I N C E P T I O N A I
  2. Pet supplies
  3. Insects
  4. Feeding supplies feeder insects
  5. Prepared feeder insects

Prepared Feeder Insects Canada 2025: Expert Guide to the Top 5 Ready-to-Feed Options — Save Time, Ensure Consistent Nutrition, Shop Smart

Published on Thursday, August 21, 2025

Prepared feeder insects are ready-to-feed options such as freeze-dried, canned, or pre-killed insects that offer convenience and long shelf life. In Canada these products appeal to hobbyists, breeders, and retailers who need dependable nutrition without the time, space, and regulatory hassles of keeping live colonies. Consumers prefer prepared feeders for predictable portioning, easier storage and shipping across provinces, reduced live-insect mortality, and the ability to maintain consistent feeding schedules for reptiles, amphibians, birds, and insectivorous fish. Freeze-dried items are prized for lightweight storage and long shelf life, canned insect products provide ready moisture and ease of use, and pre-killed frozen or dehydrated feeds combine safety with fast feeding. Prepared feeder insects also reduce biosecurity risks and inventory uncertainty, which is especially important for small retailers and seasonal hobbyists in varied Canadian climates.

Quick Menu

1. Top Freeze-Dried Crickets

2. Top Canned Crickets

3. Best Canned Mealworms

4. Top Freeze-Dried Mealworms

5. Best Mini Canned Mealies

1
TOP FREEZE-DRIED CRICKETS

Fluker's Freeze-Dried Crickets

Fluker's

Fluker's freeze-dried crickets are positioned as a best-in-class dry feeder for hobbyists who value long shelf life, light weight, and low storage cost; they rehydrate well and are simple to dust with supplements. Compared with the canned options from Zoo Med and Exo Terra, Fluker's delivers better pack density and a lower cost-per-feed for bulk use, though it sacrifices the immediate hydration and palatability of moist canned insects.

4.2
★★★★☆

  • Protein-packed crunch

  • Ready-to-serve

  • Protein-packed crunch

  • Ready-to-serve

Review Summary

82%

"Convenient, widely accepted by reptiles and easy to store; users note they are drier and dustier than live crickets and less nutritious, with occasional packaging issues."

  • Crunch party!

  • Shelf-stable freeze-dried crickets ready to feed with no prep required

  • Crunch party!

  • Shelf-stable freeze-dried crickets ready to feed with no prep required

Recreational Enjoyment

Time-Saving Convenience

Fluker's freeze-dried crickets are positioned as a best-in-class dry feeder for hobbyists who value long shelf life, light weight, and low storage cost; they rehydrate well and are simple to dust with supplements. Compared with the canned options from Zoo Med and Exo Terra, Fluker's delivers better pack density and a lower cost-per-feed for bulk use, though it sacrifices the immediate hydration and palatability of moist canned insects.

  • Protein-packed crunch

  • Ready-to-serve

  • Crunch party!

  • Shelf-stable freeze-dried crickets ready to feed with no prep required

  • Retains natural nutrients and chitin to support digestion

  • Protein-packed crunch

  • Ready-to-serve

  • Crunch party!

  • Shelf-stable freeze-dried crickets ready to feed with no prep required

  • Retains natural nutrients and chitin to support digestion

Order Now

$10-18 CAD

2
TOP CANNED CRICKETS

Zoo Med Can O' Crickets

Zoo Med

Zoo Med’s Can O' Crickets focuses on ready-to-feed convenience and palatability by offering pre-processed, shelf-stable canned crickets that reduce waste and coax hesitant eaters. Financially it typically carries a higher per-feed price than freeze-dried alternatives like Fluker's, but its technical advantage is immediate moisture and attractant retention that can improve uptake by picky or young reptiles.

4.5
★★★★☆

  • Canned convenience

  • Hydrated and soft

  • Canned convenience

  • Hydrated and soft

Review Summary

89%

"Praised for freshness, softness and convenience — reptiles often take them readily; some buyers mention a higher price and occasional texture preferences."

  • Pop-open feast!

  • Canned, soft crickets offering a moist texture that many feeders prefer

  • Pop-open feast!

  • Canned, soft crickets offering a moist texture that many feeders prefer

Recreational Enjoyment

Time-Saving Convenience

Zoo Med’s Can O' Crickets focuses on ready-to-feed convenience and palatability by offering pre-processed, shelf-stable canned crickets that reduce waste and coax hesitant eaters. Financially it typically carries a higher per-feed price than freeze-dried alternatives like Fluker's, but its technical advantage is immediate moisture and attractant retention that can improve uptake by picky or young reptiles.

  • Canned convenience

  • Hydrated and soft

  • Pop-open feast!

  • Canned, soft crickets offering a moist texture that many feeders prefer

  • Convenient single-serve or multisize cans for easy portioning

  • Canned convenience

  • Hydrated and soft

  • Pop-open feast!

  • Canned, soft crickets offering a moist texture that many feeders prefer

  • Convenient single-serve or multisize cans for easy portioning

Order Now

$15-25 CAD

3
BEST CANNED MEALWORMS

Exo Terra Canned Mealworms

Exo Terra
🏠 Local Product

Exo Terra’s canned mealworms are marketed for high palatability and hydration, making them a market leader for animals that need softer, moist feeders or extra water intake from food. Compared to freeze-dried mealworms from Fluker's, Exo Terra’s product often costs more but reduces the need for rehydration and can lower handling time and feeder loss from refusing animals.

4.6
★★★★☆

  • Soft mealworms ready

  • No feeding fuss

  • Soft mealworms ready

  • No feeding fuss

Review Summary

90%

"Very palatable and soft, good for picky or small feeders and ready-to-serve straight from the can; a common note is a stronger scent and a higher per-unit cost."

  • Wormy banquet!

  • Pre-canned mealworms that are soft and immediately palatable

  • Wormy banquet!

  • Pre-canned mealworms that are soft and immediately palatable

Recreational Enjoyment

Time-Saving Convenience

Exo Terra’s canned mealworms are marketed for high palatability and hydration, making them a market leader for animals that need softer, moist feeders or extra water intake from food. Compared to freeze-dried mealworms from Fluker's, Exo Terra’s product often costs more but reduces the need for rehydration and can lower handling time and feeder loss from refusing animals.

  • Soft mealworms ready

  • No feeding fuss

  • Wormy banquet!

  • Pre-canned mealworms that are soft and immediately palatable

  • High-protein option suitable for reptiles, amphibians, and birds

  • Soft mealworms ready

  • No feeding fuss

  • Wormy banquet!

  • Pre-canned mealworms that are soft and immediately palatable

  • High-protein option suitable for reptiles, amphibians, and birds

Order Now

$8-15 CAD

4
TOP FREEZE-DRIED MEALWORMS

Fluker's Freeze-Dried Mealworms

Fluker's

Fluker's freeze-dried mealworms offer a cost-effective, lightweight option with excellent shelf stability and easy supplement application, making them attractive for large-scale or travel use. Technically they outperform canned mealworms on storage and price-per-ounce, though they do not provide the immediate moisture and palatability benefits that canned products like Exo Terra and Zoo Med offer.

4
★★★★☆

  • Long-shelf protein

  • Lightweight travel snack

  • Long-shelf protein

  • Lightweight travel snack

Review Summary

79%

"Handy and accepted by many reptiles, but commonly criticized for being dry and dusty compared with live mealworms and for offering less nutritional value."

  • Mealworm confetti!

  • Crunchy freeze-dried mealworms that preserve nutrient content

  • Mealworm confetti!

  • Crunchy freeze-dried mealworms that preserve nutrient content

Recreational Enjoyment

Time-Saving Convenience

Fluker's freeze-dried mealworms offer a cost-effective, lightweight option with excellent shelf stability and easy supplement application, making them attractive for large-scale or travel use. Technically they outperform canned mealworms on storage and price-per-ounce, though they do not provide the immediate moisture and palatability benefits that canned products like Exo Terra and Zoo Med offer.

  • Long-shelf protein

  • Lightweight travel snack

  • Mealworm confetti!

  • Crunchy freeze-dried mealworms that preserve nutrient content

  • Mess-free feeding and lightweight for easy storage

  • Long-shelf protein

  • Lightweight travel snack

  • Mealworm confetti!

  • Crunchy freeze-dried mealworms that preserve nutrient content

  • Mess-free feeding and lightweight for easy storage

Order Now

$12-20 CAD

5
BEST MINI CANNED MEALIES

Zoo Med Can O' Mini Mealies

Zoo Med

Zoo Med’s Can O' Mini Mealies target juvenile and small species with appropriately sized, ready-to-feed canned mealworms that combine convenience and hydration in a small package. They typically command a premium versus bulk freeze-dried mini mealworms but deliver technical advantages for feeding efficiency and reduced choking or handling issues in small or fussy feeders.

4.5
★★★★☆

  • Junior-sized bites

  • Canned hassle-free

  • Junior-sized bites

  • Canned hassle-free

Review Summary

88%

"Mini canned mealworms are popular for hatchlings and small species — soft, convenient, and readily eaten; reviewers often mention they are more expensive than dried alternatives."

  • Tiny treat fiesta!

  • Small-sized canned mealworms ideal for hatchlings and small pets

  • Tiny treat fiesta!

  • Small-sized canned mealworms ideal for hatchlings and small pets

Recreational Enjoyment

Time-Saving Convenience

Zoo Med’s Can O' Mini Mealies target juvenile and small species with appropriately sized, ready-to-feed canned mealworms that combine convenience and hydration in a small package. They typically command a premium versus bulk freeze-dried mini mealworms but deliver technical advantages for feeding efficiency and reduced choking or handling issues in small or fussy feeders.

  • Junior-sized bites

  • Canned hassle-free

  • Tiny treat fiesta!

  • Small-sized canned mealworms ideal for hatchlings and small pets

  • High moisture content aids hydration during feeding

  • Junior-sized bites

  • Canned hassle-free

  • Tiny treat fiesta!

  • Small-sized canned mealworms ideal for hatchlings and small pets

  • High moisture content aids hydration during feeding

Order Now

$10-18 CAD

What the Research Says About Prepared Feeder Insects

Peer-reviewed research and industry studies have examined nutrient retention, microbial safety, shelf stability, and palatability of processed feeder insects. While live feeder insects remain important for some species and behaviors, the scientific literature supports prepared options as a practical, often safe alternative when they are produced and stored correctly. Below are key findings translated for beginners and buyers.

Nutrient retention: Studies in journals such as Journal of Insects as Food and Feed show that properly processed methods like freeze-drying and canning preserve protein and essential amino acids well compared with fresh insects, though some heat-sensitive vitamins may be reduced.

Microbial safety: Research published in applied microbiology and animal feed outlets indicates that canning and proper dehydration significantly reduce bacterial and parasite loads versus untreated live insects, lowering disease risk for captive animals.

Shelf stability: Freeze-dried and canned formats extend usable shelf life and reduce waste. Packaging with oxygen barriers and moisture control keeps products stable in typical household and retail conditions.

Palatability and acceptance: Controlled feeding trials report good acceptance for many reptiles and insectivores when prepared insects are offered either dry or after light rehydration, though individual species preferences exist.

Supplementation still matters: Scientific guidance emphasizes gut-loading and dusting or vitamin supplementation of prepared insects when necessary to ensure correct calcium to phosphorus balance for reptiles and growing animals.

Practical trade-offs: Freeze-dried products excel at weight and storage efficiency, canned options provide immediate moisture and ease of use, and frozen pre-killed items offer a middle ground of nutrient preservation with fewer processing steps.

In the Canadian market for 2025, prepared feeder insects make feeding simpler and more predictable for hobbyists and small retailers. The five main options covered here are Fluker's Freeze-Dried Crickets, Zoo Med Can O' Crickets, Exo Terra Canned Mealworms, Fluker's Freeze-Dried Mealworms, and Zoo Med Can O' Mini Mealies. Each has strengths: Fluker's Freeze-Dried Crickets and Mealworms offer long shelf life and portability, Zoo Med canned products deliver ready moisture and convenience, and Exo Terra canned mealworms are a solid canned alternative. For most Canadian hobbyists and retailers seeking a balance of nutrition, convenience, and shelf stability, Fluker's Freeze-Dried Mealworms are the best all-round choice due to broad acceptance by insectivores, long shelf life, and ease of portioning. We hope you found what you were looking for — use the site search to refine by species, format, brand, or price if you want to expand or narrow your results.

Discover More
  • Live Feeder Insects
  • Feeder Insect Diets and Gutload
  • Supplements and Fortified Dusts
  • Feeding Tools and Trays
  • Hydration Gels and Water Supplements
  • Sustainably Farmed Feeder Insects

Copyright © 2025 InceptionAi Inc.

Trademark Policy

Articles

About Us

Contact Us

Careers

Sitemap