{"product_id":"mealworms","title":"Mealworms","description":"\u003cp\u003eLive mealworms for sale in counts of 100 to 10,000. Mealworms are the larvae of the darkling beetle \u003cem\u003eTenebrio molitor\u003c\/em\u003e. VCA Animal Hospitals lists them among suitable feeders for both leopard geckos and bearded dragons. Counts up to 10,000 cover big collections and breeders.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eMealworm nutrition\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Mark Finke's published analyses, mealworm larvae measure 61.9% moisture, 18.7% protein and 13.4% fat as fed. That is less fat than superworms at 17.7% or waxworms at 24.9%. A 2015 analysis concluded that properly supplemented lower-fat insects, such as crickets or smaller mealworms, should form the bulk of the diet for most insectivores. Like most feeders, mealworms carry far more phosphorus than calcium, at about 1:17.5, so gut load and dust them before you feed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to gut load mealworms\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn a 2017 study, two days on a high-calcium cricket feed raised mealworm calcium enough to meet a laboratory rat calcium standard. Serve the gut load diet in a shallow dish, not as bedding. When researchers used a high-calcium diet as bedding for 48 hours, 30.7% of mealworms died. In a dish, deaths fell below 1%. VCA also suggests feeding mealworms fresh greens so the nutrition passes on to your reptile. Our guide on \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/gut-loading-feeder-insects\"\u003ehow to gut load feeder insects\u003c\/a\u003e covers diets and timing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eMealworms for leopard geckos and bearded dragons\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOffer only as many as your reptile eats in one sitting, and remove leftovers. Rotate mealworms with a second staple such as \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dubia-roaches\"\u003edubia roaches\u003c\/a\u003e, since every feeder insect has nutrient gaps. See the \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/leopard-gecko-feeder-insects\"\u003ebest feeder insects for leopard geckos\u003c\/a\u003e and the \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/best-feeder-insects-bearded-dragons\"\u003ebest feeder insects for bearded dragons\u003c\/a\u003e for feeding schedules by age.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to store mealworms\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKeep mealworms in the fridge to slow their growth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eShipping and live arrival\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOrders ship sometime between Sunday and Wednesday to the lower 48 states and DC. We may hold an order when heat or cold on the route puts live insects at risk. If any mealworms arrive dead, email photos or video within 1 hour of delivery, and we resend a qualifying order once at no cost. Details are on our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/shipping\"\u003eshipping page\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eSubscribe and save on mealworms\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/subscriptions\"\u003eSubscribe and save\u003c\/a\u003e 15% on deliveries every 1, 2 or 3 months. Subscription deliveries of $35 or more ship free, and you can skip, pause or cancel from your account. Pet stores and breeders buying in bulk can apply for a \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/wholesale\"\u003ewholesale account\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Bug Cartel","offers":[{"title":"100","offer_id":50674360680665,"sku":null,"price":4.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"250","offer_id":50674360713433,"sku":null,"price":6.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"500","offer_id":50674360746201,"sku":null,"price":8.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"1000","offer_id":50674360778969,"sku":null,"price":15.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"2000","offer_id":50674360811737,"sku":null,"price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"5000","offer_id":50674360844505,"sku":null,"price":54.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"10000","offer_id":50674360877273,"sku":null,"price":89.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0754\/6958\/6649\/files\/mealworms.jpg?v=1791855523","url":"https:\/\/thebugcartel.com\/products\/mealworms","provider":"The Bug Cartel","version":"1.0","type":"link"}