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Old 08-08-2020, 10:45 PM   #1
blahblahblah1742
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Question Are mealworms safe?

I'm getting my second hamster soon,(haven't had one since I was little) I want to have every thing ready for when i get them, and I keep hearing about giving them mealworms but I can't find anything about safety or reason for giving them. Can someone please help?
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Old 08-10-2020, 11:34 AM   #2
Amethyst_ice
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Default Re: Are mealworms safe?

Hello and welcome!

What kind of hamster are you getting? When most people talk about mealworms they mean the dried kind. Hammies tend to love them but they can soon get little fatties on them so just limit them as treats
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Old 08-10-2020, 05:12 PM   #3
blahblahblah1742
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Smile Re: Are mealworms safe?

So he was marked as a teddy bear hamster and I got him today. Also thank you for helping me I'll make sure to limit them.
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Old 08-10-2020, 09:58 PM   #4
Vierville
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Default Re: Are mealworms safe?

They love dried or fresh mealworms. I mean LOVE them!

Mine get some of both- dried mealworms are part of their food mixture (Versele Laga Mini Hamster Nature) as they provide protein which hamsters need in their diet, and I give them fresh mealworms too. This is a bit gross but you get used to it. You can buy tubs of fresh mealworms at most pet stores but it is absolutely vital that you snip their heads off before giving them to your hamster as the worms can bite your hamster.

As I said, it sounds gross but really you get used to it. If you are feeding them fresh mealworms you must also feed the mealworms so put a bit of carrot or gemsquash into the worm container.

For a dwarf hamster I give them about three worms a day.
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Old 08-11-2020, 01:18 AM   #5
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Default Re: Are mealworms safe?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Vierville View Post
They love dried or fresh mealworms. I mean LOVE them!

Mine get some of both- dried mealworms are part of their food mixture (Versele Laga Mini Hamster Nature) as they provide protein which hamsters need in their diet, and I give them fresh mealworms too. This is a bit gross but you get used to it. You can buy tubs of fresh mealworms at most pet stores but it is absolutely vital that you snip their heads off before giving them to your hamster as the worms can bite your hamster.

As I said, it sounds gross but really you get used to it. If you are feeding them fresh mealworms you must also feed the mealworms so put a bit of carrot or gemsquash into the worm container.

For a dwarf hamster I give them about three worms a day.
I read that hams shouldn't get more than 1 protein snack a week. I have this dried insect mix from rodipet with mealworms and grasshoppers and especially the latter I limit to once a week. I could be wrong, though.
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Old 08-11-2020, 03:19 AM   #6
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Default Re: Are mealworms safe?

How often you give any extra protein foods would depend on the protein content of your main mix & the age of your ham.
If the main mix is lower than about 19% & your ham is quite young then you could give it daily, after about a year to 18 months it’s better to give a little less protein so about once a week might be ok then.
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Old 08-11-2020, 09:08 AM   #7
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Default Re: Are mealworms safe?

Quote:
Originally Posted by blahblahblah1742 View Post
So he was marked as a teddy bear hamster and I got him today. Also thank you for helping me I'll make sure to limit them.
That is what some shops usually call a long haired syrian hamster
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Old 08-12-2020, 11:58 AM   #8
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Default Re: Are mealworms safe?

Hi blahblahblah1742 and welcome to the forum. I feed my Syrian dried mealworms from time to time and he loves them. I have never fed him the live ones and not sure if I would if you have to cut the heads off them first, lol.
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Old 10-10-2020, 01:39 PM   #9
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Default Re: Are mealworms safe?

My hamster appears to not even recognize dried mealworms as food, but seems to eventually eat one or hide it somewhere.
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