In short, ferrets can eat mealworms but in moderation. They are highly nutritious, especially in protein and a decent amount of calcium, vitamin B, zinc, magnesium, and amino acids.
While ferrets can eat mealworms, they should be fed as a treat and not as a staple part of their diet.
And there are chances that your ferrets might be allergic to mealworms, so it’s best to feed them as a treat occasionally.
Read on to know more about ferrets and mealworms.
Table of Contents
Can Ferrets Eat Mealworms?
Yes, ferrets can eat mealworms that, too, with pleasure. In fact, they are highly nutritious for your ferrets.
Mealworms are a rich source of protein.
Not only that, they are packed with vitamins, minerals, and all essential amino and fatty acids.
These amino and fatty acids are necessary for your ferrets.
Still, mealworms cannot fulfill their nutritional requirement.
Therefore, it should be fed as a treat only.
Lastly, these little worms are light, and ferrets can easily digest them.
And easy availability and low price make them handy.
Do Ferrets Like Mealworms?
Well, it depends!
In the wild, ferrets hunt and eat their prey, including bones, tissues, and organs.
So, there is nothing to not like it.
However, ferrets can be very picky sometimes.
Some ferrets may like the taste of mealworms, while others may dislike it due to the odd odor.
The easiest way to find out whether your ferret like mealworms or not is by offering them a few at first, and you’ll know exactly what they like.
So, if they like the taste of mealworms, it can be a great treat option for your ferrets.
But you should never force your ferrets to eat something they don’t like.
It might have an adverse effect on their health.
Are Mealworms Safe For Ferrets?
Mealworms are absolutely safe for ferrets.
They are enriched with several essential nutrients such as protein, calcium, zinc, taurine, and fatty acids.
Still, ferrets must eat high-quality meat; they cannot live on mealworms since they do not have all the nutrients a ferret needs.
But it can be fed as a treat once in a while.
However, some ferrets can be allergic to this insect.
In such cases, you should feed mealworms only as a treat.
Can Baby Ferrets Eat Mealworms?
It depends!
Baby ferrets, aka kits, should have only their mother’s milk for 4-6 weeks or until weaned.
After that, baby ferrets can have raw meats, including mealworms.
Mealworms should be given to ferret kits once they can eat and digest solid foods.
However, feeding mealworms to ferret kids is not recommended because their digestive system is still underdeveloped, and eating something like this might harm them.
Ferrets kids should have a diet high in meat and light on their stomachs.
But that doesn’t mean ferret kits cannot have mealworms. They can eat mealworms but only as a treat once in a while.
Can Ferrets Eat Cooked Mealworms?
Yes, ferrets can eat cooked mealworms.
Ferrets are obligate carnivores, and they are a high metabolism.
In the wild, ferrets hunt down their prey and eat raw meat, including bones, organs, and feathers.
So, naturally, ferrets should be eaten raw and not cooked food.
Cooked meals often have low nutritional value compared to raw food, and ferrets tend to eat raw meat.
And it might be hard for your ferrets to digest them, which eventually upsets their stomach.
However, ferrets can have cooked meals occasionally, but high-quality raw meat should be their first priority.
Can Ferrets Eat Dried Mealworms?
Yes, ferrets can have dried mealworms.
In fact, dried mealworms are more nutritious than live ones.
Dried mealworm contains 53% protein, 28% fat, and a decent amount of fiber which is way higher than live ones. [Source]
They are cheap and easily available even at odd times.
Therefore, mealworms are highly effective snack items if you want to give them a healthy and delicious treat.
How Often Ferrets Eat Mealworms?
1-2 times a week!
Ferrets can have mealworms every day, but it’s not recommended.
This is because mealworms cannot fulfill their daily nutritional requirement.
They are obligate carnivores and require a diet high in protein and low in fat and carbohydrates.
However, mealworms can occasionally be used as a treat but cannot replace their food.
So, if you are looking for something to treat your ferrets, mealworms are the best choice for them.
Are Mealworms Healthy For Ferrets?
Mealworms are indeed healthy for ferrets.
Ferrets are meat-eaters and usually have a diet high in protein and low in fat and carbohydrates.
Mealworm is a rich source of protein, vitamins, and minerals such as calcium, magnesium, copper, and zinc.
These are essential for the overall body function of your ferrets.
However, mealworms shouldn’t be considered a staple part of their diet.
This is because they cannot fulfill the nutrients requirement of your ferret. Therefore, it’s best to feed it only as a treat a few times a week.
Potential Risks of Feeding Mealworms to Ferrets
Ferrets are obligate carnivores, and they tend to eat meat base diet.
However, if your ferret overeats mealworm, it can cause digestion issues such as diarrhea, anorexia, loss of appetite, and so on.
Another issue could be salmonella and other parasites.
While salmonella in ferrets is rare, there are chances that they can carry salmonella, parasites, and other bacteria and spread it to others.
What Should I Feed My Ferrets?
Ferrets are obligate carnivores which means they should only eat fresh meat. They usually prey upon animals and eat almost everything, including raw meat, bones, organs, and other edible things.
Bones are not only high in nutrients like calcium but also a good exercise for their jaw and teeth.
While feeding bones, ensure they are large so they won’t try swallowing the whole bone.
And avoid feeding cooked bones because of splinters; they can cause internal injury.
However, now a majority of ferrets are domesticated.
Several types of kibble foods are available in the market for ferrets, but fresh raw meat is best for them.
For example, ferrets can eat chicken, chicken wings, stripped or carcasses, insects, worms, lamb, beef mince, organs, etc.
But it’s best to prepare a raw soup for your ferrets. It’s made with raw meat, bones, liver, heart and other organs.
Typically they eat a diet high in protein and fat but should be low on carbohydrates and fiber to stay healthy.
Final Thoughts
To sum up, ferrets can eat mealworms in moderation.
They are a rich protein and fat source and contain most amino and fatty acids.
Though mealworms are highly nutritious, they should be fed only as a treat once in a while and shouldn’t replace their meat-based diet.
So, if your ferrets enjoy eating mealworms, you can feed them once or twice a week.
However, there is a chance that your ferrets might be allergic to mealworms.
In such cases, you should first give a small number of mealworms and observe them.
If you see any signs of allergy or abnormal behavior in your pet, immediately stop feeding it and consult your vet.
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