Can Bearded Dragons Eat Millipedes?

Bearded dragons are one of the most popular pet lizards in the world, and their diet is an important part of their health and wellbeing. While it’s easy to know what fruits and vegetables bearded dragons can eat, many people don’t realize that there are other items available for them to snack on too. This article will explore if bearded dragons can eat millipedes—and how these insects should be prepared before feeding them to your dragon.

Can Bearded Dragons Eat Millipedes?

Millipedes are an interesting species of invertebrate that can make a great snack for your bearded dragon. But before you go out and buy millipedes as part of your pet’s diet, it’s important to learn about their nutritional value and how to prepare them safely.

Nutritional Benefits

Millipedes provide an array of essential vitamins and minerals that bearded dragons need to stay healthy, including calcium, phosphorus, iron, zinc and other trace elements. Furthermore, they are low in fat content but high in protein—making them a beneficial addition to any reptile’s diet.

Preparing the Millipedes

Before feeding millipedes to your bearded dragon, it’s important to clean and sanitize them properly. Start by submerging the millipedes in warm water with a few drops of dish soap added. This will help kill off any parasites or bacteria that may be present on the insect’s body. Once done soaking for 5-10 minutes, rinse the millipede thoroughly with fresh water until all traces of dish soap have been removed.

How Often Should They Be Fed?

Bearded dragons should only eat millipedes occasionally as part of their well-rounded diet—roughly once every couple weeks is recommended. It is also important not to overfeed them; stick with 1-2 millipede per meal depending on the size of your dragon! Lastly, be sure to monitor your pet after each feeding session; if they experience any negative reactions such as vomiting or diarrhea then stop feeding immediately and consult with a veterinarian right away.

What Bugs Can Bearded Dragons Not Eat?

Bearded dragons should not eat bugs that are too large for them to swallow. If the bug is larger than their head, then it should not be fed to the dragon as it can lead to serious medical problems such as impaction or choking. Additionally, most bearded dragons do not have a lot of patience when trying to catch prey so any insect which is too fast for them may also cause injury if they try to hunt it down.

In terms of what specific kinds of insects beardies cannot consume, there are several types which pose potential health risks due to the toxins and other chemicals found in certain species. Fireflies, for instance, contain a chemical called lucibufagins which can be toxic in large enough doses.

Other potentially dangerous insects include centipedes and millipedes (which secrete caustic substances) along with some beetles like blister beetles and Japanese beetles (which contain toxins). It’s always best practice to avoid feeding your dragon any type of wild-caught bug unless you know exactly what kind it is and that it’s safe for consumption.

What Insects Can You Feed A Bearded Dragon?

Insects are an important part of a bearded dragon’s diet, providing essential nutrients and protein. There are several types of insects that you can feed your bearded dragon, including crickets, mealworms, dubia roaches, waxworms, and superworms. All of these insects should be live when fed to the dragon so they provide fresh food sources for them.

Crickets are one of the most common feeder insects used to feed bearded dragons. They come in various sizes to accommodate different stages of growth in your pet. Crickets should be gut loaded with nutritious foods such as fruits and vegetables before being offered to your bearded dragon.

Mealworms also make great dietary additions for beardies since they have high levels of fat, calcium, and protein. They should also be gut-loaded before feeding them to your pet in order to maximize their nutritional value.

Dubia roaches are another type of insect that bearded dragons enjoy eating due to their soft exoskeleton which is easy for the reptiles to digest. Dubia roaches should be allowed time to roam around freely before being introduced into the enclosure so that they can become active again after sitting dormant during transport or storage.

Waxworms are also popular among reptile keepers because they contain very fatty body tissues which provides additional energy and vitamins for growing dragons. Lastly, super worms offer a good source of nutrition but tend not to last long once ingested by a reptile since they break down easily inside their stomachs so it is best not to overfeed on these worms if you plan on keeping them around longer than just one feeding session per day!

Can Bearded Dragons Eat Other Insects?

Yes, bearded dragons can eat other insects. In the wild, their diet is composed mainly of insects such as crickets, grasshoppers, mantids, and cockroaches. However, they can also enjoy other types of bugs such as mealworms, wax worms, earthworms, butterworms, and silkworms.

In captivity however it’s important to be careful with what type of insect you give your bearded dragon as some may not be safe for them to eat or could cause harm if ingested.

For example when feeding your beardie crickets make sure they are gut loaded which means that they should have been fed a nutritious diet prior to being given to your pet so they can benefit from those nutritional benefits too. Additionally it’s best not to feed wild-caught insects as these may contain parasites or disease which could potentially infect your pet reptile.

What Other Worms Can I Feed My Bearded Dragon?

Feeding your bearded dragon a variety of worms is an important part of keeping them healthy. There are several types of worms that can be fed to bearded dragons, including mealworms, waxworms, superworms, hornworms, and silkworms. All of these worms provide a nutrient-rich diet for your beardie, as well as variety in texture and flavor.

Mealworms are a great option for feeding bearded dragons because they’re easy to find and relatively inexpensive. Mealworms are high in protein and fat content which makes them perfect food source for beardies. They also provide essential vitamins such as calcium and vitamin A which help keep your dragon healthy.

Waxworms are another popular choice among reptile owners due to their fatty acid content which helps with digestion and growth rate. Superworms are larger than mealworms so they’re ideal if you have a larger dragon who needs more substantial meals.

Hornworm is also known as the “gourmet worm” because it has higher levels of protein and calcium than other insects making it ideal for growing dragons or those recovering from illness or injury. Silkworms have become increasingly popular over the past few years due to their high nutritional value; however they should only be fed sparingly due to their fat content.

No matter what type of worms you feed your bearded dragon, make sure that you vary up the menu regularly so that they get all the nutrients they need from various sources!

How Long Can Bearded Dragons Go Without Mealworms?

Bearded dragons can go without mealworms, but they should not be a staple part of their diet. Mealworms are high in fat and calcium which can lead to health issues if fed too often. They should only be given as an occasional treat no more than once or twice a week.

In general, bearded dragons can go without mealworms for an extended period of time without any major health concerns. It is important to provide them with other sources of protein such as crickets and roaches.

These insects are lower in fat and higher in essential vitamins and minerals that bearded dragons need for optimal health. Be sure to also provide your dragon with plenty of fresh vegetables like bell peppers, carrots, squash, collard greens, kale, etc. A variety of these foods will ensure your pet gets all the nutrients they need while avoiding excessive amounts of fats from mealworms or other treats.

Conclusion

In conclusion, bearded dragons should not eat millipedes as they are not a natural part of their diet. Millipedes contain high amounts of moisture and fat which can cause digestive problems for Beardies, including blockages and infections.

It is best to find other food sources that will provide your beardie with the nutrients it needs without having to worry about potential health risks. If you must offer your dragon a millipede, make sure it is clean, small, properly cooked or dried out before being fed – and only as an occasional treat!