How to Feed Fish Mealworms

Mealworms are not actually worms. They're the larva of a beetle, Tenibrio molitor. The larva are about an inch long and yellowish brown in color. The adult beetles are also about an inch long but they are dark brown. Mealworms are a common feeder insect. They are easy to raise and can be fed to a wide variety of animals, including fish. Mealworms are best for larger, carnivorous fish. Their tough exoskeletons can cause problems with smaller fish, but you can get around this issue by feeding soft white mealworms that have just molted.

Things You'll Need

  • Plastic container or bucket
  • Wheat bran
  • Fruit or vegetables
  • Small cup
  • Hemostats
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Instructions

    • 1

      Raise mealworms in a shallow container or bucket that contains a few inches of wheat bran in the bottom. The beetles and larva cannot fly or climb smooth walls, so there's no need for a lid. Wheat bran is inexpensive, and can be purchased at most grocery stores that sell bulk food items.

    • 2

      Provide moisture for the beetles in the form of fruits or vegetables laid on top of the bran. You can use just about anything that's rich in moisture, including celery, potatoes, apples or oranges.

    • 3

      Keep the culture at room temperature, or slightly above. The beetles will lay eggs in the bran, which will grow into larva that molt into adult beetles. When you are ready to feed the mealworms out, sift through the wheat bran with your hand, and pick out the larva. Neither the larva nor the adults bite. You can store them in a small cup while getting ready to feed them out.

    • 4

      Hand-feed mealworms to individual fish by holding them underwater. You can use your fingers, but with toothy or aggressive fish, it's best to use hemostats.