can leopard geckos eat mealworms

What are mealworms?

Mealworms aren’t worms at all; they’re the larvae of a species of darkling beetle called Tenebrio molitor. Like many other beetle larvae, mealworms can be found in the soil or under rotting logs.

Even more intriguing is the fact that mealworms’ native range is a mystery; these insects have spread widely across the globe as a result of accidental introductions in cereal grains (where the larvae will thrive if given the chance) and intentional introductions as a food source for birds, fish, and reptiles.

They range in size from one inch to an inch and a half in length and have a hard shell that is a yellowish color with brown rings, depending on their age.

Mealworms may have originated in Southern Europe but also in Northern Africa, but today you can find them all the way over the Atlantic in the United States, in Asia, and even in Australia.

In warmer regions, agricultural areas often face the undesirable presence of mealworms, which reduces crop productivity. They got their moniker because they frequently feast on meals and other dry foods.

How long do mealworms live, and what’s their life cycle?

What’s the big deal about knowing this? Next, we’ll discuss…

The mealworm beetle’s larvae are known as mealworms (Tenebrio molitor, to give it its proper name).

There are four phases in a beetle’s life cycle, just as there are in a fly’s: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. In the span of four to nineteen days, the eggs laid by an adult beetle will develop into mealworm larva.

The mealworm has a lifespan of about three weeks and goes through numerous molts before becoming a pupa, which further develops into the beetle that lays the eggs.

Mealworms for leopard geckos.

Many gecko enthusiasts find that mealworms are the ideal insect food for their pets. Your gecko should eat two insects for each and every inch of its body at each meal. In addition to the mealworms, your leopard geckos will need a steady supply of other insects. Check out these insects, because geckos can survive on a diet of at least half a dozen different kinds of bugs.

Fattier insects like super worms but also hornworms should be treated as rewards only for your leopard gecko. Avoid feeding your gecko anything that will cause him to gain weight.

Knowing when your geckos eat is, in general, quite important. With the help of a well-balanced diet plan, your geckos will thrive.

Are mealworms good for leopard geckos?

Leopard geckos can be fed mealworms, that much is true. Instead of relying solely on mealworms, it’s best to provide a variety of feeder insects.

A diet consisting primarily of crickets and roaches will only get you around 6% fat, whereas eating mealworms will get you about 14%. You should give your leopard gecko a mealworm once a week.

In addition to being a good source of protein, fat, energy, and fatty acids, mealworms are also a good source of the amino acids lysine, which aids in the absorption of calcium, and leucine, which plays a key role in the regeneration of bodily tissue.

Fat content in live mealworms is roughly 27%, but in dried mealworms, it is only 18%. The protein content is much higher in live mealworms, at 49%, compared to 36% in dried.

Because dried mealworms are basically desiccated, they also have significantly higher water content.

For this reason, fresh mealworms are more palatable and nutritious than their dried counterparts.