My mother bought 50 live mealworms to feed to my Bearded Dragon who is less than a year old. I tried to tell her it could be dangerous and she doesn't listen. Help my lizard stay healthy! Her reason is that the pet store didn't warn her about how it could be dangerous.
What size is the dragon? They can be harmful if a lot of them are eaten at once or if the dragon is too small. I would suggest saving them and instead offering a softer, healthier option like black soldier fly larvae (phoenix worms).
What size is the dragon? They can be harmful if a lot of them are eaten at once or if the dragon is too small. I would suggest saving them and instead offering a softer, healthier option like black soldier fly larvae (phoenix worms).
Nose to tail 14'' is a decent size. Impaction probably isn't a huge risk anymore but I still wouldn't offer more than a few at a time. They aren't all that nutritious though so offering something like the black soldier fly larvae or silk worms would be a better option.
I agree, it shouldn't be a problem. For over 5 years I kept a colony of mealworms and fed to my beardies that were over 12" long as part of their diet, with the main feeder insect being crickets. I never had one impaction [ and this was with LOTS of dragons ] so the great fear of mealworms is way over exaggerated. If your dragon is healthy, has other bugs to eat besides just mealworms and the proper temp. in the tank for digestion then mealies can be given a few times a week, not in large numbers but they should not be a problem at all.
Don't throw them out, you can keep a colony of them and use them in small numbers [ 7-10 at a time is about what I used ] and let some of them pupate + breed them so you can have a small supply of them for times when other insects are running low.
If she is about 12 months old, mealworms are fine for a treat (no more than 6 - 8 in session).
I find the pupae are very desireable treats for all my skinks & dragons, and my dragons love the crunchy mealworm beetles as treats too (can chew up 8 - 10 in a sitting).
Mealworms & superworms are ONLY SUITABLE to give a dragon as occasional treats. My gang will sometimes hold out for their mealworms (espec the pupae) and their superworms but I only give the bluetongues and dragons these a few times a week at most.
Nose to tail 14'' is a decent size. Impaction probably isn't a huge risk anymore but I still wouldn't offer more than a few at a time. They aren't all that nutritious though so offering something like the black soldier fly larvae or silk worms would be a better option.