This article provides a detailed answer to the question “can hamsters eat mealworms?” by offering insights into what the popular proteins are and whether hamsters can enjoy them without problems. We look at the nutritional value of mealworms and how pet rodents may benefit from them.
Additional information on the best way to serve mealworms to hamsters and how many they can eat in one sitting is also provided. Possible risks of overfeeding and potential negative impacts on the health of hamsters are also looked into. Let us dive straight in.
Table of Contents
Can Hamsters Eat Mealworms?
Mealworms can be a reliable source of nutrients when consumed by hamsters. They provide proteins, healthy fats, vitamins, and other important nutrients when eaten in moderation. Hamsters can consume raw or dried mealworms as long as they’re not infested with possible parasites.
What Are Mealworms?
Mealworms are derived from the larvae of the Mealworm beetle, Tenebrio Molitor, a darkish beetle with a prolific breeding rate. Male Mealworm beetles mount females and insert fertilized sperm which leads to the formation of eggs after a few days.
The eggs are hatched into larvae within 4-19 days, which are typically called mealworms on the market.
What Do Mealworms Turn Into?
Mealworms turn into pupa once they get a constant supply of food such as dead insects and vegetation. It molts between each larval stage which could occur anywhere from 9 to 20 times before turning into a pupa.
An adult beetle emerges from the pupa within 3-30 days depending on factors such as the environmental temperature.
What Kind of Mealworms Can Hamsters Eat
Mealworms come in many forms but not all may be suitable for pet rodents. Here are the best kinds to target for hamsters for maximum health benefits.
Live Mealworms
In an ideal world, hamsters would enjoy live mealworms just like in the wild when they consume the insect larvae raw without any form of processing. The result is access to a fresh, nutritious source of protein that provides maximum health benefits.
Live mealworms can be a great way to remind pet rodents of their time in the wild and how they enjoyed fresh diets of insects and larvae. These larvae are typically foraged and fed on by hamsters during dusk to dawn hours when they’re more physically active.
Unfortunately, a constant supply of fresh mealworms for hamsters is almost impossible in domesticated settings unlike in the wild. Live mealworms are best served to hamsters one at a time to prevent them from escaping into other areas of the cage where they may eventually die and be left alone.
This can increase the risks of attracting potentially harmful microorganisms like bacteria into the cage. Feeding more than one live mealworm may also enhance the chances of hamsters trying to stash them in their cheeks.
While mealworms do not necessarily bite, cutting them into pieces before serving hamsters can ensure that they’re completely dead prior to consumption. You may also crush their heads to confirm death before serving to pet rodents.
Some pet stores have live mealworms for sale and can be a reliable supplier for your little rodent’s dietary needs. Online retailers such as Amazon and Etsy may also offer live mealworms for sale and a quick search on those sites should reveal what’s available.
If you’re raising several hamsters at once, live mealworms could be a great idea but what if you only have one? What happens to the mealworms when they’re not being served since they can only be offered as an occasional treat?
Preservation may be a huge problem which is why the majority of hamster parents choose dried mealworms.
Dried Mealworms
Dried mealworms may be the best option to satisfy the dietary needs of hamsters since they can be stored for extended periods without problems. Like the live option, we recommend feeding this nutritious source of animal protein one at a time.
It offers opportunities to socialize with your furry pals and build trust while also discouraging wastage as hamsters only get another after finishing the previous. Most hamsters instinctively try to hoard mealworms in their cheeks when offered in large quantities.
It’s always best to buy a small amount of any new food to test the hamster’s reaction before going all out to order larger quantities. While most hamsters love the taste of mealworms, some may also hate it, and buying a small bag in the beginning, can be some sort of insurance.
If they end up not liking it, you could always seek another treat without wasting too much money.
Nutritional Value of Mealworms
Here are the nutritional values of the best types of mealworms for hamsters.
Nutritional Value for Live Mealworms
- Protein: 20%
- Fat: 13%
- Fiber: 2%
- Water: 62%
Nutritional Value for Dried Mealworms
- Protein: 53%
- Fat: 28%
- Fiber: 6%
- Water: 5%
How Many Mealworms Can My Hamster Eat?
Most hamsters can eat 2-3 mealworms at a go weekly without problems especially when raising Syrians or Roborovskis. Dwarfs may be ok with 1-2 mealworms every fortnight or so due to their smaller-sized bodies.
Benefits of Feeding Mealworms to Hamsters
Hamsters gain a lot of benefits from consuming mealworms as an occasional treat and a few of those are as follows:
Great Taste
While hamsters are not all the same, they generally love the taste of mealworms and yearn for more even after providing their daily recommended quantities. Humans describe mealworms as delicious with a nutty aftertaste so pet rodents probably get the same experience.
Mealworms can become a favorite among hamsters even if they may not show too much affinity for them in the beginning. The speed at which these creatures devour live and dried mealworms can be a clue that they genuinely enjoy the taste.
The popular insect larvae may serve as a tasty treat for pocket rodents especially when they’ve been well-behaved. You can also offer the treat during bonding sessions to build trust and get the hamster to love your presence.
We recommend offering the treats to them one at a time while staying close to the cage for the best results.
Proteins
Mealworms are a good source of animal protein for hamsters. Many hamster parents offer the best pellets and seed mixes on the market together with fruits and vegetables for their pet rodents. However, they often forget that hamsters are omnivores that require reliable animal-based protein to grow and maintain good health.
The protein content in mealworms helps in optimum growth as well as good nail and hair development while contributing to the total well-being of hamsters.
Healthy Fats
Mealworms offer unsaturated fats for hamsters to promote exceptional cardiovascular health and protection against diseases. The fats can also ensure the hamster’s body only absorbs limited amounts of cholesterol leading to several positive effects for internal organs.
Healthy fats also improve the ability to fight against infections and diseases in hamsters. Arthritis and other conditions caused by inflammation are also kept at bay when the little guys consume the recommended quantities of mealworms.
Fiber
Fiber promotes flawless digestion in hamsters by clearing up obstacles in the intestines and other areas of the digestive system. Mealworms provide excellent quantities of fiber culminating in free bowel movements for hamsters.
Often, constipation is completely eradicated when hamsters enjoy fiber-rich diets like mealworms. Fiber also helps remove leftover toxic elements in the intestines promoting amazing digestive health.
Dietary Variety
No one wants to eat the same meals all the time and hamsters are no different. Occasional treats like mealworms may be a great way to inject some creativity into the pet rodent’s diet. It can offer a refreshing break from staples such as commercial hamster pellets, fruits, and vegetables.
Unlike fish like wild-caught salmon or tuna which may contain high amounts of salt, mealworms do not have significant sodium content making them a great option for hamsters due to their susceptibility to diseases.
No wonder, the majority of furry pals fall in love with mealworms immediately after the initial introduction. The temptation to offer more than they require may be high when you get swayed by how much they enjoy these tasty treats.
Risks of Feeding Mealworms to Hamsters
Mealworms can be a great source of nutrients for hamsters but they do not come without negatives. The risks often pop up from overfeeding the little guy with excessive amounts of the tasty treat and a few of them include:
Choking
Choking is possible when hamsters try to swallow a whole mealworm at once just like other insects like crickets. It can be a source of severe discomfort which may result in restlessness and even breathing difficulties. Choking can also scare these little guys off mealworms for some time.
Obesity
Excessive amounts of mealworms can lead to obesity in the long run. It is not uncommon for your furry pals to display signs of yearning for more mealworms after offering the maximum daily amount. Falling into the temptation to serve them more may lead to unhealthy weight gain and related side effects.
Liver Problems
Mealworms offer significant amounts of proteins to hamsters. While proteins can be valuable in numerous ways, excessive amounts may put too much pressure on the liver.
The result is complications and death from liver failure eventually when you continue to serve excessive amounts of protein to your hamsters.
Can Dwarf Hamsters Eat Mealworms?
Dwarf hamsters can eat mealworms but only in tiny amounts because of their relatively smaller bodies compared to cousins such as Roborovskis and Syrians. A single mealworm every 2 weeks or so is all a Dwarf hamster needs to gain maximum benefits from the protein source.
Conclusion: Can Hamsters Eat Mealworms?
Hamsters can enjoy an occasional treat of mealworms because they’re a great source of proteins, healthy fats, and vitamins. However, health problems such as obesity and heart disease may arise when the tasty animal protein becomes a staple in the diets of your pocket rodents.
Syrian and Roborovski hamsters should only eat 2-3 mealworms per week. If you’re raising Dwarfs, consider supplying 1-2 mealworms every 2 weeks or so for maximum benefits.