Can Bearded Dragons Eat Locusts?

Bearded dragons are some of the most popular pet lizards, and like any other pet, they have specific dietary needs in order to stay healthy. Many people wonder if bearded dragons can eat locusts – after all, they do look a lot like crickets!

The answer is yes: bearded dragons can safely eat locusts as part of their diet. This article will discuss why bearded dragons should be fed locusts and how to properly prepare them for your dragon’s meals. Read on to learn more about this tasty treat for your scaly friend!

What Are Locusts?

Locusts are a type of grasshopper that is known for swarming in large numbers when conditions are right. They are omnivorous and feed on plants, insects, fruits, and seeds. In the wild they provide an important food source for many animals including birds, reptiles, and mammals.

Are Locusts Safe For Bearded Dragons To Eat?

Yes! Locusts can be included as part of a healthy diet for your bearded dragon. These insect pests contain essential vitamins and minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, zinc, iron and vitamin B12 which all help to keep your beardie healthy. As with any other insect you give to your pet reptile it is important to make sure that the locusts have been kept in clean conditions before feeding them to your dragon.

How Should You Prepare Locusts For Your Bearded Dragon?

• The first step is to ensure that the locusts are free from parasites or diseases by soaking them in warm salt water for 10-15 minutes.
• Once this has been done rinse off the water with cold tap water.
• Place the locusts onto something like kitchen roll so that any remaining moisture can evaporate.
• Dust them lightly with a calcium supplement powder suitable for reptiles – this will add extra nutrition into their meal.
• You can now feed the locusts directly to your bearded dragon or store them in the refrigerator if you wish to use them at a later date.

Are Locust Good For Bearded Dragons?

The answer to this question depends on the species of locust being considered. Generally, it is not recommended to feed bearded dragons wild-caught locusts as they can contain parasites and other contaminants that may be harmful to your pet’s health. However, commercially bred mealworms and crickets are safe for bearded dragons and provide important nutrition.

Bearded dragons require a balanced diet of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and water in order to remain healthy. Locusts are an excellent source of protein but should only be fed in moderation due to their high fat content.

In addition, some locusts may contain calcium which can cause calcium deficiency if eaten too frequently or in large amounts by bearded dragons; therefore it is best to avoid them altogether if possible. There are many other insect sources that provide better nutrition for bearded dragons such as crickets, wax worms and silkworms which have higher levels of the essential nutrients required for proper growth and development.

How Many Locusts Should A Bearded Dragon Eat A Day?

A bearded dragon’s diet should be composed of a variety of insects, including locusts. However, how many you feed them depends on the size and age of your pet.

Generally speaking, a juvenile bearded dragon should eat about 10-15 adult-sized locusts per day, while an adult bearded dragon can consume up to 20-30 locusts per day. Remember that these amounts are just guidelines – if you notice your pet is not eating enough or too much, it may be time to adjust the amount of food they are given.

Be sure to only give your bearded dragon live food such as locusts; canned or processed foods do not provide adequate nutrition for them. When feeding your bearded dragon locusts, make sure they are gut loaded with calcium and other vitamins and minerals before being fed to your pet.

Gut loading simply means feeding the insect nutritious food prior to giving it to the reptile so that they can absorb all necessary nutrients from their prey item. Also make sure any insects offered are no bigger than half the width of your beardie’s head – if they’re larger than this they could choke or injure themselves trying to swallow them whole! Finally, always remove any uneaten food from their enclosure after each feeding session in order to prevent mold growth and attract unwanted pests like mites into their habitat.

Can Locusts Hurt Bearded Dragons?

Bearded dragons, or Pogona vitticeps, are a popular pet choice among reptile enthusiasts. They are often kept in terrariums and need to be provided with the proper care and nutrition in order to thrive. One potential issue that can arise during bearded dragon ownership is an infestation of locusts. While these pests may seem harmless, they can cause serious harm to your beloved bearded dragon.

Locusts may invade a bearded dragon’s terrarium if left unchecked for too long. These insects feed on plants and other organic material inside the enclosure which can lead to malnutrition of your pet lizard if it doesn’t have enough appropriate food sources available.

Furthermore, locusts can also bite or sting a bearded dragon if they come into contact with them while feeding. This type of physical injury could result in infection or even death depending upon the severity of the wound inflicted by the insect. Additionally, locusts carry mites which can spread disease amongst reptiles such as Bearded Dragons, making their presence all the more dangerous.

Because of this it is important to take necessary precautions when keeping Bearded Dragons as pets such as regularly cleaning their enclosures and providing adequate food sources for them so that locusts don’t become an issue in the first place.

Can Bearded Dragons Eat Dead Locusts?

Yes, bearded dragons can eat dead locusts. Dead locusts offer many of the same nutritional benefits as live ones. However, it is important to ensure that the dead locust has not been exposed to any toxins or harmful chemicals before feeding it to your dragon.

When preparing a dead locust for your bearded dragon, you should first remove any visible dirt or debris from its body by wiping it gently with a damp cloth. Then, check for signs of damage such as cuts or bruises and make sure there are no foreign objects in the stomach area that may have caused the death of the insect. If everything looks ok then you can feed it to your dragon.

Dead locusts provide an excellent source of nutrition for bearded dragons since they contain high levels of protein and calcium which are essential for proper growth and development. Additionally, they also contain other vitamins and minerals that help maintain good health in these reptiles. Just be sure to only feed them on occasion since too much could cause digestive issues if fed regularly over time.

What Insects Can Beardies Eat Daily?

Bearded dragons are omnivores, meaning that they can eat a variety of different food sources. In the wild, these lizards primarily feed on insects and small animals like mice. As such, it is important to provide your pet Beardy with a balanced diet that includes both plant-based foods and live insects.

When feeding your Beardie insects, it is best to stick with smaller species such as crickets, mealworms, waxworms and roaches. These types of bugs are easy for them to digest and high in protein content which helps keep their skin healthy and strong. It is important not to overfeed your Beardie as this can lead to obesity or other health problems. Generally speaking, you should limit insect intake to two or three times per week depending on the size of your lizard and its activity level.

In addition to providing your pet Beardy with its necessary proteins from insects, be sure to supplement their diet with leafy greens like kale or collard greens as well as vegetables such as carrots or squash for added vitamins and minerals. A well-balanced diet will help ensure that your beloved reptile stays happy and healthy!

Conclusion

In conclusion, locusts are a suitable food for bearded dragons and should be included in their regular diet. Bearded dragons enjoy eating locusts, as they provide them with an abundant source of nutrients such as protein, fat and calcium.

However, it is important to remember that locusts must be gut-loaded and dusted before being fed to ensure the dragon receives all essential vitamins and minerals. Additionally, since locusts can jump, it is important to feed them in a secure enclosure or tank so they cannot escape. When done correctly, feeding your pet bearded dragon locusts can provide many health benefits and add variety to their diet.