Can Bearded Dragons Eat Caterpillars? Vet-Reviewed Nutrition Facts & FAQ

Some Bearded Dragon owners might see a nice juicy caterpillar crawling by and think that it would make a great snack for their pet. Bearded Dragons are known for eating things like crickets, mealworms, and other crunchy bugs, but can they also eat caterpillars? Bearded Dragons can eat specific types of caterpillars, but they cannot eat just any caterpillar that you find crawling by. There are roughly 180,000 different species of caterpillars, and you cannot just feed any one of them to your Bearded Dragon.

Most caterpillars are unsafe or even dangerous for Bearded Dragons, so you should only ever offer ones that have been bred specifically for the purpose.

Safe Caterpillars

There are a handful of caterpillars that are safe for your beardie to munch on, and some of them have great nutritional benefits. Any caterpillar being sold at a reputable pet shop that specializes in reptiles should be safe for your Bearded Dragon to consume. They include:

• Silkworms: the larvae of Domestic Silk Moths. You can buy silkworms from local pet stores.
• Butterworms: the caterpillar of the Chilean moth, often raised for bait and food for animals like fish and reptiles.
• Goliath Worms (aka Horned Worms): these juicy, green caterpillars look like they wouldn’t be a safe food, but in fact, they are one of the more popular reptile foods. Be careful not to purchase them too large; they could give your beardie diarrhea or cause a blockage.

Unsafe Caterpillars

Most caterpillars are unsafe for Bearded Dragons to eat. Any caterpillar that you find outside should not be fed to your Bearded Dragon. Caterpillars can eat a variety of different plants, which can fill them with potentially toxic plant matter that can transfer to your Bearded Dragon. Outdoor insects and bugs can also get into chemicals, pesticides, feces, and trash that can make them unsafe for your Bearded Dragon to eat.

Any caterpillar that you do not know what species it is, is also unsafe. Many caterpillars are toxic and can make your Bearded Dragon unwell. Being toxic or spiny is one way that caterpillars protect themselves from predators, including lizards like Bearded Dragons. If you give your Bearded Dragon an unknown caterpillar, it can end up being toxic, or it can poke or sting them. One that is commonly seen in the garden, but is particularly toxic to Bearded Dragons, is the caterpillar of the Monarch Butterfly.

Bearded Dragons Should Never Eat Wild Caterpillars

Just to reiterate, you should never ever collect wild bugs from outside and bring them in to feed your Bearded Dragon. That includes caterpillars as well. There are too many risks for your pet Beardie to eat random bugs that you find outside. Insects, worms, and caterpillars should only be fed to your Bearded Dragon if they were bought from a reputable pet store that specifically raises them for consumption by pets.

Wild bugs can be toxic and covered in unsafe chemicals. Wild bugs can carry parasites. These are all things that can end up making your Bearded Dragon sick in the long run, and it is not worth the risk.

Caterpillar Alternatives

If you are worried about feeding your Bearded Dragon caterpillars, don’t worry. There are plenty of alternatives to consider that are safe and nutritious.

• Crickets
• Mealworms
• Earthworms
• Superworms
• Cockroaches

All of these live foods can be found at your local pet store and are safe for your Bearded Dragon to eat. Buying these types of live foods at a reputable store will save you the risk and stress of potentially feeding your Beardie the wrong thing.

In Conclusion

There are a few caterpillars that are safe for Bearded Dragons to eat, but the majority are potentially dangerous. Bearded Dragons can eat silkworms, butterworms, or hornworms, but any other type of caterpillar has the potential to be toxic or contaminated. You should never feed your Bearded Dragon anything that you find outside. Only feed them live food that is sourced from a reputable store or vendor.

See Also:

• Can Bearded Dragons Eat Parsley?

• Can Bearded Dragons Eat Hornworms? Vet-Approved Nutrition Guidelines

Featured Image Credit: JumpStory