Reptiles

REPTILES

Feeding Guide

A natural, calcium-rich live food your bearded dragons, geckos, skinks and other insect-eating reptiles will respond to. Here's everything you need to know about feeding calciwormsC

WHICH REPTILES CAN EAT CALCIWORMS?

Many insect-eating reptiles can eat Calciworms, including bearded dragons, leopard geckos, crested geckos, day geckos, skinks, anoles and chameleons. They're naturally high in calcium and soft-bodied, making them a useful alternative to calcium-poor feeder insects such as mealworms.

What size should I choose?

Prey size matters — food that is too large can be stressful or unsafe, while food that is too small may be ignored. As a simple guide, choose Calciworms no wider than the space between your reptile's eyes:

Juveniles

Start with smaller larvae

Small geckos

Suitably sized smaller larvae

Adults

Increase size gradually as they grow

Calciworms are not suitable as the only food and should be offered as part of a varied feeding routine alongside other suitable feeder insects.

Do Calciworms need gut loading or dusting?

No — Calciworms are naturally high in calcium, so they don't need gut loading or nutrient dusting the way many common feeder insects do. This is one of their main advantages over mealworms and crickets.

Reptile nutrition still depends on the whole diet. Keep following species-specific advice on supplements, UVB lighting, calcium provision and overall feeding routine.

How should I offer them?

  • Use a shallow dish or controlled feeding area so larvae don't disappear into the substrate
  • Offer on a clear feeding area so they're easy to find and don't burrow away
  • Feed as part of a varied diet, alongside other suitable feeder insects
  • Remove uneaten food after feeding
  • Check suitability for your species, as reptile diets vary widely

What's the best way to introduce them?

Start with appropriately sized Live Calciworms in a shallow dish or clear feeding area where movement is easy to see. Most reptiles that already take live feeder insects respond well straight away.

Top tip

For very small reptiles or juveniles, start with smaller larvae and increase size gradually as they grow — this keeps feeding safe and stress-free as your reptile develops.

Live or dried Calciworms?

Live Calciworms

Usually the best option for reptiles. Movement helps trigger hunting behaviour, and soft bodies make them easy for many reptiles to take. Offer in a shallow dish or clear feeding area so they're easy to find.

Dried Calciworms

Less useful for many reptiles, since most insect-eating species prefer moving prey. Some may accept dried insects if already used to them, but Live Calciworms are usually better for feeding response and natural hunting behaviour.

Calciworms or mealworms?

Naturally much higher in calcium than mealworms

Softer-bodied, unlike the tougher outer shell of mealworms

No gut loading or nutrient dusting required

A useful option when calcium, softness and ease of feeding matter

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