FAQ: Feeding Bearded Dragons

Do I need to do anything special to the crickets before giving them to my Bearded Dragon?
Crix need to be fed properly to add more nutrition and make them plump and full of water. I have found it best to feed them fruit and veggie scraps from my Bearded Dragons food. They can also get moistened pellets. Even more important than what goes in a cricket is what goes on the crickets. You can use a balancer like ICB from T-Rex. This helps balance the phosphorus:calcium ratio. It can be used for every feeding for the life of the Bearded Dragon. Using calcium and vitamin supplements can also be used in place of the ICB. Never use both!
*most cricket farms use a special feed for crix. It has been reported that moldy feed can make the crix toxic. If you opt to use a cricket feed, be careful.

Can crickets eat my Bearded Dragon?
Yes, leftover crix can do a lot of damage to a Bearded Dragon if left in overnight.

What kind of worms can I feed my Bearded Dragon?
The only worms I recommend as a staple are silk worms. You can offer super worms as a treat to Bearded Dragons that are over 12”. The chitin (exoskeleton) is hard to digest. Freshly shed worms (white in color) are best as they digest the easiest. Meal worms are even harder to digest and I don’t recommend them at all. Wax worms are high in fat and can lead to liver problems.

Can worms eat their way out of my Bearded Dragon?
No, it’s an urban legend.

Can I feed my Bearded Dragon bugs from my garden?
It is safer not to. You don’t know what they may have been exposed to. Pesticides, germs, parasites… can all have a deadly effect on your Bearded Dragon. Never feed luminous bugs (fireflies) as they are poisonous.

Does my Bearded Dragon need a water bowl?
Most of the dragon's hydration is supplied by the high vegetation diet and therefore water bowls are not a necessity for drinking. If you do use a water bowl, it should be a bowl or dish shallow enough for your lizard to see easily into and drink out of. Additionally, make sure that it is not too deep so as to make it hard for the dragon to get in and out, especially with babies. It should be heavy enough not to tip over. Sometimes Bearded Dragons will never learn how to drink out of a dish of standing water.

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