Can Bearded Dragons Eat Worms? All You Need To Know

If you’re seeking an exotic reptile to keep as a pet for your children, Bearded Dragons are unquestionably the best choice. Can bearded dragons eat worms? Yes, they may have a rough aspect that your children may find frightening at first. They will, however, grow to adore these little animals the more time they spend with them.

These reptiles, despite their appearance, have a calm and serene demeanor and are easy to care for it. Beardies prefer to eat worms and roaches as part of their diet. What about earthworms and other worms, though?

Bearded dragons eat a variety of foods. Earthworms, for example, are an essential food source for many reptiles, but can bearded dragons consume them? Regardless, it is not unheard of for some individuals to suggest that you dig up earthworms from your complex and feed them to your dragon.

Who do you want to pay attention to it? But don’t worry, this article is here to assist you in making the best option possible. Keep reading the article to learn a lot about bearded dragons and worms.

Can Bearded Dragons Eat Worms?

Both adult and young Bearded Dragons may eat worms. Due to their high moisture content, they should only be given a treat and not as a regular part of the diet.

You should also make sure you’re getting them from reputable sources, like a pet or bait store. It guarantees that they are free of chemicals that might damage your Bearded Dragon.

Worms Nutritional Stats

The nutritional stats of worms are the following: 

Moisture- 83 percent

Protein- 10.5 percent

Fat- 1.6 percent

Calcium- 444mg/kg

Worms Nutritional Facts

Worms have a high moisture content, ranging from 70% to 90%, depending on the worm species and the amount of water available in their environment. Worms also have 60 percent protein, 16 percent carbohydrate, 7.8 percent fat, and 2% fiber content.

Several minerals, such as iron, calcium, potassium, zinc, copper, and magnesium, are abundant in most earthworms. And if they reside in mineral-rich soils, they tend to acquire more of these minerals.

Health Benefits Of Worms For Bearded Dragons

The health benefits of worms for bearded dragons are the following: 

• Protein: Bearded dragons acquire very little protein from their plants and veggies. As a result, they must consume insects that provide this vitamin. Worms are ideal for bearded dragons since they contain 19 percent protein. 
• Hydration: Worms, which contain over 50% moisture, may be a fantastic source of hydration for your bearded dragon. Gut impaction, dehydration, diarrhea, and other health problems can all be avoided with proper hydration.
• Calcium deficiency: Worms are high in calcium but also high in phosphorus. They have 13 times the amount of phosphorus as calcium. Bearded dragons might be seriously harmed as a result of this.
• Obesity: Worms have a lot of fat on their bodies! However, as too much fatty food is bad for humans, too many fatty meals are for bearded dragons. Bearded dragons kept in captivity are already at risk of becoming obese. Since they can’t move around freely in the desert-like, they live in the natural habitat. Obesity isn’t a massive threat if you feed your bearded dragon a well-balanced diet and avoid overfeeding snacks and fatty meals like worms.
• Calcium: It is an essential mineral for bearded dragons’ bone health and overall well-being, as you surely know. Bearded dragons can get metabolic bone disease, a painful degradation of their skeletal system that can lead to paralysis and death if they don’t get enough calcium. One of the reasons why so many bearded dragon feeding guidelines look at the calcium to phosphorus ratio in plants and even insects. Because phosphorus hinders new calcium absorption and depletes existing calcium in the body, metabolic bone disease can occur when phosphorus dominates calcium in a vegetable, fruit, or insect.

Can Bearded Dragons Have Worms?

Worms may appear to be a harmless treat for your bearded dragon, but they can carry parasites such as Protozoa, Platyhelminths, and Nematodes.

These microscopic organisms can harm a bearded dragon’s intestines, and in some circumstances, they can cause serious infections that result in death.

Pesticides may be present in wild-harvested worms, affecting a bearded dragon’s liver and making them quite ill. Because worms are slimy and unpleasant, some Bearded dragons will not even contemplate eating them.

That implies that, in most circumstances, a bearded dragon will overlook any earthworms you place in their environment unless they are exceedingly hungry.

Are Worms Good For Bearded Dragons?

What else are inside worms except for water and the possibility of nasties? The rest comprises 65–73 percent protein and fatty acids and a remarkable number of nutrients. Amino acids, fatty acids, calcium, and iron are abundant in worms.

They’re even a part of the human diet in certain areas! Bearded dragons require a high protein and calcium diet to be healthy. So, if your beardie likes them, a few securely farmed, properly sized worms may make a meaningful contribution to their diet.

Are Worms Bad For Bearded Dragons?

The next issue is that worms can offer a variety of dangers to the health of bearded dragons.

• Nutritional value: Worms are made up of 70 percent to 90 percent water, depending on the species. That’s a lot more than the hard-bodied bugs your bearded dragon is used to, and it might upset his stomach.
• Chemical contamination: Many veterinarians recommend that you not feed your bearded dragon anything you find in the backyard. The potential reason for contamination from pesticides, fertilizers, and other chemicals. These might remain in the worm’s intestines from the earth, or they could have been absorbed into the worm’s body.
• Size: Bearded dragons aren’t frightened to eat large animals. They are, however, prone to impaction, which is food obstructions in their intestines that they struggle to evacuate as excrement. Large obstructions can put pressure on the spinal cord, resulting in discomfort and numbness in the back legs. Although few soil worms are likely to be large enough to overwhelm an adult beardie, it’s something to keep in mind. If beardies consume a lot of earthworms from the same spot, the risk of chemical exposure increases since the poisons can pile up to hazardous levels.
• Parasites: Worms may contain a variety of parasites, including bearded dragons, Protozoa (single-celled organisms), Platyhelminths (smaller worms), and Nematodes (even smaller worms). Bearded dragons who eat them can get infected as well. Bearded dragons with a high parasite burden appear sickly, sluggish, and susceptible to sickness.

Do Bearded Dragons Like Worms?

The first issue is that many bearded dragon owners report their animals finding worms unappealing in general. While they dig below, earthworms exude mucus through their skin to avoid friction.

Many beardies dislike the taste of mucus. However, this varies depending on the earthworm species and the individual dragon. In any case, certain dragons may consume soil worms (that hardwired instinct to eat what you can, when you can).

How Many Worms Can A Bearded Dragons Eat?

Like other protein sources, your beardie should quit eating when they are satisfied. Generally, offering them for a limited period or limiting the quantity you feed your dragon is a brilliant idea.

Most captive dragons would overeat if given the option, so we only offer them a few wormy treats at a time. As a result, our beardie maintains a healthy weight and does not overeat.

How Often Can A Bearded Dragons Eat Worms?

You already know that beardies should only consume worms at rare times to avoid potential health problems. But how frequently can your bearded dragon consume the worms? Let me state that you can feed the worms once every other week or less frequently.

You’ve seen what happens when bearded dragons consume a lot of worms; it may be disastrous. However, not all bearded dragons enjoy eating worms because of the slime on their bodies and their unappealing texture.

Make sure you’re giving your lizard precisely what they want. Don’t strain things if they won’t take worms.

How To Feed Worms To Bearded Dragons?

You’ll need to know how to properly prepare worms for your Bearded Dragon once you have a constant supply. Fortunately, this is usually a straightforward procedure. Thoroughly clean it.

Please make sure to wash them before feeding them to your pet carefully. It will allow you to remove anything stuck to the earthworm’s skin. For example, if you’re breeding them yourself, there may still be dirt on them.

If you bought worms from a pet store, they might have residue from how they were stored. You should give the worms a calcium supplement as well. Most of the time, you’ll sprinkle this on top of the worms.

It will boost their nutritional value while ensuring that your Bearded Dragon receives adequate calcium. They will be able to create strong bones and be protected from disease.

You might wish to slice the worms into smaller pieces before feeding them to a juvenile. It eliminates the possibility of choking. It will also make digestion easier for the kid. The Bearded Dragon’s diet should consist mainly of fruits and vegetables while young.

In general, they only require insects to make up around 30% of their diet. Due to the sheer high moisture content, earthworms should only make up a minor fraction of their insect diet. You won’t need to chop up the worms if you’re an adult.

When offered as part of a meal, the worms can be mixed with the fruits and vegetables, forcing the Bearded Dragon to search them down. Remember that they aren’t meant to be a standard component of the worm’s diet.

Instead, please give it to bearded dragons as a reward regularly. On occasion, including worms in their food might be a terrific way to add variety to their diet.

Do Worms Affect The Digestive System Of Bearded Dragons?

The exoskeleton of worms is very tough. Any feeder insect’s exoskeleton is tough for bearded dragons to digest, but worms’ exoskeleton is exceptionally challenging.

As a result, when bearded dragons consume worms, bits and parts of the exoskeleton remain undigested in their intestines for a long time.

Your dragon will eventually pass the crushed exoskeleton fragments, but if there are too many, it might lead to a severe case of stomach impaction.

Can Bearded Dragons Eat Red Worms?

If specially grown for that purpose, red earthworms can be eaten by bearded dragons. Wild worms or those collected outside, don’t give to your bearded dragons since they may carry parasites and toxic chemicals.

Can Bearded Dragons Eat Calci Worms?

The larvae are a favored feeder of young bearded dragon breeders. They’re soft-bodied, tiny insects with the greatest calcium concentration of any feeder insect. They don’t need to be calcium-dusted or gut-loaded.

Calci Worms are very mobile, simple to produce and grow, and tiny enough to feed to bearded dragons of any age. Many people believe that these are the best daily feeder insects for your bearded dragon.

Can Bearded Dragons Eat Nightcrawlers Worms? 

Any earthworm belonging to the Clitellata, Oligochaeta, or the Annelid order of invertebrates is known as a nightcrawler. Because nightcrawlers are earthworms with a fancy name, they are just as susceptible to pollution and parasite illnesses as regular earthworms.

Can Baby Bearded Dragons Eat Calci Worms?

Calci Worms are used to supplement a diet with the calcium it requires.

Can Baby Bearded Dragons Eat Red Worms?

Yes, baby bearded dragons can eat red worms. 

What Worms Can Bearded Dragons Eat?

The following are the most frequent varieties of worms for a bearded dragon:

• Mealworms
• Butterworms
• Waxworms
• Silkworms
• Super worms
• Hornworms
• Phoenix worms
• Repti worms
• Calci worms
• Nutri grubs

Can Bearded Dragons Eat Bait Worms?

Bait worms, also known as angleworms, are earthworms sold at bait and tackle stores for catching fish. These worms are often caught in the wild and sold bulk to bait retailers. That means bait worms are infected with the same parasites as other earthworms.

Because they are housed in big groups in filthy circumstances, they represent a much more significant threat to the health of a bearded dragon.

Can Bearded Dragons Eat Garden Worms?

No. It is not a good idea for any insect found in the wild. There’s no way of knowing what pesticides you’ll be giving your beardie along with the worm or other insects because our environment is so polluted with them.

Parasites are also abundant in the wild. Feeding your bearded dragon from your yard would almost certainly expose them to these parasites, resulting in a sick bearded dragon.

We highly advise that you only feed your beardie worms and other insect feeders from a reputable reptile and bird food breeding firm.

Can Bearded Dragons Eat Worms From Outside?

Don’t give outside worms to your bearded dragon. It also applies to insects, as you never know if they’ve been exposed to hazardous substances such as pesticides, fertilizers, or other industrial pollutants.

Insects captured in the wild are also more likely to carry parasites and deadly germs that can make your bearded dragon sick. That’s why only feeding your bearded dragon captive-bred and reared feeder insects is always a wise choice.

These insects are often kept in more hygienic settings and aren’t exposed to all of the parasites and germs found in the wild. Feeder insects also have healthier diets, and they’re frequently gut-loaded with critical elements like calcium that reptiles require.

What Worms Can Baby Bearded Dragons Eat?

The worms we recommend for your baby bearded dragon’s diet are listed below: 

• Hornworms
• Butterworms
• Superworms (Morio worms)
• Mealworms
• Silkworms
• Phoenix worms
• Waxworms

Can Bearded Dragons Eat Morio Worms?

Morio worms are the larvae of the darkling beetle, just like mealworms. They have a thicker shell, more protein, and fat in their bodies, and are more active than mealworms.

They also persist in their larval stage for longer when stored with other super worms, sometimes up to three months. Mealworms only spend roughly three weeks in this stage.

Final Thoughts

Although bearded dragons can eat worms, many do not. Many owners are also concerned about utilizing worms found in their backyards. Worms may carry hazardous chemicals or parasites in their intestines, making them unpleasant and uninteresting to bearded dragons. We can, however, propose healthier foods and treats for your bearded dragon that is just as easy to come by.

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