Are Meal Worms Bad for Lizards?

Feeding a pet lizard is usually not as simply as throwing some food in a bowl. It takes careful research and planning to make sure your reptile is eating a healthy, well-balanced diet. Mealworms are a popular choice for a wide range of lizards.

  1. Types

    • Tenebrio molitor, also know as regular mealworms, and zophobas, or king mealworms, are the two types of mealworms commonly fed to lizards. Both are available in most local pet stores and online.

    Considerations

    • Mealworms have a hard exoskeleton, which is difficult for young lizards to digest and can cause impaction and even death. Many lizard owners only feed mealworms to their adult lizards.

    Myth

    • It is a common misconception that mealworms can chew through the stomach of a lizard. Most lizards chew the mealworm before swallowing it, thus killing the mealworm before ingesting it.

    Benefits

    • Mealworms are easy to keep, making them a good choice for feeding to adult lizards. Raising mealworms at home is relatively easy and an economical alternative to purchasing them weekly at the local pet store.

    Fun Fact

    • Mealworms are actually not worms at all, but the larva stage of the darkling beetle.