ᐅ Can Bearded Dragons Eat Grasshoppers?

The Dragon And The Grasshopper. What You Need To Know

Can bearded dragons eat grasshoppers?

Absolutely! Reptile owners must strive to provide sustenance as bearded dragons usually find in the wild. Since eating insects is a big part of their natural diet, it makes sense that they should eat certain bugs.

Note: Do not get grasshoppers from the bait shop. Make sure that you get these from a reputable place.

This article will include what you need to know about feeding your bearded pet dragon grasshoppers.

Benefits And Nutritional Value Of Grasshoppers

One of the benefits when feeding grasshoppers to your bearded dragon is that they offer variety when alternated with different insects like meal worms and crickets. Roughly 20% of an adult bearded dragon’s diet must consist of insect-based food sources.

Here’s what nutrients your reptile friend can obtain from eating just a single serving of grasshoppers.

Fat – 40%

Carotenoids – 900ug

Iron – 5%

Protein – 39%

Dietary Fiber – 13%

Ash – 2.7%

Calcium – 29%

Carbohydrates – 2.4%

As you can see, grasshoppers provide lots of amazing nutrition.

Grasshoppers contain a good amount of protein. A bearded dragon owner will know that younger and baby bearded dragons need more insect-based foods to provide enough protein while they are growing. Protein helps with growth and development, energy levels, muscle and organ function, bone health, and a healthy immune system.

Grasshoppers are also a good source of fiber that promotes regular digestion.

The high amount of calcium in grasshoppers helps with your bearded dragon’s skeletal development and prevents metabolic bone disease.

Grasshoppers are low in cholesterol and high in vitamins A, B, and C. Vitamin A and C are essential to a healthy immune system, vision, reproduction, and growth.

Other nutrients include vitamin B12 and B9, zinc, iron, potassium, and magnesium.

We can recommend feeding grasshoppers as a regular staple in your beardie’s diet.

Risks When Feeding Grasshoppers to Bearded Dragons

You must remove the grasshopper’s wings before feeding the grasshopper to your bearded dragon. If the wings are left on, they will become stuck in between your beardie teeth. This can cause injury resulting in a visit to a veterinarian.

Can Bearded Dragons Eat Wild Grasshoppers?

No, wild grasshoppers – especially those found in urban or farming settings – may have been exposed to or have been in contact with pesticides, fungicides, or other poisonous, harmful chemicals. These chemicals can be extremely harmful to your bearded friend.

Do not feed your bearded dragon wild grasshoppers. It can carry parasites that are harmful to your beardie.

Only feed your bearded dragon grasshoppers from a reputable retailer, pet stores, or those you raise, especially at home.

Different Kinds Of Grasshoppers. Yea Or Nay For Beardie

Can bearded dragons eat canned grasshoppers?

Yes, bearded dragons can eat canned grasshoppers, but it should be habitually. So, it is better to hide a few canned grasshoppers among your bearded dragon’s grasshopper meals.

Hopefully, the bearded dragon will overlook the grasshoppers and devour them along with the meal. Even if your bearded dragon finds them, he’s unlikely to object to the varied diet.

Moreover, you should feed bearded dragons a diet that contains live insects for various reasons. Live food, on average, provides more protein and nutrients than canned meals.

Can bearded dragons eat freeze-dried grasshoppers?

Yes, you can offer freeze-dried grasshoppers as popular supplements to your bearded dragon. Freeze-dried grasshoppers can be fed to your bearded dragon. They should only be fed occasionally or as a supplement for optimal nutrition.

Freeze-dried insects can be expensive. We recommend using them as a staple in your bearded dragon’s diet.

Can bearded dragons eat lubber grasshoppers?

Bearded dragons can eat lubber grasshoppers, but it’s recommended that you avoid feeding them to your bearded dragon.

Lubber grasshoppers look similar to locusts. Feeding these grasshoppers to your bearded dragon can result in serious digestive problems. They also contain toxins in their blood, causing health issues.

Can your bearded dragon eat black grasshoppers?

Yes, black grasshoppers are safe for bearded dragons to eat. It does not have any toxins or chemicals that can make your bearded dragon sick.

Many bearded dragon owners will feed black grasshoppers to their bearded dragons because it does not pose any threat to their pet lizard.

Can your bearded dragon eat flying grasshoppers?

Yes, bearded dragons can eat flying grasshoppers. Flying grasshoppers do not have any chemicals or toxins harmful to your bearded dragon.

Most bearded dragons, irrespective of age, can eat flying grasshoppers.

Can Baby Bearded Dragons Eat Grasshoppers

Yes, it is safe to offer grasshopper meals to baby dragons as long as they are prepared properly.

We recommend that you feed your baby bearded dragons cricket because the hard exoskeletons of grasshoppers can damage your baby’s teeth.

Grasshoppers must be fed in moderation because they are very high in protein. Baby beardies should only eat prey items of around 5% of their body weight.

How To Feed Grasshoppers To Your Bearded Dragon

There are several different ways to feed grasshoppers to bearded dragons. The different ways depend on whether the insects are live prey or dead.

If you decide to spoil your bearded dragon with freeze-dried food, you just need to take a few out of the container and either place them on your beardie’s food bowl from your hand or hide them in your pet dragon’s enclosure.

If you decide on live grasshoppers, simply catch them and release a few grasshoppers in your beardie’s enclosure.

Wrapping Up

It’s typically known that bearded dragons love to consume grasshoppers. Not do grasshoppers have nutritional benefits, it is also a yummy treat. Grasshoppers can also help vary your beardies diet.

Whenever feeding your bearded dragon insects, stick to ones bought at a pet store or self-bred.

Suggestions of other insects to include in your beardies diet include cicadas and waxworms.

Always read about the food you want to introduce to your bearded friend’s diet. Even food that seems the healthiest can have risk factors.

Continue to read our main article “What do Bearded Dragons Eat?” for all the ins and outs on general diet questions, and get a further detailed breakdown of other popular foods in the articles below: