Mealworms and how often to feed them?

racinghamster · 09-03-2006, 09:23 AM

I currently feed dried mealworms to my hamsters, but don`t feed them every day. Should I be feeding them a few each day, or is it best just to place four or five in the food dish once or twice a week?

Minicooper · 09-03-2006, 09:28 AM

I did used to feed Hammis live mealworms but my pet shop stoped selling them and now they sell live crickets (they make me cringe so I didn't get any and they sell them in the 100's)

I used to feed her a mealworm only as a treat, I have given her about 9 in all, all at different periods.

racinghamster · 09-03-2006, 11:59 AM

I guess I'm trying to find a decent balance really. I don't want to feed too many in one sitting, if you know what I mean! Should I be using them as a treat, or part of their daily diet?

They are labelled as suitable for wild birds. The Roborovski seem to like them because when I place a few in their dishes, they are gone by morning!

**pophammy** · 09-05-2006, 11:40 AM

We never feed ours mealworms. We give ours a treat of fresh fruit or veg or a little piece of protein such as chicken or tofu every second day. Perhaps you could give them a few every second day as a treat?

racinghamster · 09-05-2006, 12:10 PM

Yes, I think I'll do just that pohammy. They do like them, but I'll limit them to just a few each a week. That way, I'll know they are getting something they enjoy, but not overdoing it.

**babyboos** · 09-06-2006, 08:56 AM

Well for Roborovski I would mix them in with their dried mix, a tub of mealworms (dried) to 2-5 kg of food depending on the size of the tub - approximately 250g is appropriate for this quanty of dried mix.

Live one or two every second day is sufficient.

racinghamster · 09-06-2006, 09:07 AM

So could I add half a tub of dried mealworms to a 1kg bag of Harry Hamster food for example? I only use one 1kg back at a time.

Or are my measurements way out?!!!

**babyboos** · 09-06-2006, 09:11 AM

a quarter should be about right, the mealworms are quite evident when mixed in - you normally get one or two at least in each serving.

suga · 09-06-2006, 09:12 AM

the thought of mealworms makes me cringe! Yuk. Can't say I'd even try them. Yuk Yuk. I assume though that hamsters quite like them?

racinghamster · 09-06-2006, 09:16 AM

Great! I'll do that tonight.

Suga: Yes, the hamsters do eat them!