Some Bearded Dragon homeowners would possibly see a pleasant juicy caterpillar crawling by and assume that it will make an amazing snack for his or her pet. Bearded Dragons are recognized for consuming issues like crickets, mealworms, and different crunchy bugs, however can in addition they eat caterpillars? Bearded Dragons can eat particular forms of caterpillars, however they can not eat simply any caterpillar that you just discover crawling by. There are roughly 180,000 completely different species of caterpillars, and you can not simply feed any certainly one of them to your Bearded Dragon.
Most caterpillars are unsafe and even harmful for Bearded Dragons, so it is best to solely ever provide ones which have been bred particularly for the aim.
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Protected Caterpillars
There are a handful of caterpillars which can be secure on your beardie to munch on, and a few of them have nice dietary advantages. Any caterpillar being offered at a good pet store that focuses on reptiles needs to be secure on your Bearded Dragon to devour. They embody:
Silkworms: the larvae of Home Silk Moths. You should buy silkworms from native pet shops.
Butterworms: the caterpillar of the Chilean moth, typically raised for bait and meals for animals like fish and reptiles.
Goliath Worms (aka Horned worms): these juicy, inexperienced caterpillars seem like they wouldn’t be a secure meals, however in reality, they’re one of many extra fashionable reptile meals. Watch out to not buy them too massive; they may give your beardie diarrhea or trigger a blockage.
Unsafe Caterpillars
Most caterpillars are unsafe for Bearded Dragons to eat. Any caterpillar that you just discover exterior shouldn’t be fed to your Bearded Dragon. Caterpillars can eat a wide range of completely different crops, which might fill them with probably poisonous plant matter that may switch to your Bearded Dragon. Out of doors bugs and bugs may get into chemical substances, pesticides, feces, and trash that may make them unsafe on your Bearded Dragon to eat.
Any caterpillar that you just have no idea what species it’s, can also be unsafe. Many caterpillars are poisonous and may make your Bearded Dragon unwell. Being poisonous or spiny is a method that caterpillars defend themselves from predators, together with lizards like Bearded Dragons. Should you give your Bearded Dragon an unknown caterpillar, it may well find yourself being poisonous, or it may well poke or sting them. One that’s generally seen within the backyard, however is especially poisonous to Bearded Dragons, is the caterpillar of the Monarch Butterfly.
Bearded Dragons Ought to By no means Eat Wild Caterpillars
Simply to reiterate, it is best to by no means ever accumulate wild bugs from exterior and convey them in to feed your Bearded Dragon. That features caterpillars as effectively. There are too many dangers on your pet Beardie to eat random bugs that you just discover exterior. Bugs, worms, and caterpillars ought to solely be fed to your Bearded Dragon in the event that they have been purchased from a good pet retailer that particularly raises them for consumption by pets.
Wild bugs will be poisonous and coated in unsafe chemical substances. Wild bugs can carry parasites. These are all issues that may find yourself making your Bearded Dragon sick in the long term, and it’s not definitely worth the threat.
Caterpillar Options
If you’re apprehensive about feeding your Bearded Dragon caterpillars, don’t fear. There are loads of alternate options to think about which can be secure and nutritious.
All of those reside meals will be discovered at your native pet retailer and are secure on your Bearded Dragon to eat. Shopping for all these reside meals at a good retailer will prevent the danger and stress of doubtless feeding your Beardie the improper factor.
Conclusion
There are a number of caterpillars which can be secure for Bearded Dragons to eat, however the majority are probably harmful. Bearded Dragons can eat silkworms, butterworms, or hornworms, however every other sort of caterpillar has the potential to be poisonous or contaminated. You need to by no means feed your Bearded Dragon something that you just discover exterior. Solely feed them reside meals that’s sourced from a good retailer or vendor.
Featured Picture Credit score: JumpStory
