How to Store Live Mealworms

Live mealworms provide necessary protein to pet reptiles and insect-eating birds, and are also useful as bait when fishing for pan fish. Storing mealworms properly and feeding them a nutritious diet will make them more palatable to pets, fish and wild birds. You can purchase live mealworms from pet supply and fishing stores and use common household pantry items to maintain them until ready for use.

Things You'll Need

  • Shallow plastic container
  • Old-fashioned rolled oats or wheat bran
  • Sliced carrots
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Instructions

    • 1

      Pour an inch of rolled oats or bran in the bottom of a shallow plastic container to provide bedding and food for the worms. Add the worms so the combined depth of worms and bedding is 2 inches.

    • 2

      Add a few sliced carrots to the container to provide moisture. Change the carrots whenever they become dry. Carrots are preferred over apple or potato slices because they don't mold or attract mites.

    • 3

      Store the worms in a cool, dry place about 45 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent them from growing and transforming into beetles. Since worms become dormant and don't eat in cold temperatures, it is important to remove them from the cold area once a week.

    • 4

      Take the worms out of the cold area once a week and offer them a fresh carrot to drink, in addition to their bran or oat bedding to eat. Let them feed for a few hours before returning them to the cold place.