Mealworms?

caro317 · 10-03-2013, 11:29 AM

I'm wondering if I'm confused about mealworms. I've nevee bought them before but thought I'd give them a go as part of a more varied nutritious diet for Popcorn. So I bought some today and offered him one when I got home but the funny thing is, he just completely ignored it like it wasn't there! He was completely uninterested. I was amazed, because so many of you on here have said it's their hamster's very favourite treat! So I'm wondering, have I bought the wrong kind? I bought the dried kind that are sold for birds in the supermarket, should I have sourced some live ones?! Why won't he even try them??

POLAR WHITES · 10-03-2013, 11:37 AM

not every hamster likes them, try mixing them in with his food and the kind you bought are fine for hamsters

caro317 · 10-03-2013, 12:14 PM

I did - after he didn't seem interested I thought maybe he just didn't know they were food, so I took a small amount of his usual mix and put that in his bowl with the mealworm which I split into two halves, he came straight over and pouched everything from the bowl EXCEPT the two mealworm pieces! Silly ham, he'd probably love it if he'd only try it! He's exactly the same with apple and with grapes!

RubyDooby · 10-03-2013, 12:20 PM

My old hammy Wolverine wasn't fussed about them, not tried Cruella with them yet!

POLAR WHITES · 10-03-2013, 12:36 PM

Syrians tend to not like them as much as dwarfs do, dwarfs need extra protein and mealworms are a good source of it, maybe if your hamster doesn't like them the birds will at this time of year.

slatted · 10-03-2013, 12:59 PM

I have five Syrians and only one likes mealworms, in fact she loves them more than sweet treats!
All my dwarf hamsters love mealworms.

Munchalot · 10-04-2013, 01:42 AM

I think they are a bit of a 'you love it or you hate it' kind of treat.

Of my lot, Marley is OBSESSED by then, whilst Todd will only eat them if there's nothing else on offer, but will usually pick around them. The other three will eat them, but they're not overly fussed by them.

I've found that my guys prefer them live. However if you do buy live, only get the small kind. The giant/buffalo mealworms really are quite big, and sometimes they fight back. If a hammy decided to pouch one it might cause some damage.

Of the buggy kind of treats, my lot much prefer live waxworms. All 5 of them will go nuts for one!

Pouches · 10-04-2013, 04:24 AM

I've never tried to give the dried ones, I've always given mine the live ones. There's a few ways to get them. Mine prefer the superworms to the regular ones. You can find them in most pet stores. I think in all the hamsters I've had maybe 3 or 4 wouldn't touch them. I have a few that will pouch them immediately, despite them squirming away. A few will mercifully bite their heads off before pouching or eating them.
I really think it's something about the live ones that makes the mealworms so attractive.

caro317 · 10-04-2013, 04:30 AM

I'm not sure either I or Popcorn could deal with the squirmy live ones! I'll have to find some other source of protein he likes, I'm thinking tuna...

Munchalot · 10-04-2013, 05:14 AM

Waxies aren't so bad. They don't wiggle like the mealworms, they just sit there all fat and squishy. :L All of my lot LOVE them.

I'm not sure about tuna... Cooked plain chicken is a good one, but I would limit fish meat. Other than that, some scrambled or hard boiled egg is normally enjoyed. My lot also love puppy kibble, which is rich in protein and is good for dental wear.

Found a video of a sleepy Finley eating a waxworm. As you can see, they don't really squirm that much. :3 He does a weird thing with his mouth, which makes me think the worm was a bit gooey. xD