Bearded Dragon Care | How To Guides And Tips For Beginners

Question: Can Bearded Dragons Eat Grasshoppers? Answer: Yes, bearded dragons can eat grasshoppers. The insect is packed with the essential nutrients and vitamins that your bearded dragon needs for body function and growth. However, it is not a good idea to feed wild grasshoppers to your beardie because the insect can carry parasites and pesticides that can harm the lizard. It is much safer to feed your bearded dragon some commercially produced grasshoppers since they are free from parasites and pesticides that can cause life threatening diseases to your pet. Apart from being free from parasites and pesticides that can lower the life expectancy of your bearded dragon, commercially produced grasshoppers are also packed with essential nutrients and vitamins through a process called gut loading. In the next sections I am going to be explaining the exact amount of grasshoppers that you should be feeding your bearded dragon at every stage of their growth. I am also going to be breaking down the main health benefits of grasshoppers to reptiles such as bearded dragons. So without much being said, let's get started. Why Your Bearded Dragon Is Not Eating Grasshoppers? There are so many reasons why an individual bearded dragon may not be eating grasshoppers but the most common reason is the reptile might have gotten tired of the insects. Feeding a lot of grasshoppers to your bearded dragon can cause them to resent the insects so it is very important for reptile owners to give optimal amounts of grasshoppers to their pets. The next section covers the best and optimal amount of grasshoppers to feed to your bearded dragon depending on the stage of growth. How Many Grasshoppers Can Bearded Dragons Eat? Baby bearded dragons usually eat a lot more insect or animal based foods than adults because they need more protein for muscle and tissue developement. Animal nutritionists and experts generally recommend that you give your bearded dragon more insects when it is still under four months old. The bearded dragon diet experiences a total shift once they are adults in order to accommodate more fruits and vegetables. Adult bearded dragons should eat at least 70% plant based foods and 30% insect or animal based foods. So generally speaking, baby bearded dragons get to eat more insects than adults due to their dietary needs. Here is a quick summary of the amount of grasshoppers you should be feeding your bearded dragon depending on their stage of growth: Stage Of GrowthAmount Of GrasshoppersHatchling Bearded DragonHatchlings should generally eat 1 grasshopper per feeding session. Also remember to break the grasshopper into small pieces to make it easier for the bearded dragon to chew and fully digest.Baby Bearded DragonBaby bearded dragons can eat 3 to 5 grasshoppers per meal and the insects should also be broken into small pieces for easy chewing and digestion.Adult Bearded DragonAdult bearded dragons need to eat more plant based foods than insects so you can safely give them 2 to 3 grasshoppers per meal. There is usually no need to break the grasshoppers into small pieces since adult bearded dragons are mature enough to safely chew and digest large pieces.the amount of grasshoppers to feed your bearded dragon How To Feed Grasshoppers To Bearded Dragons https://youtu.be/XGJmq38U258 There are obviously many ways to feed grasshoppers to your bearded dragons and you can choose any one of them. Here is a quick summary of the different ways of feeding grasshoppers or other insects to your bearded dragon: Placing the grasshoppers into your bearded dragon's food bowl. Offer the grasshoppers to your bearded dragon by hand. This can be a great way of playing and creating a bond with your bearded dragon.Hide the grasshoppers around the bearded dragon enclosure. This is very great for entertaining the beardie and giving it a sense of adventure. The bearded dragon will use its sense of smell to locate the grasshoppers and get a tasty reward every time they do so. Best Canned Grasshoppers For Bearded Dragons As mentioned earlier, wild grasshoppers are generally not safe for bearded dragons due to risks of parasites and pesticides. Wild grasshoppers can carry parasites that can cause life threatening diseases to your beardie and they might also have been in contact with pesticides used by farmers or gardeners. This is why it is important to feed your bearded dragon some canned freeze-dried grasshoppers from the pet store. Commercially produced grasshoppers are free from parasites or pesticides and they are also packed with essential nutrients and vitamins through a process called gut loading. Gut loading is basically the process by which an animal's prey is raised and fed nutritious foods with the intention of passing those nutrients to the animal for which the prey is intended. There are so many benefits of giving commercial grasshoppers to your bearded dragon and here is a quick summary of the best grasshopper brands to consider: Fluker's Gourmet-Style Grasshoppers Reptile Food Description: The Fluker's Gourmet-Style Grasshoppers Reptile Food is a great source of essential nutrients, vitamins and protein that your bearded dragon requires for muscle and tissue development. You can feed the grasshoppers as a protein staple. Ingredients: Grasshoppers. Main Benefits: A great source of the protein that your bearded dragon requires for muscle and tissue development.Gut loaded with essential nutrients and vitamins.The wholesome grasshoppers are perfect for daily feeding as a protein staple.Adds variety to your dragon's diet.Offers a very convenient way of feeding your bearded dragon. Check Prices online Zoo Med Jumbo Can O' Grasshoppers Reptile Food Description: The Zoo Med Jumbo Can O' Grasshoppers Reptile & Bird Food offers great convenience to the bearded dragon owner and provides a nutritionally rich meal to the lizard. Ingredients: Farm-raised grasshoppers. Main Benefits: Provides a convenient way of feeding your dragon.The exoskeleton is softened and the grasshoppers have no wings for easier digestion.Rich in protein required for muscle and tissue development.Adds variety to your bearded dragon's diet.Flavor and freshness is locked in with natural juices preserved in the can. Check Prices Online Fluker's Freeze-Dried Grasshoppers Reptile Treats Description: The Fluker's Freeze-Dried Grasshoppers Reptile Treats are packed with all the essential nutrients and vitamins your bearded dragon requires for body function and growth. The grasshoppers are also a great source of protein and amino acids required for muscle and tissue development. Ingredients: Freeze-Dried Grasshoppers. Main Benefits: Packed with all essential nutrients and vitamins required for body function and growth.A great source of protein and amino acids required for muscle and tissue development.Freeze-dried to preserve taste and nutritional value.Offers a convenient way of feeding your bearded dragon.Adds variety to your dragon's diet. Check Prices Online Why Should Bearded Dragons Eat Grasshoppers? There are obviously many reasons why your bearded dragon should be eating grasshoppers but there a few that are crucial. Here are some of the main benefits of feeding grasshoppers to bearded dragons: Grasshoppers Are A Great Source Of Proteins And Amino Acids Grasshoppers are very rich in proteins required for muscle and tissue development. 100 grams of grasshoppers generally contain about 14 grams of protein so your bearded dragon is guaranteed of receiving more of the crucial nutrient in each bite. Grasshoppers Add Variety To Your Bearded Dragon's Diet Adult bearded dragons should basically eat 70% plant based foods and 30% insect or animal based foods so grasshopper rich meals can help to add variety to their diet. Grasshoppers Are Highly Nutritious Grasshoppers are a great source of many nutrients that your bearded dragon requires for growth and survival. 100 grams of grasshoppers contain 110 calories, 5 grams of carbohydrates, 5 grams of fat and 14 grams of protein. Grasshoppers Can Be Gut Loaded With More Crucial Nutrients Many commercially produced grasshoppers are gut loaded with all the essential nutrients and vitamins that your bearded dragon requires for body function and growth. So, Can Bearded Dragons Eat Grasshoppers? Grasshoppers are definitely safe for bearded dragons to eat and the insects are filled with many essential nutrients and vitamins required for body function and growth. However, bearded dragon owners should be careful when feeding wild grasshoppers to their pets because they may carry parasites and pesticides used by farmers and gardeners. Commercially produced grasshoppers sold at various pet stores are free from parasites or pesticides and they are usually gut loaded with other essential nutrients that bearded dragons need to stay healthy.

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