Frequently Asked Questions - Superworms FAQ

Superworm question quicklinks:

To help you navigate our frequently asked questions on Superworms so you can find your answer more quickly

• What Are Superworms?
• Nutritional Information for Superworms:
• Are Superworms the same as Mealworms?
• What substrate should I use for my Superworms?
• Why are some of my superworms white?
• What can I feed superworms?
• How do I gut load Superworms?
• How do I house my superworms?
• How do I feed superworms to my pets?
• Should I add supplements to superworms before feeding them to my pet?
• Can superworms bite?
• How old does my pet have to be to eat Superworms?
• What happens if my order arrives dead?
• What if I receive the wrong item?
• What if I receive someone else’s order?

What Are Superworms?

Superworms are the larvae of the Zophobas Morio beetle, which is a species of darkling beetle. They are a common live feeder for insectivorous and omnivorous species of reptiles, amphibians, and more. They are popular due to being relatively inexpensive, easy to house, and easy to find. They are slightly high in fat compared to some other feeders, so for some species, they may be specified as a treat.

Nutritional Information for Superworms:

• Moisture 57.9%
• Protein 19.7%
• Fat 17.7%
• Ash 1.0%
• Fiber 2.7%
• Calcium 177mg/kg
• Phosphorous 2370mg/kg

Are Superworms the same as Mealworms?

No. Superworms are the larval stage of the Zophobas Morio beetle, mealworms are the larval stage of the Tenebrio Molitor beetle, so they are two different bugs. However, they are both species of darkling beetle. They look similar but have distinct differences, the superworm is generally larger than the mealworm and has dark brown bands toward the head and the tail, whereas the mealworms and lighter and more plain in color. Superworms are also more nutritious per insect and contain less chitin; mealworms are known for having more chitin making them more difficult to digest.

What substrate should I use for my Superworms?

Superworms should be kept in a product such as uncut oat bran, and they will bury themselves in the bedding and also ingest it.

Why are some of my superworms white?

Superworms shed their outer shell as they grow. When they have freshly molted, they will appear a creamy white color and are very soft; many species prefer them like this as they are easier to digest. They will return to their normal color within a few hours.

What can I feed superworms?

Superworms are not fussy; they will pretty much eat whatever you give them. They will consume the bedding that you choose for them, but this will not make them as nutritious as they can be for a feeder. You can use pre-packaged commercial products to gut-load them or feed them salad items such as butternut squash, sweet potato, collard green, mustard greens. You can feed them fruit, but be aware that this can be messy and attract fruit flies.

How do I gut load Superworms?

To gut-load your superworms, you can use commercial products that are made to provide a range of nutrients that will be passed onto your reptile. You can also feed them salad items you would safely feed to your pet of choice to pass the nutrients from the salad into your superworms, making them more nutritious for your animal.

How do I house my superworms?

When your superworms arrive, they will either come in a small plastic tub, or they will arrive in a cloth sack. To keep your superworms alive and healthy, it is best to transfer them to a plastic container, kitty litter box, or tote of some kind if you are going to use a lid, then poke plenty of air holes in the lid for ventilation. Fill the tub a few inches deep with a substrate such as oat bran, wheat bran, or uncooked oatmeal; they will burrow in this and also eat it to stay alive. Feed them using a commercial product used for gut loading purposes, or simply toss in some salad items such as butternut squash, sweet potato, collard green, mustard greens. You can feed them fruit, but be aware that this can be messy and attract fruit flies.

As long as the superworms are kept together, they shouldn't pupate, although it isn't unheard of for one or two to do this from time to time, but it is nothing to be concerned about. If this happens, you can just leave the pupae in the tub with the others and see if it turns into a beetle, take it out and watch it as a fun experiment, or feed it to your pet. For more in-depth information, check out our guide on how to care for your superworms.

How do I feed superworms to my pets?

Since they only have very tiny legs, superworms are easy to feed to your animal. They can be easily held with tweezers or tongs or if you are brave enough and used to them your hands, and hand-fed to your reptile or whichever animal you have. They can also be added to a bowl, and since they cannot climb well, they won't escape as long as the container is tall enough. 

Should I add supplements to superworms before feeding them to my pet?

If you have a supplement schedule for your pet and it is time for one of their supplement feedings, then yes. Usually, you can throw some superworms in a bag, add a pinch of the powder you need to add, and shake the bag up, which will evenly coat the superworms, then you can feed them to your pet as usual.

Can superworms bite?

Yes, they can bite. While their bite will not hurt humans, it just feels like a small prickle to our skin; their bite can feel more uncomfortable to certain species, especially smaller reptiles; you may notice your pet flinch if they get bitten by a superworm, but it shouldn't cause them any harm. Crickets have a worse bite than superworms.

How old does my pet have to be to eat Superworms?

Superworms can generally be fed to any age animal, as long as they are a recommended feeder insect for them. You will need to make sure that you use the appropriate size for the age of your pet, for example, if you have a baby/juvenile, then you may need to use extra small/small superworms if you have an adult, then medium/large may be more suitable for your pet.

What happens if my order arrives dead?

Every effort is always taken to ensure that your order arrives alive, we always pack more bugs into our shipments just in case. On the off chance that your order does arrive dead, just send us a photo of the dead bugs in the container they came in and we will send you a replacement or issue you a credit on your account as long as the package has not been left outside to sit for longer than 1 hour.

What if I receive the wrong item?

If you receive the wrong item, please send us a message with your order number, the item you received, and the item you were supposed to receive. We do make mistakes, but we would be happy to send a replacement order.

What if I receive someone else’s order?

This doesn’t happen very often, but there is always a chance we may mix up a packing slip or shipping label. If this happens, just send us the order number of the order you received, and your order number so we can send a replacement order.

If you have any questions that haven't been answered here, go to the page for your product in question and scroll to the customer reviews and post your question there.