If you can’t keep a live feeder at home, you can offer your beardie a mix of meat, fruits, vegetables, and greens. To provide a variety of food sources, Zilla Reptile Munchies Omnivore Mix contains a combination of dehydrated fruits, mealworms, and crickets. Just add water for the mealworms to rehydrate. The result is a nutritious meal for your beardie.
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Mealworms are larvae of the darkling beetle
Mealworms are a fascinating insect, especially to watch during the transformation process. Adults are fast runners with four legs attached to the proto-, meso-, and meta-thorax. Their abdomen has nine segments, the last one of which is the spine. In addition to growing into a beetle, mealworms store fat in their abdomens, which they use to make their exoskeletons and wings during the pupa stage.
The female darkling beetle lays hundreds of white oval eggs. The larvae hatch after four to 19 days and molt many times. They grow into white adults and can be found in broiler houses. Mealworms are rarely visible, preferring dark, damp places. They may not be visible for days until they are in large numbers and infest the entire house.
Mealworms are easier to store
Mealworms are a great protein-rich diet for your bearded dragon. They can live up to 6 months and contain as much protein as beef. They are also cheaper and easier to store. You can buy mealworms from pet stores or online, and some breeders will even sell you crickets for your beardie. The mealworms will last longer if stored in the fridge than crickets do, and they are a cheaper alternative.
Mealworms are also easier to store than waxworms. Because they live longer, mealworms are easier to store for bearded dragon dry food. Also, mealworms can be stored in the refrigerator for several months. Waxworms are larvae of the wax moth, and they have dark-colored feet and heads. They are often seen as pests of bee colonies and can live up to 2 months on very little food.
Mealworms are a good treat
Mealworms are one of the most common foods for bearded dragons. However, they should be fed to bearded dragons only on occasion because mealworms contain a hard chitin shell that can block the digestive tract and cause indigestion. Furthermore, the bearded dragon’s digestive system needs a couple of days to fully break down the exoskeleton, so feeding them on a regular basis may not be a good idea. Mealworms can be a great way to get a picky eater to eat greens. Alternatively, you can give your bearded dragon mealworms if it is malnourished.
Mealworms are also a good choice for bearded dragons because of their high protein content. These insects are essential for the maintenance of muscle and cell structure. Mealworms also contain a small amount of fat (up to 15%). This fat helps the beardie absorb vitamins and regulate body temperature. While you can buy feeder insects from pet stores, they are not particularly budget-friendly. Additionally, mealworms are low maintenance and can even be used for composting.
Mealworms need fats and proteins from live feeders
Mealworms are a staple of the bearded dragon diet. Although they are popular with dragon owners, some do not feed mealworms to their young. The best way to provide your beardie with the right diet is to rotate your worms throughout the year. If you’re not sure what kind of worms to use, try pinhead crickets (about a quarter of an inch long) or adult crickets. Each type has pros and cons.
A popular choice for mealworms is the Phoenix/Repti Worm. These worms are the larvae of the Black Soldier Fly and look similar to maggots. While they are low in protein, they are a great source of fat for your dragon. A great way to supplement their diet is to feed them alongside other live feeders. Silkworms are another popular choice. Silkworms are low in protein and fat but are an acceptable source of calcium for your dragon.
Overfeeding a bearded dragon
Your beardie should be fed mostly greens, and the majority of that diet should come from leafy vegetables. Leafy greens like broccoli, collard greens, and beets are all great choices. You can also add alfalfa hay and herbs like cilantro and parsley. Lastly, you can give your dragon freeze-dried insects or pellets. These foods contain fewer nutrients than raw vegetables, but they still provide good nutrition.
Several complication of overfeeding a bearded dragon includes obesity. Obesity in dragons refers to the deposit of fat around vital organs, similar to that in humans. This vicious cycle of overfeeding and lack of exercise results in weight gain and decreased efficiency of important organs. The main complication of obesity in bearded dragons is fatty liver. This condition increases the size of the liver and impairs its ability to produce certain hormones and enzymes.
