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Can Rats Eat Mealworms? (Read This First!)

As a pet, rats are also becoming popular day-by-day. Therefore, people are looking for the right pet food for their rats as the rats can eat most of the pet food but not all.

What about the mealworms? People want to know if mealworms are suitable for rats or not. Today, we will explain everything that will ultimately meet your queries.

Can rats eat mealworms?

Rats can eat mealworms. Mealworm is the larval form of mealworm. Also, they are a great source of protein. However, your rat will enjoy having the processed mealworm rather than living one. Living insects can disrupt the rat’s stomach. But dried mealworms are the ideal rat foods.

Mealworms are good for rat health. But if you only provide this food, your rat will suffer from some health issues. Mainly, it will not get enough vitamins and other essential nutrients.

It’s time to reveal the perfect way to feed mealworms to your rats.

Mealworm beetles:

Rats can eat mealworm beetles. But it would help if you did not offer your rats the live beetles. Instead, you may go for the processed ones. It will not cause any stomach issues.

Beetles are the perfect pet food. If you want to fridge them for a few months, you can do that. It would be an excellent idea as well.

Freeze-dried mealworms:

Dried mealworms are always preferable, as your rat can quickly eat the freeze-dried mealworms. They will not create any health issues either.

Also, freezing dried mealworms is an excellent way to preserve pet food. Your rat will also love to have them regularly.

Live mealworms:

Though your rat can eat live mealworms, they are not suitable for the rat’s health. Modified mealworms are the best in this regard. Since the live mealworms might come with viruses and germs, you should make some modifications.

However, live mealworms are the best source of protein. If you find the rat lacks muscle and protein, live mealworms would be the best source.

Do mealworms attract rats?

Mealworms don’t attract rats. Only if you have pet rats and it gets in the habit of eating mealworms regularly, then the mealworms will attract the rats. However, it would help if you did not addict your rats to mealworms.

Typically, rats are attracted by odors and pet foods. Also, the garbage container can attract rats easily. But it would be best if you didn’t try this way. Instead, try to give your rat a good diet and eating habits.

Moreover, mealworms are living insects. Though they don’t attract the rats, you may try modified or dried mealworms that will surely attract the rats. Don’t force the rats to make the habit overnight.

Would rats eat mealworms? Do rats like mealworms?

Rats would eat mealworms because they are the best pet food. They also provide a high amount of protein that helps the rat build muscle and be healthy. But rats will take some time to get used to mealworms.

Mealworms are living things. When you offer your rats to eat them, rats might not find them attractive. After a week or a few days, rats will love it.

Rats like mealworms. To be exact, rats love to eat dried and modified mealworms. Especially if you freeze them and then offer the rats, it will comfortably take it. On the other hand, the rats will love them when they eat the mealworms regularly for a month.

So, rats would eat mealworms, and they would like them as well. Be patient, and try to make it a regular habit for your rats.

How many mealworms should rats eat?

An adult rat can eat 15-20 grams of food every time. On the other hand, each mealworm weighs about 130-160 milligrams. Considering this information, your rats should eat 40-45 mealworms.

Rats need 5-6 grams of protein food every day. In that case, 40 mealworms are enough for the rats. Be sure not to give too much protein foods as they contain high fat.

However, you may follow the usual requirements to feed mealworms once in a few weeks to your rats. It helps to keep the rat’s body fit and grow naturally. A proper diet can meet your rat’s food needs.

How do you feed a rat with mealworms?

Feeding a rat with mealworms is no longer a difficult task. You can use both the dried and fridge mealworms. Rats love to eat them regularly.

However, we are adding some steps to let you know how to feed a rat with mealworms.

Mix with seeds:

Mix mealworms with seeds. It would be an excellent way to feed a rat with mealworms as the rats love to have seeds as their meal. They will take the mealworms along with grains.

Also, mealworms don’t attract rats easily. It will be an excellent modification when you mix them with the seeds. Therefore, the rat will take them as a regular meal.

Modify form:

Modifying the mealworms is another way to feed your rat. In this case, you may dry the mealworms and offer your rats. Dried mealworms are better, and also rats find their interest in having such mealworms.

Drying means dried mealworms. They will provide a perfect amount of protein as well. Also, you can easily feed your rats the dried mealworms.

Freeze mealworm:

Freezing mealworms is another way to feed the rats with mealworms. Here, you can refrigerate the mealworm for up to a few months. They will be excellent pet food.

Moreover, freezing mealworms are also a good meal for the rat. But your rats need to make a habit of eating freezing mealworms regularly. Otherwise, it might create stomach issues.

Feed them raw:

You may feed the rats living mealworms as well. Though it is not an ideal practice, it could be away. You can try to put some mealworms in front of the rat, and let’s see what happens.

If you find your rat eating living mealworms, you can go for it. Otherwise, avoid feeding your rats the living mealworms.

What rodents eat mealworms?

Rats are the most popular rodents that eat mealworms. But there are more like them. However, rodents like to eat mealworms on a diet basis. Though the mealworms cannot attract the rodents naturally, rodents can eat them if they want to.

Moreover, rodents have different species that also eat mealworms. We are about to explain them. Keep on reading.


are well-known rodents that can eat both dried and living mealworms regularly. But you should not give your rats too many mealworms as they contain high fat.


is also a rodent. Therefore, it can also eat mealworms. They love to enjoy their meal with mealworms. You may use mixed or modified mealworms for them.


is another rodent that can also eat mealworms. Mealworms are a great source of protein. Therefore, you can indeed treat your hamsters with dried mealworms.


As a rodent, squirrels can also eat mealworms. They love to have them as their main meal. If you are a pet lover, you may notice this exciting habit of your squirrel.

What should you not feed rats?

Rats can eat different pet foods, including mealworms. But there are some foods that you should not feed your pet rats. Some foods can do internal damage to your rats as well as they can kill them too.

In that case, you need to avoid such foods and make sure these foods are not on your pet food list. If so, cut them off from the list.

Foods that you should not feed rats are:

  • Chocolate
  • Caffeine
  • Mango peels
  • Lemon peels
  • Sweet Potato
  • Raw Beans
  • Wild Insects

These are the foods that you should avoid feeding your rats. Among them, the combination of chocolate and caffeine can kill rats instantly. Be careful. Your rats don’t have any immune system to digest such foods.

Moreover, D-limonene is another ingredient that can damage the rat’s internal health. In that case, you should avoid foods like mango and lemon peels or juice. They are extremely dangerous to the rats’ health.

Wild insects and the potato are also not the ideal rat food either. Your rat cannot digest them in any way. Therefore, these foods will create stomach issues. To avoid any unwanted diseases of the rats, you must avoid these foods.

Wild insects are especially harmful to the rat’s health. They bear some unknown viruses and germs. When the rats eat such insects, they will also swallow the virus. As a result, rats suffer a lot.

Final Thoughts

Mealworms are a good source of protein, and your rat can quickly eat them. You can use the dried and refrigerated mealworms instead of the living ones. In that case, your rats need to have a habit of eating mealworms regularly or once a week. 5-6 grams of mealworms are ideal for a rat’s meal.