While bearded dragons are largely perceived as easy pets, even for beginner reptile keepers, their nutritional requirements are quite complex. Black Soldier Fly Larvae is one of the most well-known foods given to bearded dragons.
This is a staple of many bearded dragons, but determining how many to give can be difficult depending on the size of your bearded dragon. We’ll look at how many black soldier fly larvae to feed to a bearded dragon in this article.
How Many Black Soldier Fly Larvae to Feed a Bearded Dragon
You should feed your bearded dragon 10-15 black soldier fly larvae in a sitting. You can also feed them as much as they can eat in 10 minutes.
If you are looking for some cheap black soldier fly larvae, I suggest this 1000-count pack from amazon.
Juvenile bearded dragons aged 3-9 months should be fed 20-40 black soldier fly larvae twice daily. Finally, black soldier fly larvae should be given to baby bearded dragons aged 1-3 months daily, if possible. They can consume approximately twenty black soldier fly larvae 2-3 times per day. They are highly recommended due to the dietary benefits they provide. You can rotate the insects’ diet, so they don’t eat the same thing every day.
What is a black soldier fly larvae?
The Black Soldier Fly is a fly that grows to be about 1.5cm long as an adult and is found worldwide. It is present in its larval stage – which takes the form of a worm or grub, also known as a Calciworm – before becoming an adult fly. Because of their high calcium content, they make excellent bearded dragon insect food. They’re simple to catch for even the most sluggish bearded dragon, and their soft bodies make them ideal for babies and adolescents.
Calciworms have a high moisture content, which will help your bearded dragon stay hydrated. The only disadvantage is that they are quite small. This means you’ll need quite a few of them to satisfy an adult. They’ll go down well even as a mixer meal, and they don’t need to be dusted with calcium because they’re already high in it.
Feeding your bearded dragon
Bearded dragons in the wild are omnivore. They eat a variety of insects such as beetles, and also plant material. They should be fed a mixture of insects and vegetables in captivity. Adult bearded dragons can be fed black soldier fly larvae regularly because they have a high calcium content for their size and weight. Calcium is good because it helps prevent metabolic bone disease in bearded dragons. However, it may be difficult to feed an adult dragon enough to keep them satisfied due to their size.
When deciding how much to feed a bearded dragon, keep in mind that the ultimate test of whether they’re getting enough food is whether they’re thriving without becoming fat. Weighing them regularly can help, and for babies, ensuring that they are gaining weight at the expected rate indicates that you are feeding them appropriately.
Because black soldier fly larvae are slow, they are easy to feed to a bearded dragon. They are, however, capable of climbing out of almost any bowl if they so desire.
How to feed black soldier fly larvae to you bearded dragon
Follow the steps below to feed a black soldier fly larvae to your bearded dragon:
- Brush away the dirt substrate that is covering the larvae. This dirt substrate is usually a compost-like formula designed specifically for the larvae of the black soldier fly. Although your bearded dragon is unlikely to be harmed by ingesting the calciworm substrate, it is not always pleasant to taste, and brushing it off can help.
- Place the black soldier fly larvae into a feeding bowl that your bearded dragon can fit into. Then place the bowl into the enclosure. You should watch the feeding area because the larvae will climb the walls if your beardie doesn’t eat them quickly enough. An active bearded dragon will quickly pick off the wiggly little critters once they’ve decided they’re good food.
If any escape, they might pupate and turn into a black soldier fly in a few days or weeks. Black soldier flies are quite sanitary and pose no risk of infection to humans. If you come across an escapee who has converted, you can feed the black soldier fly to your bearded dragon instead.
Conclusion
Your bearded dragon can now enjoy munching on these grubs now that you know how many black soldier fly larvae to feed it. Calciworms are a favorite food of both bearded dragon babies and adults. As a responsible owner, you must ensure that you are feeding your bearded dragon the appropriate amount. This is vital for them to remain happy and healthy.