How to Store Mealworms for Leopard Geckos

Leopard geckos and many other species of reptiles enjoy mealworms as a staple part of their diet. Mealworms are darkling or tenebrio beetle larvae, so store the worms correctly to prevent larvae turning into pupae and hatching into beetles. You can leave mealworms in the shop container and add a piece of apple to provide moisture, but for a more nutritious box of live food, transfer the worms into a new container and provide appropriate food to gut load the mealworms before feeding them to your leopard gecko.

Things You'll Need

  • Large plastic bag
  • Ventilated lidded container
  • Fine mesh sieve
  • Bran
  • Bug grub food
  • Bee pollen (optional)
  • Apple
  • Collard greens
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Instructions

    • 1

      Open the box of mealworms and remove the lid from your ventilated container.

    • 2

      Place the sieve over a plastic bag and pour in about an eighth of the mealworms. Agitate the sieve slightly to allow the mealworm waste, or frass, and shed skins to slip through, leaving fresh mealworms in the sieve.

    • 3

      Transfer the worms from the sieve into the new container and repeat the process with the remaining mealworms.

    • 4

      Sprinkle a 1-inch layer of bran over the mealworms. Add a commercial bug grub food containing vitamins and minerals or a bee pollen mixture formulated for reptile use. Healthy, gut-loaded feeder bugs are nutritionally better for your leopard gecko than poorly-fed hungry worms with no nutritional content.

    • 5

      Tip the container gently to mix the food, supplements and worms or run your hand through the mixture.

    • 6

      Chop a collard green leaf into 2-inch squares or slice an apple and place it in the mealworm container to provide hydration. Remove and replace old fruit and vegetables before they go moldy or dry out.

    • 7

      Replace the lid on your new mealworm container and store the box in a cool, dry place, away from a window and direct sunlight. A cold garage floor or basement is ideal.

    • 8

      Store mealworms for up to two months in a refrigerator between 42 and 50 degrees. Do not provide a food source in the refrigerated container because mealworms are dormant at this temperature.

    • 9

      Transfer a batch of dormant mealworms out of the fridge and into a holding box at least 24 hours before you intend to feed the mealworms to your leopard gecko. Gut-load these worms with bran, bug grub and apple or collard greens.