Can Bearded Dragons Eat Mealworms? Health Hazard Or Tasty Treat?

I hope you love the products that I recommend! As an Amazon Associate I earn small commissions from qualifying purchases. Thank you if you use my links, I really appreciate it!

Mealworms are the larvae of darkling beetles, and are often used as ingredients in some protein bars due to their high protein content. Most importantly, they make great feeder worms for small captive reptiles like bearded dragons that require high levels of protein to stay healthy. However, mealworms can be dangerous to beardies if fed inadequately.

Bearded dragons can only eat mealworms moderately in a varied diet. Though rich in protein, they can cause impaction and lead to other health problems if offered as a staple meal.

Figuring out whether a controversial meal is safe for your pet is crucial for its well-being. In this article, you’ll come to understand the risks of mealworms, how to feed them to your pet correctly, and enjoyable alternatives.

The Dangers of Frequently Feeding Mealworms to Bearded Dragons

Mealworms may be nutritious for bearded dragons, but their tough exoskeletons make digestion and excretion difficult. Overfeeding can lead to impaction, which can result in loss of mobility by affecting the lower abdomen, or even death. Although it may seem extreme to eliminate mealworms from your pet’s diet, the risk of impaction remains a concern.

However, sparingly offering your beardie mealworms can decrease the likelihood of resulting health problems. With proper moderation, you can keep your pet healthy while still providing a varied and protein-rich diet.

How to Safely Feed Mealworms to Your Bearded Dragon

Before we get into it, it’s important to know how to balance your beardie’s required protein and vegetables according to its age. The table below will help you figure that out.

Age (months)Percentage
0 – 3 (Baby stage)30% greens, 70% grubs
3 – 6 (Juvenile stage)30% greens, 70% grubs
6 – 9 (Subadult stage)40% greens, 60% grubs
9+ (Adult stage)70% greens, 30% grubs

Feeding Mealworms to Your Bearded Dragon

  1. Provide Feeding Aid: Place mealworms in a small cup to make it easier for your bearded dragon to pick them up. Or better still, use a pair of tweezers to hand-feed your pet. Mealworms are slippery and sometimes difficult for your pet to pick from flat surfaces. Some beardies can become stressed from struggling to eat their food, which may hinder bonding with your pet during mealtime.
  2. Limit Quantity: Offer no more than 5 mealworms at a time. Feeding too many can lead to impaction, which is difficult to predict in terms of severity. Impaction may be a common problem in bearded dragons, but not every pet successfully recovers from it. I’ve seen bearded dragons develop impaired movement due to intestinal blockages, while some manage to heal without further complications simply after pooping.
  3. Do Not Offer Mealworms Daily: Limit mealworm feedings to no more than twice a week. Balancing your bearded dragon’s diet is paramount to its health as it facilitates proper digestion.
  4. Provide a Varied Diet: Mealworms should complement your beardie’s diet of healthy vegetables and other protein sources. This supports digestion and bowel movement, as well as maintaining proper nutrient balance. If you’d like to know more about this, I’ve written a detailed article on the required diet for your beardie’s optimal health.
  5. Check Size: Choose mealworms no larger than the space between your beardie’s eyes. Feeding oversized worms can cause choking and indigestion, especially in juvenile dragons.

4 Reasons Why Mealworms Are Good for Bearded Dragons

Mealworms are an excellent food choice for bearded dragons when offered in moderation and prepared properly. Here are four key benefits that make them a great addition to your pet’s diet:

Nutritional Benefits

Mealworms are packed with essential nutrients that contribute to your bearded dragon’s wellness. They’re rich in vitamin B12, which helps in metabolism; protein for growth and muscle maintenance; fiber to promote gut health; and calcium for preserving bone structure. However, adding calcium supplements (view on Amazon) to the mealworms is still mandatory to effectively prevent metabolic bone disease.

Dental Health

Unlike soft-bodied worms like butterworms and hornworms, mealworms have tough exoskeletons that can help deter plaque formation. This aids in keeping your beardie’s teeth clean and lowering the risk of periodontal disease.

Excellent Gut-Loading Material

Mealworms are voracious eaters and are thus ideal for gut-loading, a process where you feed the worms nutritious foods before offering them to your bearded dragon. This enhances the nutritional value of the worms, ensuring that your pet receives essential vitamins and minerals.

Availability and Affordability

Mealworms are accessible in many areas and relatively inexpensive, making them a practical choice for bearded dragon owners. You can easily store them by refrigerating, and breed them at home providing a sustainable food source for your pet. In addition, mealworms aren’t as smelly and jumpy as crickets making them easier to manage in open spaces.

How to Breed Mealworms for Bearded Dragons: Step-By-Step for Beginners

Having a home service of mealworms for your pet is easy to achieve. Here are the items you need and how to breed them:

  • Container; a plastic bin of roughly 10-20 gallons.
  • Substrate; oats, wheat bran, or a mix of both.
  • Moisture and food source; sliced potatoes or carrots.
  • Laying aid; cotton balls to facilitate egg laying.
  • Temperature control: a warm, dry place (ideally 70-80°F or 21-27°C).
  • Airflow: Ensure the container has good ventilation.

Once you have the necessary tools mentioned above, you can start breeding mealworms by following these steps:

1. Set Up the Base

Fill the container with 2-3 inches of substrate, as mealworms are fond of burrowing. Then add their source of food and moisture such as potato or carrot slices. Cut the vegetables into four thick slices at a time to prevent excessive molding and rotting.

2. Introduce the Mealworms

You can get live mealworms from a pet store or online retailers. Start with about 100-200 mealworms for a sustainable colony and choose a retailer nearby to minimize transit time. Sometimes, mealworms die during transportation before reaching a stable environment.

If you live in colder regions, request extra padding from the retailer to keep the worms warm during shipping. Once you have the worms, quickly transfer them into their container for them to feed.

3. Maintain Conditions

Keep the container in a warm, dark, and dry place. High humidity can lead to mold, while dehydration can be fatal for the worms. Monitor humidity levels regularly and replace moisture sources by adding fresh food as needed.

4. Life Cycle Stages

Mealworms (larvae) will feed and grow for about 8-10 weeks, and develop into darkling beetles in a span of 10-12 weeks. After the adult beetles lay their eggs, they hatch in about 1-2 weeks starting a new cycle which will be your first set of home-bred worms.

5. Harvest mealworms

When the mealworms reach around 1-2 inches, they are ready to be harvested. Simply sift through the substrate or place a piece of food in the container to attract them. Mealworms can be refrigerated until needed, however, beardies typically enjoy eating live bugs.

6. Continue the Cycle

Leave some mealworms and beetles in the container to sustain the breeding cycle. Monitor the population levels and adjust the number of containers as necessary as the colony may double depending on how nourishing the environment is. This can quickly turn into overabundance and lead to wastage.

Mealworm Alternatives for Bearded Dragons

Feeding your bearded dragon a diversified diet is crucial for providing all-around nutrition and sustaining your pet’s appetite.

Protein staples

Unlike mealworms, phoenix worms, dubia roaches, and crickets are great staple protein sources for bearded dragons of all ages. While these alternatives can be home-bred, they are more tedious to culture than mealworms.

Treats

Beardies can enjoy hornworms, silkworms, and waxworks in moderation as these are high in fat. They’re also trickier to breed; purchasing them is more convenient since your pet wouldn’t need much of them anyway.

Wrapping It Up

Mealworms can be a fun and nutritious addition to your pet’s meal if fed correctly. However, if you notice any changes in behavior after your beardie eats mealworms, consult your veterinarian immediately. Impaction is easier to treat and recover from when it’s recognized as early as possible. Good luck!

Photo of author

Medi

EL Mehdi (Medi), the founder and voice behind Desired Reptiles, renowned for his dedication to bearded dragons. As a passionate reptile enthusiast, Medi has developed a solid background in caring for these lovely creatures. He gained extensive knowledge about their diet, behavior, and how to create environments that mimic their natural habitat