Mealworms can be a great food source for bearded dragons, but they should not make up the entirety of your dragon’s diet. Bearded dragons are omnivores and require a varied diet to stay healthy. Relying solely on mealworms can lead to nutritional deficiencies and health issues over time.
Quick Answers
Can bearded dragons live on just mealworms? No, bearded dragons cannot survive on a diet of just mealworms. They require a varied diet with vegetables, fruits, and proteins.
Are mealworms bad for bearded dragons? Mealworms are not inherently bad for bearded dragons, but they lack complete nutrition. Relying solely on mealworms can lead to deficiencies over time.
Can I feed my bearded dragon only mealworms everyday? You should not feed your bearded dragon only mealworms every day. They need vegetables, fruits, and other insects for a balanced diet.
How often should you feed bearded dragons mealworms? Mealworms should be fed 2-3 times per week as part of a varied diet. Avoid feeding them daily.
Are superworms better than mealworms for bearded dragons? Superworms have higher fat content than mealworms. Both can be fed in moderation, but superworms should be limited more.
Nutritional Concerns of an All Mealworm Diet
There are several reasons why mealworms alone are insufficient nutrition for bearded dragons:
- Mealworms are high in fat and phosphorous. Too much can lead to liver and kidney problems.
- They lack adequate calcium for bearded dragons. This can cause metabolic bone disease.
- Mealworms lack proper vitamins A and D3. Deficiencies in these causes growth and shedding issues.
- They have incomplete protein. Bearded dragons need diverse protein sources.
- Mealworms lack the fiber bearded dragons get from vegetables.
For optimum health, your bearded dragon needs a varied diet with appropriate calcium, low fat, and high fiber. An all mealworm diet provides none of that.
Ideal Bearded Dragon Diets
The ideal bearded dragon diet consists of:
- 75% vegetables – dark, leafy greens, squash, peppers, etc.
- 20% live insects – crickets, roaches, worms, larvae
- 5% fruits – berries, melons, mango, banana
Younger dragons need more insects. As they mature past 1 year old, vegetables should make up most of their diet. Here is a sample diet by age:
| Bearded Dragon Age | Sample Diet |
|---|---|
| 2-4 months | 70% insects, 30% greens and veggies |
| 4-6 months | 60% insects, 40% greens and veggies |
| 6-12 months | 40% insects, 60% greens and veggies |
| 12+ months (adult) | 15% insects, 75% greens and veggies, 10% fruit |
Within the insect portion of the diet, mealworms should be limited to just 10-15% of total feedings 2-3 times per week. Crickets, roaches, black soldier fly larvae are healthier options.
Best Vegetables for Bearded Dragons
Ideal veggies to feed your bearded dragon include:
- Collard greens
- Mustard greens
- Turnip greens
- Dandelion greens
- Endive
- Escarole
- Squash
- Sweet potato
- Carrots
- Bell peppers
Leafy greens provide the most nutrients. Root vegetables are good for added fiber. Squashes, peppers and other veggies add variety.
Fruits to Feed Bearded Dragons
Fruits should make up only a small portion of a bearded dragon’s diet. Good options include:
- Blueberries
- Raspberries
- Strawberries
- Melons
- Mango
- Banana
Fruits are high in sugar so they should be limited. Only feed fruits 1-2 times per week at most.
Optimal Feeding for Bearded Dragons
To keep your bearded dragon healthy on a nutritionally balanced diet, follow these feeding guidelines:
- Offer fresh salad of chopped veggies daily
- Feed live insects 2-3 times per week
- Include calcium supplement 5 times per week
- Provide multivitamin supplement 2 times per week
- Give fruits sparingly as treats 1-2 times per week
- Never feed insects like mealworms every day
- Provide fresh, clean water at all times
Spread out insect feedings and vary the types offered. Crickets, dubia roaches, silkworms, black soldier fly larvae are all better choices than just mealworms.
Supplementing with calcium and vitamins is essential, even with ideal diet. Without proper supplementation, bearded dragons can develop metabolic bone disease and other issues.
Potential Health Issues From All Mealworm Diets
Feeding your bearded dragon nothing but mealworms can lead to the following health problems:
Metabolic Bone Disease
Metabolic bone disease (MBD) is caused by deficiencies in calcium, phosphorus and/or vitamin D3. It leads to soft, deformed, and fragile bones. MBD can be crippling and fatal if left untreated.
Mealworms are naturally high in phosphorus and low in calcium. This imbalance prevents proper bone mineralization. MBD is a common consequence of bearded dragons fed nothing but mealworms.
Nutrient Deficiencies
In addition to calcium deficiency, an all mealworm diet can lead to insufficient vitamin A and vitamin D3. Mealworms also lack complete proteins and fiber that other feeders and veggies provide.
Deficiencies in these vital nutrients can cause growth problems, appetite loss, lethargy, and weight loss. They also negatively impact digestion and immunity.
Obesity & Fatty Liver Disease
Mealworms are relatively high in fat compared to other feeder insects. Too many can lead to obesity and hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver disease) in bearded dragons.
Excess fat negatively impacts liver function and makes your dragon more prone to illness. Obese dragons are also at greater risk for joint issues and metabolic disorders.
Intestinal Blockages
The hard chitinous exoskeleton of mealworms can accumulate and cause intestinal blockages if too many are consumed. This is very dangerous and often fatal if not treated immediately.
Blockages lead to inability to pass bowel movements, loss of appetite, lethargy, and swelling. A varied diet with vegetables and softened feeders helps prevent this.
Healthier Alternatives to Mealworms
While mealworms are a fine occasional treat, the following insect feeders are healthier staples for bearded dragons:
Crickets
Gut-loaded crickets are ideal feeders. They are soft-bodied for easy digestibility and high in complete protein. Crickets also naturally contain more calcium than mealworms.
Dubia Roaches
Roaches are easy to breed, meaty, and packed with protein. They have soft shells and contain less fat than superworms or mealworms. Great nutritional value.
Black Soldier Fly Larvae
Soldier fly larvae, also called calciworms or phoenix worms, are soft-bodied, calcium-rich, and full of nutrients. Their lack of hard exoskeleton also makes them safer feeders.
Silkworms
Silkworms are soft, meaty grubs rich in healthy fats and protein. They are easier to digest than mealworms. However, they are more expensive than other feeders.
A healthy diet should include a variety of different insect feeders, not just mealworms. Feed other insects like crickets, roaches, and larvae more often.
Conclusion
While mealworms are a fine supplemental feeder for bearded dragons, they should never make up the entire diet. Mealworms lack complete nutrition and can lead to obesity and nutritional deficiencies if over-fed.
For optimum health, bearded dragons need a varied diet with plenty of leafy greens and vegetables for fiber and nutrients. Healthier insect feeders like crickets, roaches and larvae should make up a larger portion of proteins.
Avoid feeding any one insect feeder, especially mealworms, at every feeding. Vary proteins with other insects and round out the diet with fresh fruits and veggies for a balanced bearded dragon diet.
