How Many Superworms to Feed Your Reptile
Superworm portions matter more than with some other feeders — they're calorie-dense, higher in fat, and best offered as an occasional treat rather than a daily staple. Getting quantity and frequency right keeps them a useful part of a varied diet.
This guide breaks down practical feeding amounts by reptile type. For general care, see our superworm care guide.
Quick takeaway: Superworms are a great feeder when used in the right situations. For most reptiles, offer superworms occasionally, and keep them as a secondary feeder, while using woodies or crickets as a staple.
General Feeding Rule
Only offer adult superworms to adult or sub-adult reptiles that can comfortably manage their size. Only feed to younger animals if your supplier has them available in smaller sizes as well. Always dust your superworms with calcium powder to improve their calcium to phosphorus ratio.
How Many Superworms by Reptile Type
- Bearded dragons (adult): 4–8 superworms per feeding, offered no more than once every few feeds, as a supplemental feeder alongside other staples.
- Monitors and larger lizards: A higher quantity can suit their size, but keep frequency on the lower side given the fat content.
- Breeding lizards Because of their higher fat content, superworms can make a great addition to the diet of breeding reptiles, particularly females, to help them support egg production and recovery.
- Other insectivores: other birds and wildlife eat superworms and they can play a vital role in wildlife recovery and care. Always consult a professional for feeding advice if you have a less main-stream feeding purpose.
Frequency Matters More Than With Other Feeders
Because superworms carry more fat than crickets or woodies, overfeeding them regularly can contribute to excess weight gain and, over time, fatty liver issues. As a general guide, most keepers cap superworms at around 8–10 per week per reptile, spread across two or three feeds rather than offered daily.
Juvenile vs Adult Feeding
Adult Superworms are not recommended for hatchlings or young juveniles at all — the size can have a real impaction risk, and younger animals can have trouble digesting their hard exo-skeleton. If your supplier has smaller superworms available, they could be a viable option.
Young reptiles also seem to have the ability of getting 'hooked' on superworms and mealworms. They must be tasty! Unfortunately the last thing we want is a reptile that turns into a picky eater. Because of this, we generally recommend only feeding sub-adult and adult reptiles superworms, even if smaller sizes are available.
Signs You Are Overfeeding
Noticeable weight gain, reduced interest in other feeders, or a reptile that seems sluggish after feeds are all signs to cut back on superworm frequency and lean on lighter feeders instead.
Getting Started
We at Reptifauna ship superworms across Australia (excl. WA & TAS). You can find our superworms below:
Browse the wider range in our mealworms & superworms collection.
Final Thoughts
How many superworms to feed your reptile comes down to their body condition, size and age. Your gut instinct is going to be largely better than what we can recommend in this article. Feed occasionally, watch for weight gain, dust with calcium, and keep feeding them to younger reptiles to a minimum.
For full day-to-day care, see our superworm care guide, or browse the complete guide to feeder insects in Australia.