Bearded Dragons can live in just about any type of environment.
They’re also fairly easy to care for. Like all dragon species, their dietary requirements will vary based on their size and species.
Wax worms are a common part of bearded dragon diets. You can provide your bearded dragon with wax worms by feeding them wax worms that have been made into beard shaping sculptures.
So, can bearded dragons eat wax worms? Yes, bearded dragons can eat wax worms.
They prefer to feed off the ground in the wild, but in captivity they’re usually fed a commercially prepared diet that might include wax worms and other insects. Bearded dragons also like to eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, and plant matter like flowers and herbs.
What Are Waxworms?
Contents
Waxworms are the caterpillar stage of a moth called Galleria mellonella (Commonly known as wax moths).
They are little, wiggly wax covered worms that have a strong flavor and smell similar to shrimp (not to eat).
They often have a black or brown color with a yellow-ish head and tail.
Waxworms are parasitic insects that live in beehives in warm climates and in warehouses and anywhere else where insects are kept in cooler regions during winter and spring months.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Wax Worms?
Bearded dragons can and often do eat wax worms.
Because they are soft and easy to swallow, they will often eat these worms whole.
However, since wax worms are heavier in fat, lower in protein, and higher in cholesterol than many other insects or bugs, it’s recommended that you be cautious when feeding them to your bearded dragon.
Are Wax Worms Good For Baby Bearded Dragons?
Given that newborn bearded dragons need a high protein, high calcium diet that is rich in vitamins and nutrients in order to grow properly, it’s recommended that you not feed them wax.
However, you should not give wax worms to adult bearded dragons either unless they happen to be fed exclusively waxworms by their owners.
The worms may provide a lot in the way of calcium and vitamin D, but they also provide a lot of fat and cholesterol.
As a result, newborn bearded dragons should not be fed waxworms and bearded dragons that eat only waxworms should not be fed other insects.
Can I Feed Wax Worms to My Bearded Dragon?
It is absolutely safe to give wax worms to your bearded dragon.
This looks to me to be one of the healthiest diets for bearded dragons that you can get.
They should be fed in moderation though as excess fat can cause health problems for bearded dragons.
How Should I Feed My Bearded Dragon?
To feed waxworms to a bearded dragon, simply slide a piece of waxed paper under them or stick them into your bearded dragon’s enclosure.
They aren’t extremely active and are therefore easy to feed to bearded dragons that can’t easily get food out of their enclosure on their own.
However, since they can climb, some bearded dragons can climb out of their enclosures when feeding time comes around.
As a result, while feeding these to babies or young beardies is perfectly fine, you have to be careful when feeding them to older bearded dragons as they could escape.
Otherwise, you risk having escapees and taking them back.
This isn’t a big deal since your bearded dragon will almost certainly get tame and come to you when they are hungry.
You may also add waxworms to a vegetable sandwich for some extra protein when feeding your bearded dragon whole insects are not an option.
How Often Can Bearded Dragons Eat Wax Worms?
Because waxworms do not provide much nutrition to bearded dragons, they should not be fed more than twice a week.
The quantity of wax worms that a bearded dragon eats is less important than the fact that they are fed regularly.
Babies and young bearded dragons are an exception; they should be given more wax worms because they are still growing and need more energy and protein.
As a result, they should be given up to four wax worms every few days.
Adult bearded dragons, on the other hand, need less protein in their diet and should not be given more than twice a week at most.
You may give them 3-5 wax worms each week.
The major cause for waxworms’ infrequent feeding is their perishability: they have a very short lifespan and will soon die if they are not stored properly.
As you may know, excessive fat consumption is unhealthy and can shorten a bearded dragon’s lifespan and, if the lizard is obese, even cause death due to renal failure.
Furthermore, excessive phosphorus inhibits calcium absorption and can lead to brittle bones and other health problems as well.
This is a serious problem since most reptile diets are high in fat and/or highly phosphorus- and calcium-rich.
Conclusion
Bearded dragons may consume wax worms as a treat if the owner chooses to do so.
Wax worms are readily digestible by bearded dragons and may help replenish nutrients lost due to insectivory.
However, there are superior worms available commercially that are grown to provide a better nutritional value.
All of which have a longer shelf life than wax worms and can significantly increase the lifespan of the bearded dragon by protecting the calcium and phosphorus levels in its diet.
Of course, you must be careful when giving bearded dragons any treat that it may overeat and become obese, which can cause other health problems.
A worm bigger than the area between its eyes is a sign that the bearded dragon is consuming too many insects for its own good and may be overweight.
Other worms may be more difficult to digest; superworms, for example, may smell and taste unpleasant to bearded dragons and may cause regurgitation of the food it eats.
Finally, wax worms may be unsuitable for bearded dragons which do not have a yearly circumcision procedure performed.
They are appropriate for people of intermediate experience who understand the needs of the animal and the home environment where the reptile will be kept.
They are among the greatest worms for stimulating the appetite of lizards and stimulating breeding in females.
