Many vets advise against feeding your bearded dragon anything you’ve found yourself in the back yard. Realistically, few earth worms are probably big enough to overwhelm an adult beardie, but it’s something to be aware of. Large blockages can even start to press on the spinal cord, causing pain and loss of sensation in their back legs. However, they’re also notoriously prone to impaction – food blockages in their gut which they struggle to expel as poop. Sizeīearded dragons aren’t afraid to take on big prey. That’s a lot more than the hard bodied bugs your bearded dragon has adapted to eating, and may cause stomach upsets. Nutritional valueĭepending on the species, earth worms are made up of 70% to 90% water. The next problem is that earth worms can pose an arsenal of threats to bearded dragon health. Some dragons might eat earth worms anyway (that hardwired instinct to eat what you can, when you can).īut others, who have learned that another meal is always just around the corner, and never really have time to get that hungry in between, might reject them. Lots of beardies don’t like the taste of the mucus – although it varies according to the species of earth worm and the individual dragon. The first problem is that quite a lot of bearded dragon owners report their beardies finding worms generally rather unpalatable.Įarth worms secrete mucus through their skin to reduce friction as their tunnel underground. You can offer earth worms to your bearded dragon as part of a balanced diet, but they have several drawbacks as we’ve seen. In captivity, the best way to replicate a bearded dragon’s natural diet is by feeding a variety of insects and leafy green vegetables, along with small pieces of cuttlefish or another suitable calcium supplement. Possibly because other overground species are more easily accessible, and earth worms simply aren’t that tasty to them in comparison. It also explains why the composition of their diet appears to vary so much from one study to the next! Do Bearded Dragons In The Wild Eat Earth Worms?Įarth worms aren’t something wild bearded dragons in their native central Australia appear to eat very many of. Which means they tend to eat what they can, when they can, and their diet changes seasonally to reflect that. But adult bearded dragons even occasionally catch small mammals! The remainder comes from leafy vegetation. The results of research vary, but around 10% to 50% of a wild adult bearded dragon’s diet consists of creepy crawlies including termites, wasps, flies, dragonflies, crickets, moths and spiders. Bearded Dragons And Earth Wormsīearded dragons in the wild are omnivores. Let’s look at earth worms for bearded dragons in more detail, and what treats make a good alternative. In addition, earth worms that are overly large in proportion to your bearded dragon can cause blockages and impaction in their digestive system. They might also be infected with parasites, and they can make your bearded dragon unwell too. However, earth worms from the back yard, or farmed in unknown conditions, might have consumed pesticides that can make a bearded dragon sick. Lots of species of segmented worm are informally referred to as earth worms, and they are found all over the world.Įarthworms themselves aren’t toxic to bearded dragons. Are Earth Worms Safe For Bearded Dragons? And many owners worry about using worms they find in their back yards.Īs well being rather unpalatable and disinteresting to bearded dragons, earth worms may harbour dangerous pesticides or parasites in their gut.įortunately we can recommend safer snacks and treats for your bearded dragon, which are just as easy (if not easier!) to find. Bearded dragons can eat earthworms, but many prefer not to do so.
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