Can bearded dragons eat ants?

If you’re wondering “Can bearded dragons eat ants?” the answer is a qualified yes. Bearded dragons can eat some types of ants in moderation, but there are some ant species they should never eat. 

In this article, we’ll explore the nutritional value of different ants for bearded dragons and how to feed them properly. As well, see our full guide to Bugs for bearded dragons. 

Can bearded dragons eat ants?

Ant Nutritional Value for Bearded Dragons: 

The nutritional value of ants varies greatly depending on the type of ant. It is estimated that there could be up to 22,000 different species of ants, and they are found on every continent on earth. Many bearded dragon owners want to know if they can feed ants to their pet, or if they can start an ant farm for an easy way to get insects for their beardie.

Luckily, most ants do provide nutritional value to bearded dragons – in the form of protein, vitamins, and fiber. These minerals commonly include iron, zinc, magnesium, potassium, and phosphorus. 

Source: Healthline

A note on phosphorus: In bearded dragons, it’s important to always be aware of the phosphorus and calcium content in food you feed them. Why? Bearded dragons need a good amount of calcium to grow and to maintain bone and muscle health in adulthood. However, phosphorus inhibits the absorption of calcium if there’s too much of it, relative to the calcium amount. 

You should aim for a 2:1 ratio of 2 parts calcium to 1 part phosphorus. Unfortunately, ants have far more phosphorus than calcium, so feeding them this insect regularly will seriously inhibit their calcium absorption. We’ve outlined ways to increase your beardie’s calcium intake below. 

What type of ants should you give your bearded dragon?

In general, most of the ants that you would commonly fill an ant farm with are safe for a bearded dragon. These include non poisonous ants only, like carpenter ants and black ants. As well, pavement ants that you find outside are safe for bearded dragons to eat on occasion. 

What type of ants should you avoid feeding a bearded dragon?

Any ant that has the ability to sting and poison a human should not be given to a bearded dragon. While a small quantity of these ants might be fine for them to eat, it could seriously upset their stomachs and be toxic to them. As well, these ants are capable of stinging the inside of a bearded dragon’s mouth and throat, potentially causing an allergic or toxic reaction. 

Common poisonous ant species include: 

• Fire ants
• Bulldog ants (this is considered the world’s most dangerous ant and is commonly found in Australia) 
• Bullet ants
• Jack Jumper ant
• Pony ants

Many of the ants on this list are commonly found in Australia. If you live in a tropical area or in a country that is known to have dangerous insects and wildlife, always refer to your vet before feeding your bearded dragon ants that you find from the wild. 

How often should you give ants to your beardie? 

Because most ants are high in phosphorus, they should not be the staple in your beardie’s insect diet. Rather, you should feed them a regular diet of insects like Dubia roaches, crickets, and worms.

You can safely give ants to your bearded dragon a few times a week. It’s best to feed them ants after they’ve eaten their other insects and vegetables. Ants can be considered an occasional treat for them or an insect source if you’re running low on other insects to feed your pet. 

Potential risks of feeding ants to your bearded dragon: 

Ants have too much phosphorus to be given to your bearded dragon daily. If you were to only feed your beardie ants daily with no other insects, they would suffer from a calcium deficiency and over time, it would harm their bone and muscle health. 

Long term calcium deficiency will cause your dragon to develop brittle bones, causing them pain in their joints and bones. If this condition continues, it could even lead to paralysis in extreme cases. 

Should I feed my baby bearded dragon ants?

You probably should not give baby or even juvenile bearded dragons ants. When beardies are growing (up to a year old), they need a lot more insects and protein to grow. Due to the ant’s high phosphorus content, eating them could seriously inhibit your dragon’s proper growth. It’s best to play it safe and not feed young bearded dragons ants until they’re older. 

What to do if your bearded dragon ingests poisonous ants accidentally?

Don’t panic. Immediately stop your bearded dragon from eating the ants, and closely monitor them closely for symptoms of a strong reaction. This reaction could include: 

• Bloating
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Spitting up 
• Abnormal behaviors 

Look into the inside of their mouth for any welts or bumps. If they were stung inside their mouth, they may develop an allergic reaction. Give them lots of water to flush out the ants as well as a warm bath to calm them down and to encourage a bowel movement. If the reaction worsens or you’re noticing anything out of the ordinary, call a vet immediately. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): Can bearded dragons eat ants?

Can bearded dragons eat black ants?

Yes, bearded dragons can eat black ants. They provide protein to bearded dragons, but should not be fed to them daily as they are high in phosphorus. 

Can bearded dragons eat carpenter ants?

Bearded dragons can eat carpenter ants and they are considered one of the safer insect species for beardies to eat. 

Can bearded dragons eat fire ants?

No, bearded dragons can not eat fire ants. While there are some lizard species that eat fire ants, they are considered toxic to bearded dragons and will likely cause them to become sick. 

Can bearded dragons eat red ants?

Red ants aren’t considered toxic to bearded dragons, however we don’t recommend you feed them to bearded dragons. Because there are so many species of ants, it’s easy to get a poisonous species confused with a non-poisonous one. Stick to insects you know won’t hurt your little pet and that will give them calcium and protein, like Dubia roaches and crickets. 

Can bearded dragons eat sugar ants?

Sugar ants commonly invade homes and are not considered poisonous. If you catch your bearded dragon eating sugar ants, don’t worry, they will likely be fine. However, they shouldn’t overdo their consumption of sugar ants, so make sure they’re eating other insects and vegetables before feeding them any sugar ants. Treat them more like an occasional treat, rather than a main course for bearded dragons. 

Foods bearded dragons can eat: 

If you’re wondering what you should feed a bearded dragon, read our guidelines below. Bearded dragons are insectivores, which just means they thrive on insects as well as plant materials.  

If you have a juvenile bearded dragon (between six and eighteen months old), give them about 80% vegetables and 20% live insects. 

As your bearded dragon transitions into adulthood, give them the inverse, so 20% plant materials and 80% insects. 

Getting your bearded dragon calcium: 

Calcium is especially vital to a bearded dragon, especially a young one that is still growing. There are several ways to introduce more calcium into your beardie’s diet: 

• Add in more high calcium vegetables like dandelions, bok choy, and collard greens. 
• Dust calcium powder over their insects and vegetables to increase calcium levels. 
• Make sure they’re getting their 12 hours of UVB exposure as they need this light to be able to properly absorb nutrients. 

Vegetables to feed your bearded dragon: 

• Peas
• Dandelion
• Green beans
• Cabbage
• Zucchini
• Pumpkin
• See our full list of vegetables to feed your bearded dragon

Note: Bearded dragons can also eat fruit in moderation. See here for a complete list of fruits bearded dragons can eat. 

Insects to feed your bearded dragon: 

• Crickets 
• Kingworms 
• Waxworms 
• See our full guides to insects you can feed your bearded dragon and worms to feed your bearded dragon 

Quick note: Live insects raised by you or bought from the pet store are best because they’re definitely pesticide free. 

How often should you feed a bearded dragon?

During the first 3-6 months of your beardie’s life, try to feed them four to five times a day by giving them as many insects as they’d like in 10 minutes. They’re growing and need lots of protein during this stage. 

Reduce the number of feedings to about two to three times a day when they’re growing into their juvenile years (between six and eighteen months). 

As they become an adult, you can feed them once daily. 

What should a bearded dragon not eat? 

Avoid feeding your bearded dragon: 

• Onions 
• Leeks 
• Chives 
• Mushrooms
• Garlic
• Acidic fruit like oranges, lemons
• Rhubarb (can be toxic to them) 
• Avocados (surprisingly, these make them ill) 
• Eggplant
• Insects caught in the wild (there may be pesticides covering them) 
• Venomous insects 
• Dairy of any kind
• Rice and grains of any kind
• Frogs or toads
• Ham or other processed meats 

Recap: Can bearded dragons have ants? 

• Bearded dragons can eat non-poisonous ant species in moderation. However, it should not be a staple in their insect diet as ants have too much phosphorus. 
• Do not feed your bearded dragon ants from the wild if you don’t know what type of ant they are, especially if you live in an area with many poisonous ant species. 
• If your beardie eats ants accidentally, don’t panic. Monitor them closely for signs of a reaction and call your vet if you notice anything abnormal. 

For our full list of food to feed a bearded dragon, see our guide here. 

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