Every pet owner has serious worries about their pet’s food. Owners of cats, dogs, and other omnivorous pets always choose the healthiest diet for their pets. Bearded dragons, a popular little pet, have unique challenges when it comes to selecting a healthy diet.
Several animals will eat ants since they are an insect. Red and black ants, carpenter ants, fire ants, and many more species of ants exist. Is it okay to give these to your bearded dragon? Let’s get the whole story.
Bearded dragons have more food choices than most other pets since they eat everything. Insects are a major part of their diet, although they also consume other things. Beardies may safely interact with insects like grasshoppers and cockroaches. So, can bearded dragons really digest ants?
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Ants?
Maybe, maybe not. Sometimes bearded dragons will eat ants, and other times they won’t. Feeding ants to your bearded dragon is a contentious topic.
There is no question that ants include a number of substances that are good for your pet’s health. At the same time, insects carry toxins like folic acid and formic acid that are bad for beardies.
To put it another way, bearded dragons are selective eaters. Nonetheless, there are other species of ants that pose less of a threat to bearded dragons. Bearded dragons do benefit from the presence of ants. It’s not the ideal option for your bearded dragon, however.
How Often Can Bearded Dragons Eat Ants?
Regular ingestion of ants is unhealthy for bearded dragons. But if you want to pamper your pet, modest feeding is OK, and ants make a great reward. As ants aren’t the healthiest or most nutritious option, you shouldn’t feed them only to your bearded dragon.
When it comes to how often and how many ants a bearded dragon should be fed, expert advice is lacking. Experts disagree on whether or not it’s detrimental to feed bearded dragons ants once a week or once a month. Two or three ants at a time should be OK for your pet.
6 Benefits of Ants for Bearded Dragons
In a nutshell, ants contain chemicals that are both neutral and very nourishing. Despite their drawbacks, the nutrients are effective. Your bearded dragon will profit from the bug food if you can manage to give it to it under controlled conditions and keep those conditions in place.
1: Protein Aids in Overall Growth
Bearded dragons eat a wide variety of foods, from plants to fruits to insects. While they’re growing, bears need more protein-rich foods like insects than plant-based ones. Nonetheless, larger beardies have more plant needs.
You may moderately feed your pet ants since they are a fantastic source of protein. The protein content of black ants is high, and you may pick and choose among them.
2: Fat Enhances Physical Appearance
Both people and animals suffer from the effects of obesity. Nonetheless, a healthy amount of fat might improve one’s attractiveness. Ants are a good source of fat for your beardie unless it is already in good shape.
3: Phosphorus Assists in the Formation of Bones & Teeth
In spite of their high phosphorus content, ants contribute to healthy bone and tooth development. In tiny doses, the phosphorus in ants is good for your pet dragon. The chemical is useful for energy generation as well.
4: Calcium Cares for Bone-Health
Calcium intake is lower in ants. Yet a well-balanced diet may help your pet develop strong bones and skeletons. To maintain an appropriate calcium level, you may take calcium powders or other calcium-rich supplements, such as calci worms with ants. Nevertheless, don’t gorge them.
5: Magnesium Helps in Absorbing Phosphorus & Calcium
Magnesium is another essential element found in high concentrations in ants. It regulates the production of the parathyroid hormone, which is essential for the body to absorb calcium and phosphorus. In addition, magnesium helps avoid the potentially fatal problem of metabolic bone disease.
6: Potassium Aids in Muscle-Contraction & Controls Blood Pressure
Many processes in your pet’s body benefit from potassium supplementation. The chemical regulates blood pressure and aids in muscle contractions. Moreover, it maintains a healthy level of fluid in your pet’s body.
Fire ants, in particular, have a high level of the mineral potassium. But that’s not good for your bearded dragon. Fire ants have the reputation of having the most excruciating sting. Avoid giving it to your bearded dragon.
5 Risks of Feeding Ants to Bearded Dragons
Ants don’t have any upsides at all, just disadvantages. Birds are damaged because of the acidity and the chemical imbalance.
1: Folic Acid Harms Severely
Folic acid, which is abundant in ants, is toxic to pets. Beardies have digestive issues due to folic acid. Your pet may have toxicity, anemia, birth defects, and other problems as a result of exposure to the poisonous substance.
2: Formic Acid Causes Irritation
Formic acid is a weapon used by ants. Predators are weakened by the acid, giving them an advantage. Formic acid may irritate the skin, the lungs, and other parts of the body.
3: Imbalanced Ratio of Phosphorus and Calcium
Minerals like calcium and phosphorus may be found in ants. Nevertheless, the proportions don’t work. Calcium is more scarce than phosphorus in ants, as it is in superworms. Inadequate calcium is absorbed, leading to metabolic bone disease, when phosphorus levels are too high.
4: Insecticides Dangerous for Your Pet’s Health
Nevertheless, after you’ve acquired your beardie from the market, you’ll need to start feeding it ants. But, your pet is in grave danger if pesticides are still present in the ants.
5: Beardies Sometimes Cannot Digest Ants
The ant is a little creature. Nonetheless, after eating the bug, beardies still sometimes have digestive issues. Problems digesting food are symptoms of a poor way of living.
How to Feed Ants to Your Bearded Dragons?
Choose the Right Ant for Your Pet
You need to choose the best ants for your pet after carefully weighing their benefits and drawbacks. Remember that it’s not meant to be consumed regularly.
Purchase from A Well-Known Shop
There are several species of ants available, and you should only get yours from a trustworthy source. Ants foraging in your yard are not suitable pet food.
Feeding Immediately is Better
Ants should be fed as soon as possible after purchase. Because it takes some additional work to keep them alive for a few days.
Dust with Supplements
In order to ensure that your pet dragon gets an adequate amount of calcium, sprinkle the ants with calcium powder or combine them with other insects.
Observe Your Beardie
Keep an eye on your bearded dragon after it has eaten some ants to see whether it becomes a problem. If your pet seems stressed out, you shouldn’t feed it.
Conclusion
Can bearded dragons eat ants? : the definitive answer. Several aspects must be considered. It’s best not to give your bearded dragon any ants if you’re unsure about what kind to get them.
Bearded dragons may eat a wide variety of insects. They’re less dangerous than ants, too. But if your pet consumes ants by mistake, it’s totally acceptable. But don’t let them keep eating and eating.
Vegetables and fruits are nutritious alternatives to worms and insects that your little pet may enjoy. You should think about your bearded dragon’s age, requirements, and preferences before feeding it.