Little more than an inch-long, bugs swarming can be heard with thunderous chirping. Bearded dragons love feasting on Cicadas since they are so delicious. Since you need to feed your beardies a certain way, are cicadas good or bad, and can beardie dragons eat cicadas?
The answer is yes, bearded dragons can eat non-toxic cicadas, and you also need to ensure they have no parasites before feeding your pet bearded dragon. You can have a parasite-infected bug as you could have on any other animal.
Adult bearded dragons can eat cicadas occasionally, but only because they are safe to consume. Cicadas can be trapped in a plastic container with holes poked in it, so watch for them this summer as they fly around to feed your adult dragons.
In our guide, you can learn more about bearded dragons eating cicadas, and you shouldn’t feed bearded dragons wild insects in case of harmful substances. If the bugs are pest free, the soft texture of these bugs can help baby beardies get some much-needed eating practice. (Read Can Bearded Dragons Eat Stink Bugs)
What are Cicadas?
The Cicadoidea superfamily, which includes cicadas, has strong bodies, broadheads, clear membranes protecting its wings, and huge, rounded eyes. Cicadas are known for going silent for extended periods before reappearing in force on a regular schedule. Male cicadas have been measured to be louder than a lawn mower in full voice.
Annual cicadas are so named because they emerge every summer, yet they typically only live for two to five years. However, certain species have overlapping brood cycles and live longer lives than most other species. For example, periodic cicadas can be found in various sites yearly since they have 15 brood cycles that each last between 13 and 17 years.
The Cicadoidea are insects that belong to the order Hemiptera. They belong to the suborder Auchenorrhyncha, which also includes leafhoppers and froghoppers.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Cicadas
Many pet pets ask if bearded dragons eat cicadas. Cicadas are safe for bearded dragons to eat in modest amounts, so don’t worry about their health. Just follow a few tips to maintain a safe diet for bearded dragons. You shouldn’t give your beardie insects from your property since they may transmit parasites. Instead, it is recommended to buy beardie insects.
The 2022 cicada invasion feeds dogs, cats, birds, snakes, and some people if dragon owners can bring their pets. The local pet store may often sell cicada-filled jars, which are a great addition to a bearded dragon diet or a nice treat. Bearded dragons need 5 to 7 cicadas daily for a healthy diet and many fruits and veggies to balance it out.
What Happens When Beardies Eat Cicada
Bearded dragons could have stomach issues, or worst, they could die if your beardie eats a wild insect. Consult a vet if your bearded dragon develops strange behavior. For example, chemically intoxicated dragons act weirdly and won’t eat or move.
Bearded dragons won’t eat insects larger than their eyes, so you can easily measure what insects are too large. Pesticides and fertilizer can green a lawn, yet if the cicadas are covered in these pesticides, your dragon may have gotten sick from ingesting these harmful insects. (Read Can Chickens Eat Bird Seed)
Are Cicadas Bad For Bearded Dragons
Bearded dragons can eat cicadas, although they’re parasite-prone. So wild cicadas shouldn’t be recommended inside. Only feed your beardie fish you caught yourself to reduce parasites and diseases.
Bearded dragons shouldn’t eat dead cicadas,’ and baby dragons should avoid cicadas’ hard shells since they might cause intestinal issues. Bearded dragons eat cicada shells. Bearded dragons need a certain quantity of calcium and other minerals to stay healthy. Therefore, bearded dragon owners can’t feed them only vegetables. After feeding beardie cicadas, remove the shell to prevent choking.
How To Feed cicadas To Bearded Dragons
Bearded dragons love to eat any insect they can find in the wild. Even when raised in captivity, they relish consuming a variety of insects.
Some pet owners gather their insects to enrich their bearded dragons’ diets and save money. Many people engage in this pastime, but it should be cautiously approached.
If you feed wild insects to your bearded dragon, follow these tips. Insects sprayed with herbicides, pesticides, or other chemicals shouldn’t be fed to bearded dragons.
Crops that have been sprayed with these pesticides are covered in insects. So if a barbarian consumes this, they can get sick or even die. Avoid exposing your bearded dragon to any insects it can’t possibly ingest. Likewise, avoid picking up a bug from the outdoors and feeding it to your bearded dragon.
If you let your bearded dragon go outdoors, be sure to make an eye out for any insects he encounters. Try to prevent them from accidentally eating bugs since they are not intended for them to eat. Instead, they chase after insects whenever they see them!
Your baby bearded dragons can acquire a taste for wild insects if you feed them a lot of them. If this occurs, your pet might only eat the insects you feed it.
1. Dangerous chemicals
It’s impossible to know where wild cicadas have been. Bearded dragons may have been exposed to chemicals, fertilizers, or pesticides.
If your beardie consumes a cicada infested with hazardous toxins, it could die or cause abnormal behavior.
Call your vet if your bearded dragon has lethargy, diarrhea, vomiting, or appetite loss.
2. Exoskeleton
Cicadas have a tough exterior shell that your bearded dragon may have a risk digesting, which could result in stomach impaction. Giving your bearded dragon cicadas that have already lost their exoskeleton while feeding is recommended.
3. Size
No food should be given to a bearded dragon that is bigger than the distance between its eyes. Before feeding your beardie cicadas, remember that cicadas can grow to be over an inch long.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Wild Cicadas
Bearded dragons can eat wild Cicadas as long as these wild bugs carry no parasites and diseases.
For feeding your beardie, cicadas must be wild-caught insects.
Can Beardies Eat Dead Cicadas
As long as they’re alive, bearded dragons can eat dead cicadas. Feeding your pet dragon a new insect is better than one that’s been sitting in the sun for days.
They may deteriorate and make your pet sick if not treated properly. Don’t feed your bearded dragon sun-exposed or fresh insects.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Cicada Wings
Bearded dragons can eat cicada wings, although some beardie owners recommend avoiding cicada legs because of the possibility of impaction, even if the entire legs of flying cicadas are safe for your baby bearded dragons to eat.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Cicadas Regularly?
Yes, in the amounts advised by your vet, as overfeeding can have negative effects, so be mindful.
Bearded dragons eat cicadas as one of their favorite foods, and they offer nourishment and minerals. (Read Can Bearded Dragons Eat Spiders)
Foods to Avoid Feeding Baby Bearded Dragons
There are several insects and plants for dragon feeding, but cicadas are not on the bearded dragon list:
- Avocados
- Bees, hornets, and other venomous insects
- Elder bugs
- Fishing Bait
- Lightning bugs
- Poisonous plants
- Boiled Eggs and more
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Cicada Wings And Cicada Shells?
Feeding cicadas to bearded dragons is possible, even with tough exterior shells. Their diet ought to contain calcium in a specified amount. Removing the exoskeleton from the body before feeding the cicada to your dragon is preferable to reducing the impaction risk.
Beardies can eat the wings of cicadas. Before feeding the wings to your pet dragon, remove them.
Bearded dragons may safely eat the entire cicada leg, but some owners prefer not to because of the possibility of gut impaction. Just ensure they have no dangerous chemicals on the dead bugs; fresh bugs would be the same.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Wild Cicadas?
As a bearded dragon owner, feeding your bearded dragon wild insects is always a great concept. However, you must remember that wild cicadas might be carriers of disease and parasites.
Wild cicadas may have been close to insecticides or dangerous chemical substances that might poison your dragon. Therefore, it is no longer wise to feed your beardie wild cicadas with parasites, disease, and poisoning.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Flying Cicadas?
As long as they don’t contain any harmful parasites, bearded dragon eats cicadas. Unfortunately, parasites are more likely to be present in flying cicadas than in non-flying ones.
If your bearded dragon’s terrarium is lacking in flying space, you can catch some and place it in a container with holes in it for your dragon to eat flying cicadas
We advise against feeding them any cicadas you find outside. These bugs must be purchased from a reliable vendor.
Conclusion
Pet enthusiasts often wonder if bearded dragons eat cicadas. Select cicadas carefully to feed and enhance bearded dragons. Bearded pet dragons can enjoy cicadas at any time.
Bearded dragons should eat fruits and vegetables like Collard greens and pineapples as a staple or occasional treat to maintain a healthy diet.
