can bearded dragons eat cicadas? The reply is yes, bearded dragons can eat cicadas, as long as they are not poisonous, though. Make sure the cicadas do not contain parasites before feeding them to your beardie.
As with any other animal, they can carry parasites. When your pet swallows a parasite-infected bug, he will become unhealthy, so cicadas can be included in the diet of a bearded dragon on occasion.
During the summer, when they are flying around, watch for bearded cicadas if you are feeding them. Your bearded dragon will be able to catch some in a plastic container if you poke holes in it.
Let’s read more about how you can feed safely cicadas to your bearded dragons.
What are Cicadas
Cicadas are members of the Cicadoidea superfamily, which have robust bodies, broadheads, a clear membrane covering their wings, and large round eyes.
Cicadas are renowned for disappearing for long periods of time only to return in force at regular intervals. While annual cicadas are called so because they come out every summer, their life expectancy is normally only 2 to 5 years.
There are, however, several species that live longer than most and have overlapping brood cycles. Periodic cicadas live in 15 brood cycles, each lasting between 13 and 17 years, so they can be located in different locations every year.
Among the order Hemiptera, the Cicadoidea are insects. As well as leafhoppers and froghoppers, they are in the suborder Auchenorrhyncha.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Cicadas
Many pets lover ask can bearded dragons eat cicadas? cicadas are safe to consume by your bearded dragons in moderate quantities, so there is no need to be concerned about their health, just follow a few guidelines to maintain a safe diet for bearded dragons
When you find insects around on your property, you should not give them to your beardie because they could carry parasites that could infect him when he eats them. I recommend you buy store-bought insects for your beardie.
The cicada invasion of 2022 is providing food for dogs, cats, birds, and snakes, as well as some people. This raises the question of whether dragon owners can bring their pets along.
In most seasons, you will find cicada-filled jars at your local pet store. For your bearded dragon’s diet collection, you can purchase these items.
Considering bearded dragons should be provided with a well-balanced diet, they would need at least 5 to 7 cicadas every day.
What Happens If your Bearded Dragons Eat Cicada
A bearded dragon’s digestive system can cause serious problems. In the worst-case scenario, the dragon could suffer fatal injuries. Any time your bearded dragon eats a wild insect, you should consult a veterinarian.
A physician should always be consulted if your bearded dragon exhibits any new or abnormal behavior.
Chemically intoxicated individuals usually behave strangely and are unwilling to eat or move around. Insects that have been contaminated with hazardous chemicals may be swallowed by a bearded dragon.
Consult a physician immediately if you swallow any such insects. You should always seek immediate medical attention in such situations.
Before a Bearded Dragon eats an insect, its size must not exceed its eyes. Each bearded dragon’s eyes will be spaced a certain distance apart. You can easily feed an insect up to its maximum size if you do this.
A green lawn can be achieved with pesticides and fertilizer. Your pet may have been ill from eating insects from this class that contained harmful chemicals. If this happens, your animal may die.
Are Cicadas Bad For Bearded Dragons
Bearded dragons can eat cicadas, but they have a higher risk of parasites than other insects. It is not recommended to keep wild cicadas in the house.
To reduce the chances of parasites and diseases in your beardie, only give it fish that you caught yourself to protect it from parasites and diseases.
The shells, dead cicadas, and cicada wings of cicadas should not be consumed by bearded dragons. The shells of cicadas should be avoided by little dragons since the hard shells may make digestion difficult and lead to digestive problems.
Symptoms included:
- Vomiting
- diarrhea
- Anemia
- Kidney issues
- Irritation
- Abnormal
- Stomach Upsets
- Digest problems
- Irritable bowel
Is it harmful to bearded dragons to eat cicadas shells
Cicada shells can be eaten by bearded dragons. Calcium and other minerals form a significant part of the diet of bearded dragons, so they need to consume a specific amount to remain healthy.
It’s not enough for bearded dragon owners to feed them only vegetables. The shell must be removed after you feed your beardie cicadas in order to avoid them accidentally swallowing it and choking on it.
Insects that are harmful to bearded dragons
There are several insects that you should not feed to your bearded dragon. Feeding your pet with these insects is dangerous as they are toxic and vicious,
You can also choose an insect feeder available from the pet store or online from reputable dealers if you are unsure about feeding your bearded dragon wild insects.
- Ants
- Hornets, wasps, and bees
- Some caterpillars
- Centipedes
- Fireflies
- Lubber grasshoppers
- Scorpions
How to feed cicadas or other Insects Bearded Dragons
In the wild, bearded dragons enjoy eating any type of insect they can get their hands on. They enjoy eating a variety of insects even when raised in captivity.
To supplement the diets of their bearded dragons and save some money, some pet owners catch their own insects. There are numerous people who do this, but it is an activity that should be handled with extreme caution.
Here are a few guidelines if you feed your bearded dragon wild insects.
- Bearded dragons should not be fed insects that have been sprayed with herbicides, pesticides, or chemicals. Insects cling to crops that have been sprayed with these chemicals. A barbarian may become ill or die if it ingests this.
- It is important not to give your bearded dragon any insects that you are not sure the animal can safely consume. Avoid going outside and picking up a bug and then feeding it to your bearded dragon.
- Make sure you are aware of any insects your bearded dragon finds if you allow him to roam outdoors. Bugs are not meant to be eaten by it, so try not to allow them to eat unintentionally. Whenever they see an insect, they go after it!
- If you offer your bearded dragon a lot of wild-caught insects, it may develop a taste for them. If this happens, your pet may only eat the insects you feed it. This could lead to it refusing to eat anything else. If it starves to death, it will eventually die of starvation.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Wild Cicadas
Bearded dragons should not be fed wild Cicadas in general. Various parasites and diseases can be carried by wild bugs.
Cicadas are difficult to locate because they fly around without telling us where they have been. You can poison your pet if they came in contact with pesticides.
Cicadas that live in the wild may carry parasites and diseases that could harm your pet. Beardie cicadas must only be fed to you when they have been collected by you from the wild.
A bearded dragon will benefit from being gut loaded with wild-caught insects prior to storing them in a cricket keeper. The insect prey will have a higher nutritional value, and your dragon will have a better diet.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Dead Cicadas
There is no doubt that bearded dragons can eat dead cicadas as long as they are alive. There is nothing like feeding your pet dragon a fresh bug for its food as opposed to one that has been sitting around outside in the sun for a few days.
Although they are dead, there is still a chance that they will decay and cause your pet to be ill if they are not properly handled.
Insects that have been exposed to the sun or those that are fresh should not be fed to your bearded dragon. The creature could be seriously hurt.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Cicada Wings
Be sure to remove the wings from cicada wings before feeding them to your pet. Bearded dragons can eat cicada wings. Even though some beardie owners recommend avoiding cicada legs due to the possibility of impaction, the whole legs of cicadas are safe for your beardie to eat.
Before you can give it to your dragon, you need to remove the wing. Your pet will be able to ingest the complete cicada legs. Some dragon owners say it is dangerous to feed the wings of cicada because it could impaction.
Can Baby Bearded Dragons Eat Cicadas
Yes, bearded dragon babies can eat cicadas. The reason that they like them so much is that they taste good and are soft, making them easy for the little beardies to eat.
Bearded dragons are not considered to be safe around this insect. Insects have a softer texture compared to cicadas. Cicadas can cause severe damage to the intestines of baby bearded dragons if they eat them.
To reduce the possibility of parasites and diseases, you should only feed the bearded dragon babies that you have caught yourself, the same as you would with an adult animal.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Flying Cicadas
Bearded dragons can consume flying cicadas provided they don’t contain any harmful parasites.
Unlike other cicadas that aren’t flying, these insects can carry parasites that can harm humans, since they spend most of their lives underground and come out only occasionally, leaving them vulnerable for quite a while.
Cicadas are large, flying insects that produce loud buzzing noises to attract female mates. Sometimes, they are referred to as 17-year cicadas. Even though they are not related, these insects are incorrectly called locusts.
How To Catch Cicadas For Bearded Dragons
Putting some cicadas in a container with holes can help you catch cicadas if your beardie doesn’t have any space to fly. You will have to take them outside for your bearded dragon to eat them if you put them in a container.
You can attract cicadas by putting leaves on the ground around an area where they fly.
What You Can Do:
Spraying insecticides on your plants are not recommended, since cicadas will come from outside and attack your plants in large numbers, without affecting the plants in any way. Non-chemical cicada control methods include:
- By Hand: If you find a small enough number of adults and nymphs on the plant you can go ahead and pick them off with your hands.
- Garden Hose: Use a garden hose to spray water on plants to kill cicadas.
- Foil & Barrier Tape: You can prevent cicadas from climbing trees and large bushes by wrapping them in foil or sticky band barrier tape.
- Netting: Cover plants with netting so as to protect them from predators.
Can bearded dragons eat cicadas Regularly
In answer to your question, yes they can, but only in the amounts prescribed by your veterinarian. Overfeeding can have adverse effects, which is why it is important to be aware of what you are doing.
Bearded dragons prefer to Treat cicadas as one of their favorite foods. The insects provide healthy nutrition as well as vital minerals.
Insects and vegetables aren’t a problem for Bearded Dragons. It’s more confusing when it comes to insects.
There is also a reasonable explanation for the confusion. There are many types of insects. Barbarian enthusiasts often find it difficult to determine whether a specific species is good or bad for their animals.
Beetles, earthworms, roundworms, and similar insects are fed to this type of dragon. The bearded dragon swallows them whole if they are small.
Any number of cicadas should only be fed to a bearded dragon after consulting an expert. Because cicadas are nutritious, they are a good source of food.
What are cicadas and specifically Brood X?
During certain times of the year, the Hemiptera order (actual bugs) is populated by cicadas. Plant fluids (xylem) are the food they consume both above and below ground.
The largest brood of 17-year cicadas is brood X (10 in Roman numerals). A third brood is located in Eastern Tennessee, Indiana, and Pennsylvania. Approximately every 17 years, people from Brood X emerge as adults for the first time.
Periodical cicadas are found in seven species, one of which is newly described. In Washington, DC, three species have been identified. It is also possible to find annual green cicada species.
Benefits of Cicadas
There are many benefits associated with cicada species for the environment, including:
- Among the many predators are Bearded dragons, birds, and other mammals that feed on cicadas.
- It has been proven by cicadas that they help to aerate lawns and improve water filtration.
- As cicada bodies decompose, they add nutrients to the soil so that it can sustain plant life.
Side effects of feeding cicadas to bearded dragons
Harmful chemicals: It is important to learn about wild cicadas Brood X and where dragons lived. These chemicals could be harmful to dragons, like pesticides or fertilizers. Cicadas can be fed to bearded dragons if they haven’t been exposed to pesticides or chemicals.
There may not be many garden remedies in your area, or you may have a large garden and not use fertilizer.
No matter the case, use your pleasant judgment. Bearded dragons may get sick or die if they eat Cicadas that contain chemicals. Whenever you notice unusual behavior in your animals, such as vomiting, diarrhea, or lethargy, it’s a smart idea to notify your vet.
External skeleton: There is a risk of intestinal impaction when a bearded dragon eats cicadas, because of their hard shells. Cicadas are best fed to your dragon after trimming their exoskeletons.
Cicadas size: Large insects cannot be Treated by bearded dragons. bugs are used to measure one inch in length. Barbs, especially those that are small, should take this into consideration. Our pet large insect, Y, can only be fed when it reaches adulthood.
What types of animal based diet can I feed my bearded dragon
It is advisable to feed gut-loaded grasshoppers or calcium-dusted crickets and mealworms, tofu, moths, slugs, and earthworms, as well as waxworms because they contain a lot of fat.
A pet owner can raise crickets and various worms or buy them from a pet store, bait store, or reptile breeder. You should not collect bugs from outside your home,
However. These insects may contain fertilizers or insecticides, which may be toxic to bearded dragons if fed to them. The flies are generally toxic to lizards,
so if you have a bearded dragon, it should not be fed fireflies. Feed pinkie mice sparingly to larger beardies. All the categories listed above should be fed a variety of healthy, nutritious foods.
Live Foods for bearded dragons
My Bearded Dragon Eating a Live Cicada, yes, must eat a diet that is similar to their natural diet in captivity. To go along with the salad, a scorpion, a live worm or a small animal should be provided
Worms and insects are safe for them. Some insects, however, are toxic to bearded dragons. Here are live foods that are safe for your dogs, and other pets, but before offering must check with a veterinarian:
- Crickets
- Locusts
- Cockroaches
- Mealworms (adults only)
- Zophobas
- Silkworms
- Lobster
- Wax moth larvae
Fruits for bearded dragons
Bearded dragons can also Treat fruit. It helps keep their weight balanced. Most fruits aren’t ideal for beards, but they do eat them occasionally
You should be extra careful when feeding your beardies fruits. Fruits rich in water can cause diarrhea in bearded dragons. Here are some fruit options:
- Apples
- Mango
- Blueberries
- beans
- basil
- Carrots
- Cucumber
- Garlic
- Dried
- Cabbage
- Greens bean
- Peas
- Roaches
- Pear Papaya
- Figs.
- Watermelon.
- Papaya.
- Dates.
- Peaches.
- potato
- Apricots.
- Plums
- Kiwi
- kale
- Sprouts
- Cinnamon
- Pears
- Raspberries
- Orange
- Onion
- Squash
- tomato
- Guava
- Grapes
- Citrus
- Raisins
- Zucchini
Which Plants can eat Bearded Dragon
Barbarians are known to consume a variety of plants in nature. However, I am cautious about feeding the following plants. Before feeding plants, make sure they are free of pesticides and herbicides.
When you pick wild plants, you don’t know if they are safe. Follow vet suggestions before choosing:
- Bindweed
- Maple leaves
- Borage
- Grape leaves
- Chickweed
- Daisy
- Bamboo
- Rosehip flowers
- Hazel leaves
- Shepherd’s purse
- Chamomile
- Clover
- chard
- Cornflower blossoms
- Dandelion
- Mallow
- Alfalfa
- Evening primrose
- Petunia flowers
- Purslane
- Marigold
- Plantain
- Violet
Foods to Avoid your bearded dragons
There are several insects and plants you should not be feeding your bearded dragon:
- Avocados
- Bees, wasps, hornets, and other venomous insects
- Beets
- Elder bugs
- Chicken (occasionally cooked one)
- Fishing bait
- Insects larger than the bearded dragon’s eyes cannot be eaten by it
- Lettuce
- Yogurt
- Salt
- Dairy foods
- Lightning bugs
- Poisonous plants
- Random bugs
- Rhubarb
- Spinach
- Boiled Eggs
- Masterd
- liver
- gummy
- Butter
- Sugar
- Raw meat
- Seeds
- sweet
- Vegetables treated with chemicals
Conclusion
It is a common question among pet lovers: can bearded dragons eat cicadas? You can feed bearded dragons cicadas as a source of food and enrichment, but be sure to select the insects with great care. Bearded pet dragons can enjoy cicadas with time, knowledge, and attention.
Bearded dragons should be given fruits and veggies, like Collard greens and pineapples, even if it is nutritionally beneficial.
Various fruits and vegetables, as well as insects, can be fed to bearded dragons. We recommend first asking the vet before feeding. There is no such thing as 100% healthy food. Thank you