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Introduction.
Bearded dragons love the occasional treat that isn’t a crunchy bug or some random plant. Of course, these treats depend on your beardie’s age. So, if they are big enough to eat them, can bearded dragons eat wax worms?
Are these worms suitable options for your bearded dragon? Is it safe for them to eat it? If so, how many can they eat? How often can a beardie have them? You have a lot of questions, and we have answers.
In this article, you will get all the answers you need and more. Let’s get started, shall we?
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Wax Worms?
The good news is bearded dragons can eat wax worms. Beardies usually enjoy having these as treats. Not only are they soft, but they are also small enough that they are easy to eat. Their size makes them easy to consume and digest. And, the nutrients in them are enough to meet your beardie’s dietary needs for a time.
However, there are a few problems with eating too many wax worms. Even though they can eat them, it is better to give them in small amounts only. To make their meal more balanced, you can read this article to get you started.
What Nutrients Are There in Wax Worms?
Wax worms are caterpillar larvae of wax moths, and they are only 1inch long. Their relatively small size and soft exterior are perfect for your dragon. This makes them a suitable option for most bearded dragons, regardless of their age and size.
Wax worms are nutritious for your bearded dragon. Take a closer look at this worm’s nutritional profile:
- Water/Moisture: 61%
- Total Fat: 52%
- Protein: 39%
- Fiber: 7.7%
- Calcium to Phosphorus ratio: 1:8
As you can see, wax worms are a great source of hydration for your bearded dragon. There is also a lot more fat compared to protein. Lastly, the calcium to phosphorus ratio is way over the ideal limit for your bearded dragons.
Feeding them wax worms or making them a staple part of their diet can lead to unwanted weight gain. This issue is a bigger concern for younger beardies. But, this doesn’t mean that you can’t give these to your bearded dragons.
Pro-Tip: To balance the ratio, you can add calcium supplements whenever they eat wax worms. You can get some of the best calcium with vitamin D supplements here.
How Often Can Bearded Dragons Eat Wax Worms?
The number of wax worms a beardie can eat should coincide with their age and size. Yes, baby and juvenile bearded dragons require more proteins. But, it is better if they get protein from insects instead.
Baby bearded dragons should have an 80:20 diet ratio of insects and vegetables. As for juvenile bearded dragons, they need an even split between these two food groups. While adults need the opposite and a diet of 80% plants is required to keep them healthy.
Depending on your bearded dragon’s size, 3-5 wax worms spread across several feeding a day should be enough for younger bearded dragons. But for adults, 3-5 wax worms every three days should be enough.
While this may not seem like enough to fill your dragon, you should consider giving them more crickets instead. Remember, bearded dragons need more protein and less fat in their meals, and wax worms do not meet these criteria. To get a head start on feeding crickets to your bearded dragons, you can refer to this article.
Can Baby Bearded Dragons Eat Wax Worms?
Baby dragons need a lot of proteins from insects in their diet. But, as long as you supplement their meals with other insects, moderate quantities of wax worms are safe for your bearded dragon.
However, several options are better suited for your bearded dragon. You can even get other worms for much cheaper than wax worms. Wax worms may be readily available, but other worms are better suited for them.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Dead Wax Worms?
People don’t usually care if their pet dragons are eating live or dead wax worms. However, the differences between the two are still factors you need to consider.
A live wax worm keeps a beige color and wiggles around often. In comparison, a dead wax worm is dark and stiff. Their activity is a relevant factor that entices your beardie to eat them. Aside from these, their nutritional values are very different.
While dead wax worms are not dangerous, but you still need to be careful. Wax worms can die from natural causes or external factors like contamination. If the cause of death is the latter, it is best not to give them to your pets to avoid issues.
What Worms Do Bearded Dragons Eat?
Wax worms are not the perfect meal for your beardie. That is a fact. However, several other worms are better suited to be a part of their diets. And, most of these are better for your dragon than wax worms.
Here are other worms that are more suited to your bearded dragon’s diet:
- Hornworms
- Super worms
- Butter worms
- Silkworms
- Mealworms
Compared to these five, wax worms have the worst nutritional value. And, they are also usually more expansive than some other options in this list. So, there aren’t enough benefits to choosing this worm for your dragon instead.
If you already have the worms, there is no harm with feeding them to your beardie. But, if you plan to buy more worms, it is better to buy silkworms or super worms instead.
Pro-Tip: Get some mealworms for your bearded dragons here!
Conclusion
To conclude “can bearded dragons eat wax worms” as you can see they can
These lizards are omnivores that will eat anything and everything served to them, and this includes worms. But, wax worms are not the best worms for your beardie. Yes, they can eat it. But other options offer a more balanced nutritional content than wax worms.
Regardless, if you have a few on hand, your beardie will still love it. The occasional wriggly treat that a wax worm offers is something your dragon will thank you for. Remember to practice moderation when giving these to your dragons, and there shouldn’t be any problems you need to look out for.
