Bearded dragons may eat a wide variety of healthy and tasty foods.
In this piece, I’ll explain why caterpillars make excellent food for your dragon.
What Types Of Caterpillars Are Safe For Bearded Dragons?
In most cases, hornworm caterpillars will be the first you see.
These come in neon green cups with a food-grade substrate.
Hornworms, also known as tomato hornworms, are caterpillars that may be seen feeding on your outdoor tomato and pepper plants.
Please do not give your pet any kind of wild bug as a treat.
The Hawk Moth’s caterpillars, known as hornworms, are known for their intimidating appearance.
It’s best to start feeding your dragon when they’re a little smaller than you’d typically feed them and spread out the meals over the following couple of days since they develop extremely fast in the containers.
Water may be obtained from hornworms, which are a valuable resource. These worms are higher in protein and lower in fats, but their primary use is as a snack.
Wax Worms
A wax worm caterpillar is the second most common kind of caterpillar.
A wax worm is a little, squishy worm that may be anything from white to a bluish grey.
Whether you go to a pet shop or a store that sells fishing bait, you will likely find them in the fridge.
These caterpillars belong to the Wax Moth.
Wax worms are richer in calcium and should be fed to your dragon on occasion as a fatty treat.
Butterworms
Next to crickets, butterworms will be widely available in pet shops.
Chilean moths develop from these fat white caterpillars.
If your dragon suffers from Metabolic Bone Disease, these guys might be a helpful supplement due to their high calcium content (MBD.)
They should be fed sparingly since, like their fellow caterpillars, they have a greater fatty acid content.
Silkworms
Silkworms are available at several pet shops.
Treats like that are the most difficult to come by and the most costly, but they are well worth it if you have dragons.
The Silk Moth caterpillars are the insects’ larval phase. With their lower fat and higher protein content, these guys can be fed more often.
Can Baby Beardies Eat Caterpillars?
Indeed, caterpillars are an excellent food source for young bearded dragons.
There are just a few of potential pitfalls to watch out for.
Be sure you’re not giving your pet a treat that’s too large for it.
Any item larger than the distance between their eyes is probably too big for them to eat.
The last thing you want is for your pet to choke to death on a caterpillar that is too large for its stomach.
Newborn bearded dragons get the protein they need from insects rather than from salads.
Provide a wide variety of dishes so that kids will develop a taste for everything on the table. You shouldn’t let them develop a preference for a certain kind of caterpillar.
What Nutritional Benefits Do Caterpillars Have For Bearded Dragons?
You may find both protein and fat in caterpillars. If your baby or young dragon is underweight, you may help them gain weight by increasing the number of caterpillars in their diet.
Because they are soft, you won’t have to worry about impaction as you could with insects like crickets or roaches.
Caterpillars are rich in calcium, which, when combined with UVB lamps, promotes bone development and growth in your cat.
What Would Make A Caterpillar Unsafe For A Bearded Dragon To Eat?
When you find a caterpillar outdoors, have you ever considered feeding it to your bearded dragon? Truth be told, the answer is not yes.
There’s no telling what sort of caterpillar it is, and even if you know it isn’t toxic, there’s still the risk that it walked through some insecticide or fertiliser and is now contaminated.
Caterpillars from the pet shop are the safest option for your dragon to eat.
Do Bearded Dragons Tend To Like The Taste Of Caterpillars?
Most Bearded Dragons like munching on caterpillars. Caterpillars are less of a challenge to devour since they move more slowly, don’t bite or fight back, and are not very tough.
Some bearded dragons develop a taste for caterpillars and refuse to eat anything else, even their greens and other insects.
This is why it’s crucial to feed your dragon a wide variety of foods to prevent him from developing a specialised palate.
How Many Caterpillars Should You Feed Your Bearded Dragon and How Often?
Your pet dragon will largely benefit from the high fat content of caterpillars.
Caterpillars, sometimes known as worms in pet shops, may cause obesity if that’s all they eat.
Adult dragons, in particular, should eat insects once or twice weekly.
How many caterpillars you need to feed your dragon is entirely dependant on its size and kind.
Wax worms are on the smaller side, so you’ll only need to give your infant a few and your adult five to ten.
The adult bearded dragon should be given one or two caterpillars at a time, and only if the hornworm is not too enormous.
These fatty snacks are tempting, but you should limit their intake.
You may feed your bearded dragon a wide range of insects, but like with human beings, moderation and diversity are essential!
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Green Caterpillars
Bearded dragons kept in captivity should avoid eating green caterpillars. The larva of a butterfly or moth, a green caterpillar may have anything from a small fuzz to a fully smooth exterior. It’s not hard to understand why so many different creatures find them to be a tasty treat. There are several insects that feed on insect larvae, such as grasshoppers, crickets, and mice.
Bearded dragons may thrive on an insectivorous diet, but they should stick to smaller prey items like crickets and mealworms to avoid gastrointestinal issues. Keep an eye on your bearded dragon for a few days if it has just consumed a green caterpillar to make sure it is doing well. The bearded dragon is usually healthy, however he could become sick sometimes. Get in touch with an exotic vet if he stops eating or defecating.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Monarch Caterpillars
Without a doubt, nope. The toxicity of the Monarch caterpillar prevents bearded dragons from eating them. Since it lacks enzymes that help break down these harmful compounds, your bearded dragon risks death or illness if it eats them.
The only toxic butterflies in the world are of the species Danaus plexippus (Monarch butterfly), which is exclusive to North America. In addition to ingesting toxins from the milkweed plants they feed on, caterpillars also absorb poisons from their host plants. Poisoning is a major health risk for reptiles, therefore it’s best to keep them away from it.