Best Worms For Baby Bearded Dragons (Mealworms + Worm List)

Are you a new bearded dragon owner looking to learn more about its diet?

Do you want to feed your bearded dragon the best food for a healthy life?

Then it’s essential to know all about the best foods for bearded dragons.

As omnivores, they need a balance of vegetation and proteins.

Proteins consist of insects and worms, and of these two, worms are the ones you probably know about the least.

So, what are the best worms for baby bearded dragons?

And can baby bearded dragons eat mealworms?

The best worms for bearded dragons are ones that are smaller than the space between their eyes, packed with healthy proteins and fats, and sold and farmed, especially for reptiles and bearded dragons.

Read on for more information on specific worms and how to take care of baby bearded dragons.

Brief Overview Of Diet And Feeding of Bearded Dragons

The exact varied diet you feed bearded dragons depends on their stage in life.

Young bearded dragons need a diet with more live insects & protein, but older bearded dragons needs more plant life than protein.

Young pet bearded dragons needs a diet of 30% plant life and 70% proteins (which include insects and worms).

Adult bearded dragons are the opposite at 70% plant life and 30% protein.

For quick reference, see this table on what and how often to feed bearded dragons.

Age	Diet Ratio	Amount
0-3 Months	70% Insect 30% Veg	30–80 Insects Per Day
3-8 Months	70% Insect 30% Veg	30–80 Insects Per Day
8-12 Months	70% Insect 30% Veg	30–80 Insects Per Day
12+ Months	30% Insect 70% Veg	50 Insects Per Week

Age	Feeding Frequency
0-3 Months	3-5 Feedings Daily
3-8 Months	2 Feedings Daily
8-12 Months	1 Feeding Daily
12+ Months	1-day salad, 1-day insect, 1 day nothing, and repeat

Note: All insects should be smaller than the distance between eyes of bearded dragons.

This prevents injury from eating.

Check out our post on how often to feed bearded dragons for more details on frequency through different stages of your pet’s life, along with specific food type guidelines.

How To Feed Bearded Dragons

There’s a proper way to feed bearded dragons safely, which we describe in this section.

Never feed bearded dragons any insect or worm larger than the distance between their eyes.

This can cause the food to get stuck and put pressure on their spine, which causes paralysis and, in some cases, death.

Start by placing the food in the enclosure in front of the bearded dragons.

As the bearded dragons eats it, keep putting more food in front of it.

Feed it from your hand if you’d like to.

Just make sure you hold the food out far enough to avoid getting your fingers nipped.

The bites don’t hurt much, but it’s still something you want to avoid.

Although if you are bitten, we have a post on what to do after a bearded dragon bite to help.

Keep giving younger bearded dragons food until they stop eating.

When it finishes eating, you should stop putting food out.

Give your baby bearded dragons a few minutes before taking the food out of the enclosure (he may come back to eat more).

If the reptile moves on to something else like basking, remove the food.

If you leave the food in there, it could spoil and cause health problems if your lizard eats it.

Pro-tip: Have what you’re planning to feed bearded dragons set out ahead of time.

Steps to Feed Baby Bearded Dragons

Feeding baby bearded dragons involves more than just placing food in their enclosure. You have to take care of several factors, including the size and quantity of the worms, and make sure that they are eating it properly without choking.

To make things easier for you, here’s a step-by-step guide on how to feed baby bearded dragons:

Prepare the Enclosure

Make sure the enclosure is clean and free of any leftover food or debris. A clean environment reduces the risk of bacteria and parasites.

Offer Live Insects

When feeding your adorable baby bearded dragons, try using some feeding tongs to offer live insects. This will help avoid any accidental bites from your little buddy, especially if they’re feeling particularly hungry and excited to eat.

Size and Quantity

It’s important to make sure that the live insects you’re feeding your baby dragon are the right size. For best results, aim for insects that are smaller than the space between the dragon’s eyes. And remember, it’s always better to offer a quantity of insects that the dragon can consume in about 5-10 minutes, so they can enjoy their meal without getting overwhelmed.

Dust with Supplements

Don’t forget to give them a healthy dose of calcium for strong bones. To do this, simply dust their live insects with a calcium supplement (without phosphorus) before offering them as a tasty treat. You can use a plastic bag or container to gently coat the insects with the supplement. Your dragon will love their yummy snack, and you’ll feel good knowing they’re getting all the essential nutrients they need!

Monitor Feeding

Another important point is to keep an eye on it while it’s chowing down. Not only will you get to see how much of a foodie it is, but you’ll also be able to make sure everything’s going down safely and comfortably. If your little dragon seems disinterested or turns up its nose at mealtime, it could be a sign that something’s not quite right. So make sure to keep a close watch and give your buddy all the TLC it deserves!

Introduce Vegetables

Once your little dragon is comfortable with live insects, you can start introducing some finely chopped or shredded veggies. Use the feeding tongs to present the colorful and fresh vegetables to your dragon, and don’t forget to mix it up. A variety of veggies is key to a balanced and happy diet!

Remove Uneaten Food

After your little buddy is done eating, make sure to remove any leftover insects or veggies from their home. This will help keep their living space clean and cozy and reduce the chances of any harmful bacteria growing.

Provide Access to Water

Don’t forget to keep a shallow dish of fresh water in your bearded dragon’s enclosure. Even though they get most of their water from their food, having access to clean water is still important for their health and well-being.

Maintain Consistency

And lastly, stick to a consistent feeding schedule for baby bearded dragons. This helps them establish a routine and stay healthy and happy. So, try to feed them at regular times each day to keep them on track.

Want to give your baby bearded dragons the best possible start in life? Follow these simple steps to provide them with a balanced and nutritious diet that will help them grow and develop to their full potential. And don’t forget to keep an eye on their behavior during feeding; it’s a great way to make sure they’re happy and healthy!

List Of The Best Worms For Bearded Dragons

Baby bearded dragons eat pretty much anything!

This doesn’t mean everything is safe for them to eat.

It’s important to know what kinds of worms are safe for bearded dragons and those which offer the most health benefits.

This section lists the best worms that baby bearded dragons eat and anything you may need to know about them.

Here is a quick list of the worms we recommend for your bearded dragon’s diet.

Details follow below for each staple food:

• Butterworms
• Hornworms
• Mealworms
• Superworms (morio worms)
• Phoenix worms
• Silkworms
• Waxworms

Did you know you can order your bearded dragon worms right from Amazon?

Butter Worms

Butterworms, also known as trevo worms, are a staple feeder insect of a dragon’s diet.

They are high in calcium and can be kept in the fridge for a long time.

Then, gut load them before feeding for more nutrition.

Note: Gut loading can be done with all live worms and insects.

When you gut load, you provide the insects or worms nutrient-dense food the day before your baby bearded dragons eat them.

Hornworms

Hornworms are a type of caterpillar that can grow up to 4″ inches long.

These are popular with bearded dragons because their movement draws them in to eat quickly, and they’re packed with calcium and water.

These are often given as a special treat or snack because they’re more expensive.

We have an article dedicated to how many hornworms to feed bearded dragons for more information on this feeder insect.

Meal Worms

The mealworm is often a staple live food for both the adult bearded dragon and baby bearded dragons, but they shouldn’t be.

If you ever had a reptile in your high school science class, you probably remember feeding mealworms to them.

Mealworms are high in fat and low in protein; therefore, if bearded dragons eat mealworms in excess, it can cause obesity.

You should not feed mealworms to young bearded dragons!

However, feeding mealworms a treat is a good idea, because bearded dragons love their flavor and will gobble them up.

Therefore, we advise to feed mealworms once a week or occasionally only.

Super Worms

Superworms are a healthier version of mealworms.

They have more protein and less fat, but they’re still low in calcium.

As a treat or snack, this is a healthier alternative to mealworms.

I recommend only feeding your young bearded dragon superworms once a week.

Here’s our article on how many superworms to feed bearded dragons for a more detailed guide.

Phoenix Worm

Phoenix worms are a great choice as the staple worm for your bearded dragon.

They’re high in calcium, protein, and phosphorus, which they don’t need to be gut-loaded.

And even if you do your best to get your pet enough calcium, they often need more so, here’s our guide to the best calcium supplements for your bearded dragon.

Silkworms

Silkworms are very small, but they’re also packed with nutrients like:

• Iron
• Magnesium
• Vitamins B1, B2, B3
• Sodium
• Calcium

If baby bearded dragons eat silkworms every other day, it is great for their health.

Wax Worm

Waxworms are another treat feeder insect for a bearded dragon.

Unfortunately, they’re large, making them only suitable for adult bearded dragons and high in fat.

Conclusion

Nevertheless, worms are an essential part of a healthy reptile’s diet.

But it’s important to know what the best worms for your juvenile bearded dragon are as a responsible bearded dragon owner.

Ensure the worms you use are high in nutritional content and are always smaller than the space between the bearded dragon’s eyes.