How Many Mealworms to Feed Your Reptile

By My Store Admin
2 min read

Mealworm portions matter more than with some other feeders, since overfeeding compounds their already phosphorus-heavy nutrient profile, as well as their higher fat levels.

This guide breaks down practical feeding amounts by reptile type. For general care, see our mealworm care guide.

Quick takeaway: Mealworms are very convenient to house and feed, although they don't make the best staple feeder option. Mealworms should be used to add variety in your reptiles diet, rather than the main feeder.

General Feeding Rule

The mealworms should be no larger than the gap between your reptile's eyes, and offer less then you would usually offer if feeding crickets or woodies. Because mealworms are more calorie-dense and harder to digest than crickets or woodies, err on the smaller side of "how much" if you're unsure.

How Many Mealworms by Reptile Type

  • Bearded dragons (adult): 5–10 mealworms per feeding, offered occasionally as part of a varied diet, rather than daily.
  • Bearded dragons (Juvenile) Best avoided entirely as they can be harder for young dragons to digest. Young dragons also seems to love mealworms over anything else, this can result in them turning into picky eaters.
  • Skinks: Roughly the same as adult Bearded Dragons
  • Geckos: Most Australian species of geckos seem to avoid mealworms and prefer crickets or woodies. If you find your gecko prefers a better feeder insect, there's not much point trying to force it to eat a mealworm. It won't gain a whole lot as a result.

Frequency Matters More Than With Other Feeders

Given the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio, higher fat, and harder exo-skeleton, mealworms are better offered to reptiles occasionally alongside other feeders, rather than as a daily staple. See are mealworms good for bearded dragons for more nutritional information.

Getting Started

We at Reptifauna ship mealworms across Australia (excl. WA & TAS). You can view our feeders below:

Browse the wider range in our mealworms & superworms collection.

Final Thoughts

Mealworm are best as a supporting feeder rather than a staple insect. Get that right and they're a low-effort addition to the variety in your reptile's feeding routine.

For full day-to-day care, see our mealworm care guide, or browse the complete guide to feeder insects in Australia.