Can Bearded Dragons Eat Hornworms? | Nutrient-Rich Insects 2024

Bearded dragons are not like cats and dogs you can feed them something off your plate, and it will be a treat for them! The digestive systems of these bearded reptilians are sensitive. There are so many vegetables and fruits that are prohibited for these dragons. These dragons eat insects with joy, but can bearded dragons eat hornworms? Find out more!

Is It Okay For Bearded Dragons To Eat Hornworms

Bearded dragons can eat hornworms after a few days, but not daily. You cannot give your bearded pet this insect every day, but hornworms can be a part of their feed. If you have had a dragon for a few days, you would know they can be picky eaters, and there are quite a few fruits and veggies that are out of bounds for them! Yes, we all know that dragons love insects, but is there any restriction on the types of insects they cannot eat? Hornworms are protein and calcium-rich.

Bearded dragons will love to eat hornworms, as it is their instinct to crave insects. However, these reptilians do not get all of their daily nutrition from hornworms. Therefore, you can feed it as a staple food, but that too twice or thrice a week.

What Is In Hornworms

Hornworms are not complete food for bearded dragons. You can feed them hornworms after two or three days. Pet owners cannot feed this insect to bearded dragons every day as the main course! This is because the insect does not provide complete nutrition. Hornworms have high protein, calcium, and water content. Moreover, this insect does not fit the daily requirement for your dragon pet so hornworms can be a part of the 15 or 20 insects that you feed them every day. Want to know what other insects can bearded dragons eat? Have a look at Can Bearded Dragons Eat Ants.

Hornworms provide less than 10% of the daily requirement for bearded dragons. All pet owners must follow the rules, which include that you must feed dragons insects that are not very long and are compared to the gap between their eyes, the insect is smaller. If you provide them with a longer hornworm, there is a chance of impaction and paralysis. If the dragon gets choked, it does not react like the expressive pets that express their pain and joy. Dragons will become very still if they choke, and not getting the right action on time can even lead to death.

How To Feed Hornworms To Bearded Dragons

When you feed your dragon pet hornworms, make sure to give them one by one. Feed the dragon one worm, and then wait for it to finish before you put the next one in the cage. Sometimes this leads to a bitter bite on your finger, but that’s a small price to pay for your pet’s well-being!

Pet owners must ensure that if there are any leftover insects in the cage, they must be removed. Moreover, the bearded dragon can get ill if they eat leftovers, so you must ensure that you keep the cage clean. Hornworms can be stored in an aerated jar. If you want them to grow, provide a warm temperature, and they will thrive. However, if you do not want these insects to grow, keep them in a cool place, where the temperature is below 55 Fahrenheit.

It is best to keep a three-day cycle for feeding these insects to the bearded dragon. The first day of the week can begin with fruits and vegetables. Then comes the insects’ day, which does not contain hornworms. The third day can be the insect and vegetable day or the protein day. If you feed the dragons only vegetables, these bearded reptiles can get tired of it and might resign from eating for a day. However, the sprinkle of insects throughout the day can be a good way to keep them entertained.

Look for other protein sources for your dragon pet so that they can get enough of it to grow when they are infants and sustain a healthy bone structure as adults. Along with hornworms cannot complete the dietary requirements. Also, read our guide about How To Feed Cicadas To Bearded Dragons.

Other Protein Alternatives In Hornworms

Bearded Dragons have evolved to survive in hot, arid climates. When you feed them any food with a lot of water, high sugar, or even too much phosphorus. However, look for some variety in your bearded dragon’s insect options.

There are Dubia Roaches For Bearded Dragons, mealworms, and crickets that can be the perfect addition to your pet’s palate. They will be happy if they are fed enough insects, and a happy pet is all we want at the end of the day.

Conclusion

Bearded dragons can eat hornworms, but they are not sufficient for the daily nutrition requirements of these reptilians. Pet owners must feed their dragons hornworms after two to three days. The calcium, protein, and water content in hornworms is suitable for dragons, but since these worms are usually more significant in size than the gap between the dragon’s eyes, they are not the most ideal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I feed half a hornworm to my dragon?

Love or dead insects become the dragon’s choice if they get used to either of them. If you feed the dragon live insects, you can cut the hornworm in half and immediately feed it to your pet. If the bearded dragon is used to eating dead insects, you may feed the cut hornworm in a few minutes.

How long can I store hornworms?

Hornworms live for two to three weeks, and if they are in a warmer environment, they can live longer than this. Cool environments can kill the hornworm.

Can I throw away live hornworms?

No! The safe way of disposing of the hornworms is to place them in a zip-lock bag and store them in the freezer. Throw the frozen worms in the dustbin, and do not release them out in the garden or in the open because these worms can be harmful to the environment.

Will my dragon die if it eats a long hornworm?

Choking from a longer insect can lead to severe effects such as paralysis and death. Make sure you only feed small insects to the pet so they can digest them quickly as well.