkworms (1/2-1 inch): Leopard geckos, baby bearded dragons, small chameleons, crested geckos, dart frogs
- Medium silkworms (1-2 inches): Adult chameleons, juvenile bearded dragons, blue tongue skinks
- Large silkworms (2-3 inches): Adult bearded dragons, monitors, tegus, large skinks
Feeding Method Tips
- Branch placement (chameleons): Place silkworms on a horizontal branch at your chameleon's eye level. Their prolegs grip the branch while they wriggle slowly — triggering natural tongue-strike hunting behavior. This is the most enriching way to feed silkworms to chameleons.
- Tong feeding: Offer silkworms individually with soft tongs for any species. The slow wriggling movement makes them easy to grab.
- Dish feeding: Small smooth-sided dish works for leopard geckos and bearded dragons. Silkworms cannot climb smooth surfaces.
Shop silkworms in small, medium, and large sizes — shipped fresh with our live arrival guarantee.
— Matt, Founder, All Angles Creatures
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