Can Bearded Dragons Eat Insects?

The bearded dragons are omnivores. They can eat insects, veggies, meat, and some fruits. The bearded dragons need food with proper protein and calcium. Providing a nutritious and varied diet is vital for the good health of the Bearded Dragons. Here the question arises: Can Bearded Dragons Eat Insects?

Yes, the Bearded Dragons eat insects. They can eat various kinds of insects. The best insects to feed Bearded Dragons contain a sufficient amount of calcium, protein, and trace minerals. Don’t feed Bearded Dragon insects that are caught in the wild.

Related: Can Bearded Dragons Eat Hornworms?

The best insects for bearded dragons

Following are the best insects that you can feed  Bearded Dragons.

• Dubia Roaches

Dubia Roaches are known as one of the best insects for the Bearded dragons. They are high in protein content, have low-fat content, and also provide a good amount of valuable nutrients. This feeder insect is easy for Bearded Dragons to digest, they come in various sizes that depend on their life stage.

• Goliath worms

 Goliath worms are also known as Horned worms are another best choice as staple insects for Bearded Dragons. These worms are a good rich source of protein. You can buy Goliath Worms at pet stores, you can also purchase them online. They mostly come in big cups that are pre-loaded with foodstuff and possess 15 – 25 worms.

Nutritional Information

• Moisture content – 85%
• Protein content – 9%
• Fat content – 3%
• Calcium content – 46.4mg/100mg
• Wax worms

These are small white-colored worms and an excellent treat for occasions to offer Bearded Dragons. These worms can not be considered a staple food, because they contain high-fat content. You can feed adult Bearded dragons 5-6 waxworms in a day. Giving too many Wax Worms can lead to obesity issues later in the bearded dragon’s life.

• Mealworms

Mealworms are a popular feeder insect for bearded dragons. They contain a hard outer covering called chitin. Chitin is hard to digest for young bearded dragons. You can feed Mealworms to adult Bearded Dragons. You can purchase mealworms from pet stores, they are also available online. 

• Crickets

Crickets provide a sufficient amount of calcium and protein. These are also popular insects for Bearded Dragons. They are available in bait shops and pet stores. Bearded Dragons can feel difficulty digesting crickets because of their hard body (hind legs are hard to digest).

• Phoenix Worms (Black soldier fly larvae)

Phoenix worms (Black soldier fly larvae) are good feeder insects that you can give to your Bearded Dragons. They contain high protein content and calcium. These are good nutritious insects for your pet. They are small in size, so large quantities are needed to feed the adult bearded dragons that are hard to maintain and also possibly expensive. The best method to serve Phoenix worms is to place these worms in shallow bowls.

• Butter worms

Butter worms are also little worms (about 1 inch in the length) that give good protein content and high calcium level. This small worm is one of the best feeder insects that you can offer to your bearded dragons. You can buy the butter worms at pet stores or online vendors.

• Earthworms

The earthworm is not a very popular insect feeder for Bearded Dragons but is a good source of moisture and calcium. You can offer earthworms to your bearded dragons on occasions. You can purchase earthworms from pet stores, online vendors, and trusted bait shops. You should rinse off the earthworms before giving them to the Bearded Dragon to remove any harmful particles.

• Silkworms

Silkworms are also small, soft-bodied worms, that are very nutritious. The silkworms boast a high level of moisture and protein content. The silkworms possess moderate amounts of fat and beneficial content of ash (phosphorus, potassium, and calcium). High levels of protein in silkworms make it a nutritious food for Bearded Dragons.

• Locusts

Locusts are also an excellent insect to feed a Bearded Dragon. They provide high amounts of protein and low levels of fat.

How to take care of the feeder insects?

 Feeding these insects the high-quality foodstuff before giving them to a Bearded Dragon ensures that the insects are nutritious. Dubia roaches and crickets can be easily kept in the cricket Pen or a similar container, and it also needs a water source for moisture.

Usually, most insects come in a container with bedding and/or foodstuff. For the complete food source, add Rehash Super Load to the container for the Mealworms, Wax worms, Phoenix worms, and Earthworms. Mulberry leaves are the main source of food for silkworms. Feeder insects should be dusted with the calcium powder before offering it to the Bearded dragon.

Summary 

The Bearded dragons can eat insects. Locusts, silkworms, earthworms, Goliath worms, Dubia roaches, Phoenix worms, mealworms, and Waxworms are the insects that the Bearded Dragons can eat. Some of these are part of a staple diet and some are used as an occasional treat.  They should be given a proper guide.