Crickets are one of the most popular feeder insects for bearded dragons. In fact, they make up a significant portion of a bearded dragon’s diet, especially when they are young. But what exactly makes crickets such an ideal food source for these reptiles? In this article, we’ll dive into everything you need to know about feeding crickets to your bearded dragon.
Why Crickets?
There are a few key reasons why crickets are the go-to feeder insect for bearded dragons
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High in nutrients. Crickets contain 15-20% protein, 5-8% fat, and are rich in vitamins and minerals like calcium, phosphorus, and B vitamins. This makes them an excellent source of complete nutrition for growing and adult bearded dragons.
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Encourage natural hunting behavior. Bearded dragons are insectivores by nature and love to chase down live prey. Feeding live crickets allows them to engage in this rewarding hunting behavior.
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Affordable and easily available. Crickets are one of the most affordable feeder insects on the market, often priced under $1 per dozen. They are also widely available at pet stores.
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Appropriate size range Crickets come in sizes ranging from 1/8 inch for babies to 1 inch for adults This allows you to match cricket size to your dragon’s age and size,
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Bearded dragons love them! Most bearded dragons readily accept crickets and become very excited at feeding time. This stimulation is healthy and enriching.
So in a nutshell, the nutrition, behavior, cost, availability, and palatability of crickets make them the ideal staple feeder insect.
Cricket Nutrition Facts
Here’s a quick look at the nutritional profile of crickets according to a 100 gram serving:
- 127 calories
- 12.9g protein
- 5.5g fat
- 5.1g fiber
- 75.8g moisture
- Calcium: 6.5mg
- Phosphorus: 105.3mg
- Iron: 9.5mg
- Zinc: 1.4mg
As you can see, crickets contain a solid protein and healthy fat content. The phosphorus levels are quite high, making it important to use calcium supplements to achieve a proper calcium:phosphorus ratio.
Overall though, crickets contain a complete amino acid profile and are loaded with vitamins and minerals like vitamin A, B vitamins, magnesium, biotin, copper, and more.
Feeding Crickets by Bearded Dragon Age
The number of crickets you feed your bearded dragon will depend largely on their age. Here are the general cricket feeding guidelines:
Baby (0-3 months):
- Feed 3-5 times per day
- Allow to eat as many 1/8 inch crickets as desired in 10 minutes
- Total of 30-80 crickets per day
Juvenile (3-9 months):
- Feed 2-3 times per day
- Allow to eat as many 1/4 inch crickets as desired in 10 minutes
- Total of 30-50 crickets per day
Adult (9-18 months):
- Feed 1-2 times per day
- Allow to eat as many 3/4 inch crickets as desired in 15 minutes
- Total of 10-20 crickets per day
The quantities above are general guidelines, but always allow your bearded dragon to eat until satisfied at each feeding. Monitor their body condition and appetite and adjust amounts accordingly.
As your dragon grows, slowly increase cricket size from 1/8 inch for babies to 3/4 inch for adults. Avoid any crickets longer than the space between your dragon’s eyes.
Pro Tips for Feeding Crickets
Follow these tips to make cricket feedings easy and nutritious for your bearded dragon:
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Gut load crickets by feeding them nutritious foods like vegetables, grains, etc for at least 24 hours before feeding to your dragon. This boosts their nutritional value.
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Dust crickets with calcium powder at every other feeding to prevent metabolic bone disease. Lightly coat insects in calcium immediately before feeding to your dragon.
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House crickets properly in a ventilated container with egg cartons for hiding. Provide cricket food and hydration gel. Change food every 2-3 days.
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Remove uneaten crickets from your dragon’s habitat after 10-15 minutes. Crickets can bite and stress your dragon if left unattended.
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Use a feeding dish or tongs when feeding loose crickets. This prevents escaped crickets from hiding in tank decor.
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Refrigerate crickets before feeding to slow them down for easier handling and feeding. Just don’t freeze them.
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Buy from reputable suppliers and avoid wild-caught crickets which can carry parasites and pathogens.
By following these tips, you can optimize the nutritional value of crickets and make them an excellent staple food for your bearded dragon.
Potential Issues with Crickets
While nutritious and beneficial overall, there are a few potential downsides to feeding crickets that owners should be aware of:
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Bites: Crickets can bite your dragon’s delicate skin, especially around the eyes and cloaca. Supervise feedings.
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Impaction risk: The chitinous exoskeleton of crickets can cause impaction if eaten in excess. Appropriate sizes are essential.
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Parasites: Crickets may potentially carry parasitic infections. Purchase from reputable sellers.
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Escaped crickets: Loose crickets can infest homes and hide in enclosures. Handle carefully and remove after feedings.
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Toxicity: Crickets release foul odors and toxins when they die. Immediately remove dead insects.
While not dealbreakers, these potential downsides reinforce the need to feed and handle crickets responsibly. With proper care, though, they make an excellent nutritional staple.
Alternative Feeding Options
While crickets should make up the bulk of your bearded dragon’s insect diet, it’s also beneficial to mix in some alternative feeders 1-2 times per week for variety. Some healthy options include:
- Dubia roaches
- Black soldier fly larvae
- Silkworms
- Hornworms
- Locusts
- Calciworms
Varying feeder insects provides a diversity of nutrients and keeps things interesting for your dragon. But always remember, crickets are the dietary staple to rely on day in and day out.
The Verdict: Feed Your Dragon Crickets Often!
In conclusion, nutritious, widely available, and perfect for hunting, crickets have earned their place as the #1 feeder insect for bearded dragons, especially young dragons. Follow the age-based feeding guidelines outlined and gut load and dust insects properly to optimize their nutritional value. Crickets should comprise the majority of your dragon’s insect diet, supplemented by alternative feeders several times a week. By making crickets a dietary staple, you’ll keep your bearded dragon healthy, strong, and energetic!
How many crickets do you feed a juvenile?
- 1 Feed a juvenile bearded dragon 20–50 crickets each day. Use crickets that are up to about 1⁄2 inch (13 mm) long. Feed your bearded dragon 2–3 times a day, and offer 5–10 crickets at a time during each one. Let your beardie hunt as many crickets as they can until they tire out.[4]
- Juvenile bearded dragons are anywhere from 5 months to 1 year old.
- Try feeding your bearded dragon by hand to bond with them even more.
- 2 Transition half of your beardie’s diet to vegetables. Offer your bearded dragon a meal that’s half crickets and half vegetables during each feeding. Since bearded dragons get most of their nutrients from greens, they become a more important part of your pet’s diet.[5]
- As long as you provide a full bowl of veggies and the right number of crickets each feeding, your beardie will naturally eat the right balance they need for their diet.
- Alternatively, give your bearded dragon a meal that’s just vegetables in the morning, a meal that’s just crickets in the afternoon, and a final feeding that’s half and half.
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Expert Q&ASearch
- Question Whats the most common sickness of a bearded dragon? Clint Bartley Herpetology Expert Clint Bartley is a Herpetology Expert based in Chandler, Indiana. He has over 30 years of experience working with reptiles, and opened Metazotics in 2022, a large reptile breeding facility and specialty store where he oversees a breeding colony of nearly 500 reptiles. Metazotics specializes in reptiles such as colubrids, ball pythons, geckos, tortoises, and more, and serves a national audience with their state-of-the-art online merchandise platform. In particular, Clint is known as an industry leader in Asian rat snake and black rat snake mutations. Clint has successfully reproduced more than 60 species of reptiles in captivity. He was the second person in the United States to produce Archelaphe bella chapaensis (bell rat snakes), and the first person in the U.S. to produce them twice. Metazotics carries a comprehensive line of supplies and habitats, offers all bioactive enclosure needs, and works with local organizations to further their knowledge and understanding of reptiles. Clint Bartley Herpetology Expert Expert Answer The most common ailment of a bearded dragon is related to insufficient UVB lighting, which can lead to bone issues. Without proper UV absorption, these reptiles are susceptible to developing a disease characterized by weakened bones. Inadequate calcium intake exacerbates this condition, resulting in increased brittleness of the bones. To prevent and address this problem, its crucial to ensure the bearded dragons habitat is equipped with adequate UVB lighting and to supplement their diet with sufficient calcium to support bone health.
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- Avoid feeding your beardie wild-caught insects since they could have traces of insecticide that harm your pet.[14] Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
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FAQ
How many crickets should my beardie eat a day?
| Age | Feeding frequency of crickets | Rough number of crickets per day |
|---|---|---|
| Transition stage (8 months old) | 1 time a day | 10 small crickets |
| Adult bearded dragons (over 18 months old) | 2-3 times a week | 10 large crickets per feeding session (30% of diet) |
Are crickets good for bearded dragons?
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Protein Source:Crickets are a good source of protein, which is essential for the growth and development of younger bearded dragons.
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Calcium Source:Crickets also contain calcium, another important nutrient for bearded dragons, especially for bone health.
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Stimulation:Live crickets can also provide stimulation for your bearded dragon as they chase and hunt their food.
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Gut-Loading:To ensure your bearded dragon gets the most out of their crickets, it’s important to gut-load them (feed the crickets a nutritious diet) before feeding them to your pet.
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Dietary Balance:While crickets are a good source of protein, they should not be the only food source for bearded dragons. As they age, they need a diet that is more herbivorous, with a higher proportion of vegetables.
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Alternatives:Other insects, such as dubia roaches and calciworms, can also be good alternatives to crickets, especially for younger beardies.
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Calcium to Phosphorus Ratio:Crickets have a poor calcium to phosphorus ratio, so it’s important to dust them with calcium powder before feeding them to your bearded dragon.
Is it OK to leave crickets in bearded dragon tank?
It’s generally not recommended to leave crickets in with your bearded dragon overnight. Here are a few reasons why: Stress for the Bearded Dragon: Live crickets can be stressful for your bearded dragon, especially if they are active and trying to hide. This stress can affect the dragon’s well-being.
Can you buy live crickets at PetSmart?
Keep your reptile fed and happy with this PetSmart Large Live Cricket. These crickets make a nutrient-rich meal for your pet, providing protein and other essential nutrients your pet needs to thrive.
How many crickets can a baby bearded dragon eat?
The number of crickets to feed baby beardies is what they can finish in 10-15 minutes. Some sources put it 5-10 minutes, and this will depend on how many times you feed them feeder insects. For instance, if you are offering small ones, your baby bearded dragon can eat 30 to 80 in a day.
Are pinhead crickets good for baby bearded dragons?
Pinhead crickets – These are small, wingless, whose size is comparable to that of a regular pin and about two days old. They are best for hatchlings and baby bearded dragons. Small crickets – Larger than pinheads but less than a centimeter long and are suitable for older baby beardies and juveniles.
Can you breed crickets for bearded dragons?
Crickets can also be used for fishing, or you could even start a serious cricket farming business and sell the crickets you raise. Before getting to the “how to breed crickets for bearded dragons” part lets first list down a few pros and cons of breeding crickets for bearded dragons.
Do crickets bite bearded dragons?
It’s not uncommon for crickets to bite toes, eyelids, and tails of bearded dragons. Bites are uncomfortable and can become infected if ignored. An escaped cricket will continue biting and stressing your bearded dragon until it has been removed.
How to take care of feeder crickets for bearded dragons?
Here’s a few tips on taking care of feeder crickets for bearded dragons. The most convenient method of keeping crickets is by using a Kricket Keeper. The Kricket Keeper is a small plastic housing made especially for feeder crickets and other feeder insects.
How do you feed a Kricket keeper to a bearded dragon?
Now your Kricket Keeper is full of hungry, thirsty crickets. Once the feeders calm down you can literally watch as they gorge themselves on the gut load food and cricket quencher. Leave the feeders in the Keeper to feast for at least 24 hours before feeding them to your bearded dragon.