Can bearded dragons eat beetles?

If you’re wondering “Can bearded dragons eat beetles?” the answer is a qualified yes. While bearded dragons can eat some beetles in moderation, it isn’t recommended as they’re tough to chew and not the best source of protein for a beardie. 

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

Can bearded dragons eat beetles?

Beetle Nutritional Value for Bearded Dragons: 

Did you know that of the insects commonly eaten around the world, beetles are the number one most commonly eaten insect? (Source: Medical News Today) Beetles provide nutritional value to bearded dragons and humans alike – in the form of protein, vitamins, and fiber. These minerals 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, beetles 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 beetles to your beardie? 

Because beetles 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.

If you’re intent on giving your beardie a beetle, it’s best to feed them the beetle after they’ve eaten their other insects and vegetables. This way, they fill up their guts on the insects and plants that they need to grow and thrive. Beetles 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 beetles to your bearded dragon: 

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

As well, beetles have a particularly hard outer shell that can be hard for bearded dragons to chomp on, and sometimes pose a choking hazard. Monitor them closely when eating a beetle. 

It’s likely that your bearded dragon is eating a beetle from outside, and this always poses the risk of them accidentally eating a bug covered in harmful pesticides or insecticides. In small doses, they will be fine. However, if your bearded dragon regularly consumes these harmful chemicals, it will be toxic to them and can eventually lead to paralysis and even death. 

Should I feed my baby bearded dragon beetles?

No, you probably should not give baby or even juvenile bearded dragons beetles. When beardies are growing (up to a year old), they need a lot more insects and protein to grow. Due to the beetle’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 beetles until they’re older. 

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

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

• Bloating
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Abnormal behaviors 

Give them lots of water to flush out the beetle 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 beetles?

Can bearded dragons eat black beetles? 

Yes, bearded dragons can safely eat black beetles, but only on rare occasions. Black beetles should not be a staple in their daily insect diet. 

Can bearded dragons eat superworm beetles? 

Bearded dragons can eat superworm beetles, but only as a rare treat. Superworm beetles are packed with nutrients that are great for beetles, but they are also very high fat and can cause obesity. While beardies love these as snacks, consider them more like treats or desserts. 

Can bearded dragons eat stag beetles? 

Bearded dragons technically can eat stag beetles and they are known to eat them in the wild. However, you shouldn’t regularly feed your bearded dragon stag beetles as they aren’t a great source of daily protein and calcium. 

Can bearded dragons eat dead beetles? 

In general, dead insects have less nutritional value as live insects. When a beetle dies, they begin losing the water and nutritions in their body. You also don’t know why they died – if they were poisoned, your bearded dragon could inadvertently eat the toxin that killed the beetle. That’s why we don’t recommend your bearded dragon eating dead beetles. 

Can bearded dragons eat darkling beetles? 

Yes, bearded dragons can eat darkling beetles, but they aren’t considered a good source of daily nutrition and their hard exteriors are tough for them to chew. Because of this, you should only feed your dragon darkling beetles occasionally. 

Can bearded dragons eat Japanese beetles? 

Your bearded dragon will be fine if they eat a Japanese beetle, but just be sure that it doesn’t become a regular occurrence. If they’re eating Japanese beetles, it’s likely from outside and you don’t know if they’re covered in chemicals. 

Can bearded dragons eat June bugs? 

Bearded dragons probably should not eat June bugs, otherwise known as June beetles. While they’ll be fine if they accidentally eat a June bug, they aren’t suitable as part of their daily diet. 

What bugs are poisonous 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). 

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 beetles? 

• Bearded dragons can eat beetles on occasion. However, it should not be a staple in their insect diet as beetles have too much phosphorus and could be covered in insecticides. 
• If your beardie eats beetles 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. 

Related articles: 

• Can bearded dragons eat cicadas?
• Can bearded dragons eat ladybugs?
• Can bearded dragons eat spiders?
• Can bearded dragons eat cockroaches?
• Can bearded dragons eat bees?