Can Bearded Dragons Eat Earthworms?

Bearded dragons are omnivorous reptiles and will eat a wide variety of different foods. Earthworms are great for bearded dragon owners to give their pets because they’re common, cheap, nutritious, and easy to find almost anywhere.
Bearded dragons love to eat earthworms, although they are not the most nutritious food for them due to their high fat content. If you’re thinking about feeding your bearded dragon an earthworm, there are several things you should know first.
Beetle beard dragons have very specific dietary needs. They need a diet rich in protein with a low-fat content, and one that is also bland. Many people feed their bearded dragon worms to add more protein to their diet and provide vitamins and minerals that they might not get from other foods. However, it is recommended that you only feed your bearded dragon the smaller red or yellow worms rather than the larger, darker ones which can be high in fat and cause digestive problems later.
While most people would think that a bearded dragon wouldn’t have much of an interest in earthworms, these lizards are opportunistic feeders. They will eat any small animal they can get their claws on. And even though they won’t eat them every day, Earthworms can be a healthy part of your bearded dragon’s diet.
To keep your pet happy and healthy, you should feed them a variety of different foods from their appropriate feeding schedule. However, as with most pet lizards, the best foods for keeping them happy are the ones that are worms!

Can Bearded Dragons Eat Earthworms?

Yes, you can feed your Bearded Dragon earthworms, just like many other types of worms. Worms, which are available at pet stores, can make for a wonderful treat for your dragon if you are concerned about the nutritional value of what is going into your dragon’s diet, you should check.
It’s vital to recognize that earthworms are extremely high in fat and, worse yet, may transmit parasites that may make your Beardie ill. Owners differ in their views, with some raising their own earthworms for food while others have had nothing but negative experiences, so it may be handled on a case-by-case basis.
Furthermore, you should take your Beardie to the vet every six months for a fecal test. Vets can detect parasites that might be present in earthworms and treat them more swiftly if they are detected early. Because earthworms have a high moisture content, they may cause other digestive problems, so monitor their toilet habits. If it is watery, discontinue feeding earthworms, as this could eventually lead to dehydration and other problems.

Benefits of feeding Earthworms to Bearded Dragons:

Protein: It is crucial for young or bearded dragons to consume a lot of protein to aid in growth and development. Because their main diet is made of insects and their other diet is made of vegetables, fruits, and nectar, they require a lot of protein. Bearded can benefit from earthworms as we know that earthworms have protein content of about 60-70%, which is a good idea to feed them earthworms if you are rearing them yourself. Furthermore, you can further enhance their nutritional load by gut-loading your earthworms if you want to.
Water: Be sure to hydrate your bearded dragon properly, as it is crucial to maintaining a healthy lizard. Bearded Dragons that refuse to drink from their bowl may need to be hydrated through spritzing or by feeding them foods with high water content.
Because of their high-water content, earthworms are a good choice to keep your bearded dragon hydrated and fed. However, earthworms should not be considered a regular meal. A daily serving of earthworms may result in diarrhea due to the high-water content, given that the lizard is consuming other foods. Your bearded dragon should drink about 10ml of water for every 300g of weight as a rule. The 10ml includes water from food and water directly consumed.
Your bearded dragon can benefit from minerals such as selenium and vitamins that are found in earthworms. By gut loading your earthworms, you can increase the number of vitamins and minerals present in the worms and deliver the same to your pet.

Risks of feeding Earthworms to Bearded Dragons:

Calcium Phosphorus Ration: Bearded dragons require calcium to develop properly, and a deficiency of calcium may cause metabolic bone disease, a serious condition. To guarantee that your young, bearded dragons develop properly, be sure to provide them with calcium supplements. There are two minerals that you should be aware of when feeding your bearded dragon. Calcium supplements are necessary to maintain adequate levels of calcium in your dragon’s diet, but you should avoid phosphorus and oxalates. For example, avocado and spinach are foods that are high in oxalates and may prevent your bearded dragon from absorbing calcium. Calcium and oxalates react to form calcium oxalates.
Bearded dragons should also avoid or reduce the consumption of foods with high oxalate content. Phosphorus, like calcium, is a major culprit in preventing calcium absorption. Fortunately, most lizards, including bearded dragons, consume phosphorus-rich foods, and therefore the two minerals are matched in a ratio of 1:1 or 2:1. The ratio of calcium to phosphorus is a bit concerning.
Fat: Bearded dragon obesity is a very common issue among owners. Bearded dragons have too much fat, and too much fat can be dangerous for their health and development. Domestic dragons don’t exercise as much as their wild cousins, so when you overfeed them fatty foods, they can’t burn them off as well. Swimming is a great way to keep your bearded dragon active, so whether you exercise or not, you should do so occasionally. You don’t want to feed earthworms daily because it will make your bearded dragon fat. Young, bearded dragons can eat earthworms twice a week, but an adult should only eat earthworms once or twice a month.

How to feed Earthworms to the Bearded Dragon?

It is advisable to purchase earthworms from a trustworthy source, or even better, to grow your own earthworms that you can feed your bearded dragons.
Bearded dragons can be fed earthworms with the following instructions:

• Firstly, purchase earthworms from a trustworthy source.
• You may then dust them with powdered veggies.
• You can offer your young dragons about 20 worms, and about 30 to adults.
• Remove any worms that are not eaten after 10 to 15 minutes.
• You may either return the unused worms to the habitat or give them to your other animals.

How Many earthworms can we feed to Bearded Dragons?

It is important to note that you should not feed your bearded dragon too many earthworms. Young, bearded dragons should consume about 10 worms, while mature dragons should consume about 20 or fewer worms. The key here is to avoid overfeeding.

What worms should we feed to our Bearded Dragons?

It’s crucial to select the correct variety of worms to feed your Bearded Dragon, as not all of them are created equal. However, it’s also crucial to keep an eye on the amount of fat in them and keep away from eating them if the fat content is excessive, since Beardies love them so much.
Mealworms: Mealworms are a popular reptile feeder for all sorts of reptiles. They’re economical and long-lasting but remember that the hard outer shell may cause feeding problems for younger Bearded Dragons. They have a good balance of protein and fat (20% protein and 13% fat) and come in a wide range of sizes. It’s best not to feed your Beardie any worm longer than the distance between his eyes.
Super worms: Although super worms have the same nutritional profile as regular mealworms, they are a larger species. Compared to other worms, super worms are about 20% protein and 13% fat, which makes them a good option for feeding bearded dragons. Because of their large size, these worms are difficult for young reptiles to absorb; worse, they may be a choking hazard if they are too large for the lizard to swallow.
Waxworms: Bearded Dragons are known to love waxworms, but they are high in fat and protein (15% protein and 21% fat). Owners who have tried them agree that they are essentially junk food. Because of this, they should not be given in large quantities. Despite the fact they may cause severe weight gain and reduce the dragon’s energy levels, they are still one of the dragon’s favorite treats.
Butter worms: Bearded Dragons are known to love butter worms, which are a lower-cost alternative to waxworms. Butter worms have 16% protein and only 5% fat, making them wonderful supplemental food options. Butter worms are rich in calcium and do not require nutritional supplements, although they are still encouraged to increase their nutritional value. These worms are popular in all sectors, but they are also the most expensive.
Hornworms: One of the biggest issues of raising a Bearded Dragon is providing proper nutrition. Hornworms are one of the best options, as they are large and contain 9% protein and 3% fat. They grow so fast that you should gut load them if they seem too small when you first receive them. You should not give them to juveniles until they are grown to the proper size, which can be determined by comparing the length between their eyes.

Conclusion:

To conclude this article, we came to know that although Bearded Dragons can get benefit greatly from earthworms’ protein and hydration content, but they should not be fed daily, as this may result in obesity particularly in adult bearded dragons. To avoid spreading parasites from wild-collected worms to your bearded dragon, you should either raise your own worms or obtain them from a reliable source.
With the thorough study of this article, you can easily understand which type of feeding is best for your bearded Dragons. But if you have any query, feel free to contact us through comment section below.