How to Care for Your Superworms

Superworms (Zophobas morio) are a frequent staple food for reptiles and amphibians (Dubia Roaches are a great alternative staple).  They are the larval form of a large darkling beetle, not to be confused with the mealworm darkling beetle.

In order to provide optimal nutrition for the animals they feed, superworms need adequate food and hydration.  Superworms kept in groups are unlikely to leave the worm stage of development and are consequently a long-lasting feeder.

Housing

Superworms do best in an adequately sized and ventilated enclosure.  They don’t climb and are unlikely to escape but their enclosure should be covered to avoid spillage or interference by others in the household.  A small number of superworms can do well in a covered plastic cup or a 4”x6” “cricket keeper”. Larger numbers of superworms (over 100) require an enclosure at least the size of a 5 gallon (8”x16”x12”) or 10 gallon (“20”x10”x12”) aquarium.  An actual aquarium with a screen cover, or the commercially available “Faunarium” type plastic cages [insert link http://www.exo-terra.com/en/products/faunarium.php] can serve as the enclosure.  A similarly sized plastic tub with a cover will also work well.  The cover of the tub will require a hole cut in it and covered with a screen or mesh to provide ventilation. 

**Superworms should never be kept in the refrigerator since such cool temperatures will kill them**

Food

Superworms burrow in bedding which doubles as their food.  They require high-quality food in order to provide good nutrition for the animals they feed.  They are frequently sold in a bedding of wheat bran, which looks like but is not sawdust. For best results, superworms should be provided with a bedding of high quality powdered grain mixture.  This mixture can be purchased as chicken mash, as insect “gut load” or formulated at home by putting a variety of cereals and grains through the blender. 

As the superworms consume the food, they leave behind droppings (called frass) and shed skins.  Eventually, the frass and shed skin can largely replace the powdered grain.  Be sure to check the composition of the bedding frequently (the frass is finer than the grain) and add more food as needed.

Hydration

Superworms depend on fruit and vegetables for their hydration. The most common items provided are carrots and potatoes.  They do well with all sorts of vegetable parings including eggplant peels, broccoli stems, cabbage, and cauliflower leaves.  It appears that they pass on the beta carotene in orange fruits and vegetables to the animals they feed, resulting in good nutrition and coloration. Care should be taken not to use items that can rot, mold, or cause the bedding to clump.  Remove fruit and vegetable items once they have dried out.