Can bearded dragons eat bees?

If you’re wondering “Can bearded dragons eat bees?” the answer is a qualified yes. Bearded dragons will generally be fine if they eat bees on occasion, but they should not be a staple in their daily diets. 

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

Can bearded dragons eat bees?

Bee Nutritional Value for Bearded Dragons: 

The nutritional value of bees is hard to gauge, as it isn’t a food that is commonly eaten by humans. Thus, there are few studies of the nutritional value of bees. Despite this, many cultures around the continent eat bees, typically in the larvae form. 

We do know that most bees do provide nutritional value to bearded dragons – in the form of protein, vitamins, and fiber. These minerals commonly include iron, magnesium, potassium, and phosphorus. 

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, bees 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. 

How often should you give bees to your beardie? 

Because bees 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.

Now, if your bearded dragon accidentally eats a bee, don’t worry. They’ll be fine, as bearded dragons in the wild regularly eat bees. If you’re intent on feeding them bees, it’s best to give them bees on very rare occasions, as a treat or if you’re running low on other insects to feed your pet. 

“My Beardie Accidentally Ate A Bee” – Owner Testimonials 

To further assuage your concerns, the internet is full of bearded dragon owners whose beardies have accidentally eaten a bee and survived. Just a few of their testimonials from online forums:

“I don’t believe eating a single bee is particularly harmful.” The user goes on to say “I have heard of other cases where bearded dragons have eaten bees and wasps, and they’ve come out just fine. I would just be careful not to let it happen again.”

“Eating insects for a beardie is fine. The only thing about wild insects is they could be subject to pesticides… So I would never willingly feed wild caught insects to my Dragons.” 

Potential risks of regularly feeding bees to your bearded dragon: 

Bees have too much phosphorus to be given to your bearded dragon daily. If you were to only feed your beardie bees 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. 

In addition, as the forum comments above indicate, bees from the wild could be covered in insecticides or pesticides. Because of this, it’s good practice to not feed bearded dragons insects from the wild regularly. While they’ll likely be fine if they ingest small amounts of pesticides on occasion, if your pet is regularly consuming chemicals, it will be toxic to them and eventually could kill them. 

Should I feed my baby bearded dragon bees?

You probably should not give baby or even juvenile bearded dragons bees. When beardies are growing (up to a year old), they need a lot more insects and protein to grow. Due to the bee’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 bees until they’re older. 

What to do if your bearded dragon ingests too many bees accidentally?

Don’t panic. Immediately stop your bearded dragon from eating the bees, 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 bee 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 bees?

Can bearded dragons eat any insect?

No, there are several insects that are toxic to bearded dragons. Bearded dragons can not eat any bug that is venomous or that glows (fireflies, lightning bugs, or worms that glow in the dark). 

Can bearded dragons eat only roaches?

No, bearded dragons can eat many types of insects in addition to roaches. They can eat crickets, spiders, and worms. As well, they should be eating plant matter and can eat fruits on occasion. 

Can bearded dragons eat wasps?

Technically, bearded dragons can eat wasps and they will be fine. However, it isn’t recommended to regularly let them eat wasps as they aren’t the most nutritious insect for them and wasps from the wild may be covered in harmful chemicals that will hurt your bearded dragon. 

Can bearded dragons eat ants?

Bearded dragons can eat ants on occasion, but they shouldn’t eat poisonous ants like fire ants. For more, check out our article on feeding bearded dragons ants. 

Do bearded dragons eat scorpions?

Yes, bearded dragons can and do eat scorpions, especially in the wild. However, some scorpion venom can be extremely harmful to beardies, and they aren’t their preferred food source for protein. Bearded dragons prefer insects like Dubia roaches or crickets. 

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 bees? 

• Bearded dragons can eat bees on occasion. If they accidentally consume a bumblebee, they will be fine.  
• Keep your dragon on a regular diet of high calcium and protein insects and leafy greens. 
• Do not feed your bearded dragon bees from the wild, as they may be covered in pesticides or other harmful chemicals. 
• If your beardie eats many bees 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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• Can bearded dragons eat spiders?
• Can bearded dragons eat cockroaches?