Care Guides
Mealworm Care Guide: Storage, Feeding & FAQ
Mealworm Care Guide: Storage, Feeding, and FAQ
Mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) are one of the most widely available and affordable feeder insects. They are extremely easy to store — just place them in the refrigerator — and most reptiles accept them readily. However, they have significant nutritional limitations that keepers should understand.
Storage
Mealworm storage is the simplest of any feeder: put them in the fridge. At refrigerator temperatures (35-45°F), mealworms go dormant and survive for 2-4 weeks with zero maintenance. No feeding, no watering, no cleaning. When ready to use, pull out what you need and let them warm up for 10-15 minutes.
If you want to keep mealworms at room temperature, store in wheat bran or oats and provide occasional vegetable slices for moisture. They will be more active, grow faster, and eventually pupate into darkling beetles.
Nutritional Limitations
| Issue | Details | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| High fat (13%) | Nearly double that of discoid roaches (7%) | Use as supplement, not staple. Try discoid roaches for daily protein. |
| Worst Ca:P ratio (0.04:1) | 25x more phosphorus than calcium — actively depletes calcium | Dust heavily with calcium. Add BSFL for natural calcium. |
| Tough chitin | Hard exoskeleton poses impaction risk for juveniles | Adults only. Use silkworms (zero chitin) for juveniles. |
When Mealworms Are Appropriate
- Convenient backup feeder for adult reptiles — fridge storage is unbeatable for simplicity
- 1-2x per week as part of a varied rotation alongside better feeders
- Adult leopard geckos — many leos love mealworms, though obesity and Ca:P are concerns with heavy use
When Mealworms Are NOT Appropriate
- Juvenile bearded dragons under 6 months — impaction risk from tough chitin
- Sole daily staple — 13% fat and 0.04:1 Ca:P cause long-term health issues
- Chameleons — too high fat for gout-prone species
Better Alternatives
For daily protein: discoid roaches (20% protein, 7% fat, 0.77:1 Ca:P — superior in every metric). For low-fat: silkworms (1% fat). For calcium: BSFL (9,340 mg/kg — no dusting). For hydration: hornworms (85% moisture).
— Matt, Founder, All Angles Creatures
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