Mealworms are a few inches of tasty protein that will help complete the diet of your hamster.
Hamsters eat mealworms and they make great hamster food for your little furry buddies.
If given in the right moderation, mealworms can help improve the health of your hamster.
The answer to the question is yes, mealworms are a delightful sight to hamsters and they have a knack for eating them when available as an occasional treat.
You can decide to feed mealworms to hamsters either in their dry form or while they’re still alive.
There are lots of questions surrounding the relationship between mealworms and hamsters, like “is it better to feed a hamster live mealworms or dried?”
And in this article, we’ll be answering these questions based on facts and experience.
Let’s get to it
Can You Feed Hamster Mealworms?
The answer is an emphatic, yes! A pet hamster eats mealworms.
If you own a hamster or a couple of them, then you should introduce mealworms to your hamster’s diet and feeding routine.
They are a fantastic source of extra protein, fat, and fiber.
As earlier mentioned, you can feed your furry friend mealworms in two states- dead or alive.
However, you’d have to proceed with caution when feeding hamsters living mealworms.
This is because hamsters keep food uneaten in their cheek pouches and when a mealworm is stored there, it can bite the hamster.
That’s why it is best advised that you serve them dead mealworms.
More so, the mealworms you feed your hamster should be unflavored [sugar and salt-free].
It must also be defrosted. If you bought them from a local pet store near you, they’ll come frozen, so ensure you defrost them before feeding hamsters.
NOTE: Not all hamsters eat mealworms, so don’t be discouraged when you feed your hamster mealworms and they don’t eat them.
You can try your luck some months later and see if they’ll eat them.
Can Hamsters Eat Dry Mealworms?
Yes, hamsters eat dried mealworms.
They enjoy eating dried mealworms because they do not show any form of resistance.
You can get dried mealworms for your hamsters from the nearest pet shop in your area or you can order them online as well.
Dry mealworms only serve as supplements to the hamsters’ diet and should be given in the right proportion to avoid side effects.
Side effects like obesity can kick in when you excessively feed mealworms to your hamsters.
So, ensure you only add dried mealworms to their normal feeding to make it a balanced diet and not the main diet.
Live Mealworms vs Dry for Domestic Hamsters
It is worthy of note that dry mealworms are most suitable when you want to feed your hamster where you don’t want to risk any form of danger.
On the other hand, the mealworms that are alive and kicking may pose a bit of a threat to your hamster because they may be able to leave a little bite, however rare, on your hamster.
You know that cute thing they do when they puff out their cheeks when they eat? Well, that’s where they’ll put the live worms and if the meal worm hasn’t been killed, they can bite the skin on the inside of hamsters cheek.
However, what most people do to avoid this is crush the mealworm’s head and serve it that way so they do not pose any danger but are beneficial to the hamster.
Gross, but probably a good idea.
Pros and Cons
- Dried worms are safer and easier to find for the hamster in its dried form.
- Fed live, you may have a few mealworms who haven’t been killed before going into the hamster’s mouth and the hamster’s body that could leave a little bite.
- While hamsters can eat mealworms of both types and your hamster loves both, a live worm will provide more nutrition than the dried worms.
Ultimately, the best bet is probably to crush a live meal worms head before it is fed to your hamster, but they eat dried food and worms as treats too without an issue.
Are Mealworms Good for Hamsters?
Is protein good for any mammal?
The answer to that is a definite yes!
Mealworms are a yes-yes for hamsters as they contain a wholesome amount of protein that’s beneficial to the overall well-being of the hamster.
More so, mealworms are well-balanced as they also contain monounsaturated fatty acids which are good to include in a diet for hamsters for cardiovascular health.
S0, next time you’re considering a food list for your hamster or are taking a trip to your local pet stores, ensure to add mealworms to the shopping list.
Are Mealworms Bad for Hamsters?
No, mealworms are not necessarily bad for hamsters but they can be.
As the popular saying goes, “too much of a good thing is bad”; you shouldn’t feed your hamster mealworms in excess.
Moderation is the key to safe dieting when using these tasty treats as too many mealworms in a hamster’s food bowl will eventually lead to obesity, which you do not want for your furry friend.
If that was all you fed them for food, they’d also not have a very balanced diet and eventually fall sick.
Are Mealworms Safe for Hamsters?
Again, mealworms are safe for hamsters in moderation as they are not only a great source of protein but also fat, and fiber.
With mealworms in the hamster’s feeding routine, you’ll be sure of getting robust, agile, and good-looking hamsters.
While mealworms do not pose any major threat to the hamsters, the only safety concern is when eaten alive and stored in the cheek pouch of the hamster, they may take a nibble and cause pain or harm.
Another way that mealworms may not be safe for hamsters is the human factor..
If you supply excess mealworms to your hamsters, expect them to be obese and consequently suffer the effects of obesity like heart trouble, diabetes, liver problems, and other serious health issues.
However, when given in moderate proportion as treats (2 every other day), alongside a balanced diet, mealworms are safe for hamsters and offer health benefits including:
- Energy
- Quick recovery from illnesses
- Strong immune system
- Boosts metabolism
- Healthy fatty acids improve cardiovascular health
Nutritional Benefits of Feeding Mealworms to Hamsters
When you moderately feed mealworms to your hamsters, you’re giving them access to the following nutritional benefits:
- You’re making them stronger.
- They’ll be more immune to sickness.
- Helps to increase muscle mass and strength.
- Gives them strong bones.
- Good for the hamster’s kidneys.
These nutritional benefits and more are what your hamster stands to gain when you give a measured supply of mealworms.
Do Dried Mealworms Provide the Same Nutritional Value For Hamsters?
No, dried worms don’t necessarily retain the nutritional value (though how much is lost is difficult to say) in them and they’re not quite as beneficial as when they were alive.
When you feed hamsters with dried mealworms, they still provide food nutrients like fatty acids and proteins.
TIP: when serving mealworms to your hamster is to mix with fruits and vegetables to make it look appealing and balance their nutrition – Hamsters are attracted to colorful sights, so this will ensure them eating the wholesome pack of goodness!
Can You Mix Mealworms in Hamster Food? How?
Yes, you can.
However, you should endeavor to use dried mealworms because they’ll not only be easier to eat but would look less scary in the food bowl.
Seeing wriggling worms in the food, your hamster could be frightened and decide not to touch the meal.
You can mix mealworms in your hamsters’ dish by adding vegetables, fruits, and other foods.
How Many Mealworms Should a Hamster Eat?
You wouldn’t want your hamster to be obese and suffer the effects as a result of indiscriminate mealworm intake, right? Nobody wants that.
Syrian Hamster
Feed them 2-3 mealworms every other day.
Dwarf Hamster (or smaller breeds)
You should feed them a single mealworm every other day as a maximum, as this type of little hamster species can pile on the pounds quicker than a larger Syrian hamster.
Final Thoughts & Summary
Hamsters are adorable pets to have and our furry friend needs all the essential nutrients it can get.
Packed inside a mealworm are beneficial nutrients like protein, fat, and fiber.
These nutrients will ensure the steady and healthy growth of your hamster, but only give them in moderation.
Syrian hamsters should eat mealworms at a rate of around 2-3 every other day and dwarf hamsters around half that, since they’re half the size to avoid becoming overweight.
So, we advise you to visit a pet store or surf the net to get mealworms for your hamster. Go give your furry friend the treat and well balanced diet it deserves!
