Complete Pet Food Guide
Expert advice on feeding mealworms to your pets - from tarantulas to chickens
Feeding Mealworms to Tarantulas
Mealworms are an excellent staple food for tarantulas of all sizes. They're nutritious, easy to digest, and readily accepted by most species.
Feeding Guidelines by Size
Spiderlings (0.5-2cm)
- Size: Micro mealworms or freshly moulted
- Frequency: 2-3 times per week
- Quantity: 1-2 small mealworms
Juveniles (2-5cm)
- Size: Small to medium mealworms
- Frequency: 2 times per week
- Quantity: 2-4 mealworms
Adults (5cm+)
- Size: Large mealworms
- Frequency: Once per week
- Quantity: 3-6 mealworms
⚠️ Important Safety Tips
- • Never feed mealworms larger than the tarantula's body length
- • Remove uneaten prey after 24 hours to prevent stress
- • Avoid feeding during moulting period (2 weeks before and after)
- • Crush the head of large mealworms for smaller tarantulas
- • Ensure mealworms are gut-loaded for optimal nutrition
Best Practices
- Feed in the evening when tarantulas are most active
- Use feeding tongs to place mealworms near the tarantula
- Monitor feeding response - healthy tarantulas strike quickly
- Reduce feeding frequency for adult females before breeding
- Supplement with other prey (crickets, roaches) for variety
Mealworms for Chickens & Ducks
Chickens and ducks absolutely love mealworms! They're an excellent protein supplement that supports egg production, feather health, and overall vitality.
Feeding Guidelines
Chickens
- Chicks (0-8 weeks): 5-10 mealworms per day
- Pullets (8-20 weeks): 10-15 mealworms per day
- Laying Hens: 10-20 mealworms per day
- Roosters: 15-20 mealworms per day
Ducks
- Ducklings (0-8 weeks): 8-12 mealworms per day
- Growing Ducks: 15-20 mealworms per day
- Adult Ducks: 20-30 mealworms per day
- Laying Ducks: 25-35 mealworms per day
Benefits for Poultry
- ✓ Increased egg production and quality
- ✓ Improved feather condition and faster moulting
- ✓ Enhanced immune system function
- ✓ Better weight gain in meat birds
- ✓ Reduced boredom and pecking behaviour
Important Considerations
- Limit to 10% of diet: Mealworms are treats, not complete feed
- Provide grit: Essential for digesting mealworm exoskeletons
- Fresh water: Always available, especially when feeding protein
- Scatter feeding: Encourages natural foraging behaviour
- Avoid overfeeding: Can lead to obesity and reduced egg production
Mealworms for Wild Birds
Mealworms are a favourite of many British garden birds, especially during breeding season when protein demands are high.
Birds That Love Mealworms
Common Visitors
- • Robins
- • Blackbirds
- • Blue Tits
- • Great Tits
- • Wrens
- • Thrushes
Occasional Visitors
- • Starlings
- • Sparrows
- • Dunnocks
- • Woodpeckers
- • Nuthatches
- • Wagtails
Feeding Recommendations
Seasonal Feeding Guide
- Spring (March-May): 50-100g per day - Critical breeding season
- Summer (June-August): 30-50g per day - Fledgling support
- Autumn (September-November): 20-40g per day - Building reserves
- Winter (December-February): 40-80g per day - Survival support
Best Practices
- Use a specialist mealworm feeder to prevent spillage
- Offer live mealworms in shallow dishes
- Feed in the morning when birds are most active
- Keep feeders clean to prevent disease
- Provide fresh water nearby
- Position feeders near cover for safety
Mealworms for Reptiles
Mealworms are a popular feeder insect for many reptile species. However, feeding guidelines vary significantly between species.
Bearded Dragons
Feeding Schedule by Age
Hatchlings (0-3 months)
- • Quantity: 5-10 small mealworms per day
- • Frequency: Daily
- • Diet ratio: 80% insects, 20% vegetables
- • Calcium: Dust every feeding
Juveniles (3-12 months)
- • Quantity: 10-15 medium mealworms per day
- • Frequency: Daily
- • Diet ratio: 70% insects, 30% vegetables
- • Calcium: Dust 5 times per week
Adults (12+ months)
- • Quantity: 10-20 large mealworms
- • Frequency: 2-3 times per week
- • Diet ratio: 20% insects, 80% vegetables
- • Calcium: Dust 2-3 times per week
Leopard Geckos
Feeding Schedule by Age
Hatchlings (0-6 months)
- • Quantity: 5-8 small mealworms
- • Frequency: Daily
- • Size: Smaller than the space between their eyes
- • Calcium: Dust every feeding
Juveniles (6-12 months)
- • Quantity: 6-10 medium mealworms
- • Frequency: Every other day
- • Variety: Rotate with crickets and dubia roaches
- • Calcium: Dust every feeding
Adults (12+ months)
- • Quantity: 5-10 large mealworms
- • Frequency: 2-3 times per week
- • Weight: Monitor to prevent obesity
- • Calcium: Dust 2-3 times per week
⚠️ Critical Safety Information
- Impaction Risk: Mealworms have hard exoskeletons. Ensure proper temperatures (basking spot 38-42°C for beardies, 32-35°C for leos) for digestion
- Calcium Deficiency: Always dust with calcium powder. Mealworms have poor calcium:phosphorus ratio (1:10)
- Obesity: Mealworms are high in fat. Don't overfeed, especially adults
- Variety: Mealworms should be part of a varied diet, not the sole food source
- Gut Loading: Feed mealworms nutritious foods 24 hours before offering to reptiles
Other Reptiles
Blue Tongue Skinks
- Quantity: 10-15 mealworms
- Frequency: 2-3 times per week
- Note: Omnivores - balance with vegetables and fruit
Crested Geckos
- Quantity: 3-5 small mealworms
- Frequency: Once per week as treat
- Note: Primarily fruit-eaters, insects are supplementary
Chameleons
- Quantity: 5-10 mealworms
- Frequency: 2-3 times per week
- Note: Prefer moving prey, may need encouragement
Uromastyx
- Quantity: 5-8 mealworms
- Frequency: Once per week
- Note: Primarily herbivorous, insects are treats
Mealworms as Fishing Bait
Mealworms are excellent bait for coarse fishing, particularly effective for catching panfish, trout, and other small to medium-sized fish.
Target Species
Freshwater
- • Trout (all species)
- • Perch
- • Roach
- • Rudd
- • Bream
- • Chub
Panfish
- • Bluegill
- • Sunfish
- • Crappie
- • Rock Bass
- • Pumpkinseed
Other Species
Fishing Techniques
Hooking Methods
- Through the Head: Most secure, best for casting. Hook enters behind the head
- Through the Middle: Natural presentation, good for still water
- Multiple Worms: Thread 2-3 mealworms on hook for larger fish
- Tail Hook: Allows natural movement, good for slow currents
Storage for Fishing
- Keep in a cool box or bait fridge (7-10°C)
- Use ventilated containers with substrate
- Add potato or carrot for moisture
- Can last 4-6 weeks with proper care
- Bring only what you need for the session
Mealworms as Fish Food
Mealworms make excellent supplementary food for larger aquarium fish and pond fish, providing high protein and enrichment.
Suitable Fish Species
Aquarium Fish
- Oscars: 3-5 mealworms, 2-3 times per week
- Cichlids (large): 2-4 mealworms, 2 times per week
- Arowanas: 4-6 mealworms, 2-3 times per week
- Bettas: 1 small mealworm, once per week as treat
- Angelfish: 1-2 small mealworms, once per week
Pond Fish
- Koi: 5-10 mealworms per fish, 2-3 times per week
- Goldfish: 2-4 mealworms per fish, 2 times per week
- Orfe: 3-5 mealworms per fish, 2 times per week
- Tench: 4-6 mealworms per fish, 2 times per week
⚠️ Important Feeding Tips
- Size Matters: Mealworms should be smaller than the fish's mouth
- Live vs Dead: Most fish prefer live mealworms for the movement
- Water Quality: Remove uneaten mealworms after 5 minutes to prevent pollution
- Frequency: Treats only - not a staple diet
- Preparation: Can crush heads for smaller fish
Feeding Methods
- Surface Feeding: Drop live mealworms on water surface
- Feeding Tongs: Hold mealworm underwater for shy fish
- Floating Dish: Use shallow dish to contain mealworms
- Hand Feeding: Train larger fish to take from your hand
Nutritional Benefits
Mealworms provide excellent protein (20%), healthy fats, and enrichment through hunting behaviour. They're particularly beneficial for:
- Conditioning fish for breeding
- Recovering fish after illness
- Growing juvenile fish
- Maintaining colour and vitality
- Providing mental stimulation
General Mealworm Feeding Tips
Storage
- • Store at 7-10°C (refrigerator)
- • Use ventilated container
- • Provide substrate (oats/bran)
- • Add moisture (vegetables)
- • Check weekly, remove dead ones
- • Can last 4-6 weeks
Gut Loading
- • Feed mealworms 24-48 hours before use
- • Use nutritious foods (vegetables, fruits)
- • Improves nutritional value
- • Essential for reptiles
- • Use commercial gut-load products
- • Keep at room temperature while loading
Calcium Dusting
- • Essential for reptiles and amphibians
- • Use calcium powder with D3
- • Place mealworms in bag with powder
- • Shake gently to coat
- • Feed immediately after dusting
- • Frequency varies by species
Safety
- • Never feed mouldy mealworms
- • Remove dead mealworms promptly
- • Wash hands after handling
- • Monitor pet's response
- • Adjust quantities as needed
- • Consult vet if concerns arise
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