Mealworms vs Superworms: Which Feeder Is Right for Your Pet?
They look similar, they're both darkling beetle larvae, and they're both staple feeders — but mealworms and superworms are different animals with different jobs. Here's the practical comparison.
Size and body
Mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) reach about 2.5cm. Superworms (Zophobas morio) reach 5cm or more with a noticeably softer body relative to their size. That single difference drives most of the decision: small pets get mealworms, larger pets get superworms.
Nutrition at a glance
Mealworms: roughly 20% protein, 13% fat. Superworms: roughly 19% protein, 17% fat. The higher fat makes superworms excellent for conditioning underweight animals and as a treat, but a leaner choice like dubia roaches or crickets is better as an everyday staple for animals prone to weight gain. Both are low in calcium — dust with a calcium supplement before feeding either.
Storage — the big trap
Mealworms love the cold: 8–15°C pauses pupation and stretches their life to 6+ weeks. Superworms are the opposite — refrigeration kills them. Keep supers at room temperature (21–26°C) in bran, and they'll hold in larval form for months in a group. If you've ever put superworms in the fridge and found a tub of dead worms, this is why.
Which pet gets which
Leopard geckos and smaller lizards: mealworms as a staple, superworms as an occasional treat once the gecko is adult-sized. Bearded dragons: juveniles take mealworms; adults handle superworms well, in moderation. Birds and chickens: both work, sized to the bird. Large fish, monitors and monkeys: superworms deliver more meal per item. Tarantulas and scorpions: either, matched to the animal's size.
Price and value
Mealworms start cheaper per tub (from R35) and suit high-frequency small feedings. Superworms (from R51) cost more per worm but each worm is several times the meal, so cost per gram of feeder often favours supers for bigger animals.
The verdict
Small insectivores → mealworms. Bigger appetites, conditioning, or treat variety → superworms. Most keepers with more than one animal end up ordering both — they store completely differently, so keep the storage rules straight (see our mealworm care guide) and each tub will last.