Bearded dragons eat insects as part of their diet, and that includes worms. But not all worms are created nutritionally equal. Can bearded dragons eat wax worms? Are they good for bearded dragons? Let's dive in and find out!
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Wax Worms?
Yes, bearded dragons can eat wax worms, but not too often.
Unbeknownst to many new bearded dragon owners, wax worms can cause an addiction-like fixation in bearded dragons. They’ll get a taste of the sweet, fatty wax worms and soon they’re turning up their nose at every other insect or veggie you attempt to feed them. Wax worms can pretty much make your dragon forget they ever ate anything green or healthy.
Are Wax Worms Good for Bearded Dragons?
In moderation, wax worms aren’t exactly bad for bearded dragons… but they aren’t good for bearded dragons, either. Wax worms make a nice treat and a horrible staple feeder.
There are two primary reasons for this:
- Nutritional deficiency
- Risk of addiction
Basically, wax worms are the cupcakes or french fries of the bearded dragon world.
Nutritional Profile of Wax Worms
Wax worms are nutritionally inferior to staple feeders such as crickets and Dubia roaches—by a lot. Wax worms have:
- Low protein
- High fat content
- Low calcium
- A poor calcium to phosphorus ratio
Feeding too many wax worms to your dragon can result in obesity, metabolic bone disease, liver and kidney problems, and even death.
How Many Wax Worms Can You Feed a Bearded Dragon?
Wax worms have been called "leopard gecko crack"—and there is a good reason for this. Leos can easily get addicted to wax worms and staunchly refuse to eat anything else.
The same thing can happen to bearded dragons.
Some sources will recommend feeding your bearded dragon wax worms once or twice a month. Others will say that more frequent feeding is okay as long as you balance it out with healthy staple feeders.
Wax worms are a treat, so use your best judgment and offer them sparingly.
With wax worms, less is more, because it can be very, very difficult (and stressful) to break a wax worm fixation.
What to Do If Your Bearded Dragon Won’t Eat Anything but Wax Worms
There are two approaches you can take if your bearded dragon is stubbornly refusing to eat anything but wax worms.
- Cold turkey. Stop feeding wax worms to your bearded dragon. This can be effective in some situations. Bearded dragons who are wax-worm-crazy can be very stubborn, but they won’t starve themselves to death. Eventually they will eat.
- Weaning. Cold turkey may be a tough idea to swallow, and it can be really stressful for the owner who just wants to see their dragon eating again. Weaning can be an effective alternative, especially for dragons who were being fed wax worms on a daily basis. Gradually decrease the amount of worms your dragon consumes as you reintroduce healthy alternatives (hornworms, Dubia roaches, crickets, black soldier fly larvae).
Whether you choose cold turkey or weaning, it’s tough to get your dragon to eat veggies again. Here are some things you can try:
- Carefully put greens in their mouth as they eat feeders (using tweezers to avoid being bitten).
- Make a chunky salad puree with their favorite fruit mixed in so the sweet flavor gets all over the greens.
- Offer foods they used to love, like carrots, sweet potatoes, or berries.
What Insects Can Bearded Dragons Eat Instead of Wax Worms?
When choosing staple feeders and supplemental insects for your bearded dragon, you’ve got other options besides wax worms.
Nutritious staple feeders include:
- Dubia roaches
- Crickets
- Black soldier fly larvae
Other bugs that are suitable for bearded dragons on occasion:
- Hornworms
- Butterworms
- Mealworms
Takeaway: Wax worms are suitable as a treat but not a staple feeder for bearded dragons. Don’t offer wax worms too often, because bearded dragons can become addicted to them and refuse to eat anything else.
