Even though you may know your dragon’s food habits, you might get curious when it comes to feeding varied insects. One such example is the bee.
Can bearded dragons eat bees, though?
Bees are not an ideal meal for your dragon, as there is always the risk of getting stung in the mouth. However, it is not completely off the list either. Your beardie can eat a bee as long as it can evade the sting with quick flexes of munching and swallowing.
This guide offers essential information regarding the subject and more, which we have obtained through extensive research.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Bees?
Considering the pointy sting on its rear, owners will immediately think twice before getting a bee for their pet beardie.
Thankfully, bearded dragons can eat a bee, though not essential for their balanced diet. Being omnivorous, the dragons have an unusual blend of plant and insect matter as food.
This requires them to consume varieties of bugs and grubs (about 20-70% according to their age). Bees are also in the insect group, giving them the upper hand as beardie snacks.
Even if your dragon eats a bee by mistake, there is nothing you can do but observe it for any swelling.
Why You Should Not Feed Bees to Your Bearded Dragon?
While bees are not harmful to your pet, they may pose potential risks or dangers during consumption.
Remember that bearded dragons are tough to break, thanks to their Central Australian survival instincts. Nevertheless, a bee will not stay snug, waiting to be eaten, when it sees a predator.
It will try to fight with its ultimate weapon – the stinger. If the beardie is quick enough to ingest it without getting attacked, the pet is lucky this time.
However, the threat of getting awfully sick with a swollen body due to the sting or bite of a bee is too high to see it as a safe treat. The venom inside the sting can even kill your precious reptile friend.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Bee Pollen?
Where there is a bee, there should also be traces of pollen. If a dragon eats a wild bee, the chances of pollen ingestion are imminent.
On the other hand, can you feed bee pollen in general? Yes, bee pollen is surprisingly a natural supplemental item to dust over feeder insects.
It offers an amazing nutritional profile that improves the overall immunity level of your reptile pet.
The best time to add bee pollen to the diet is when your bearded dragon is in breeding or stress season. Bee pollen contains proteins, carbs, fatty acids, enzymes, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and over 200 other active substances.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Bee Pollen Granules?
As stated earlier, bee pollen is very healthy for your dragon. Does that apply to pollen granules?
The pollen powder goes through a process to remove the outer shell and grind it into powder, whereas the granules are unprocessed and left in their natural state.
Therefore, these are just as nutritious as bee pollen powders. If your dragon is a fussy or picky eater, the regular granules fed with each meal can keep the reptile stay fit.
| Bee Pollen Granule Substance | Content (%) |
| Carbs | 39-40 |
| Protein | 34 |
| Water | 5-10 |
| Fats | 6 |
| Other Substances | 4-15 |
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Wasps?
A wasp is another venomous bug absolutely unsuitable as a snack for a bearded dragon.
Many testimonials of beardie parents may claim to have fed wasps and still found it harmless. We strictly recommend against trying this option for three critical reasons:
- Venom
- Parasites
- Pesticide residues
There is no need to expose your beardie to any of these by trapping a wasp. Think of the dragon’s digestive tract and overall health.
Opt for better alternatives that allow you to gut-load them with nutritious items.
If your pet ingests a wasp accidentally, observe it for any change/reaction (swelling, lethargy, etc.) and take it to a vet ASAP if required.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Scorpions?
Once again, consider the deadly sting this insect is incorporated with. While scorpions are edible, they are not the right kind of food for your beardie.
First, the sting can hurt the pet to the point of killing it. Second, even if the dragon evades the sting, a scorpion’s exoskeleton is hard to break down and digest.
It can cause impaction, a condition that can lead to a painful death if not treated immediately.
Conclusion
So, can bearded dragons eat bees without threatening their lives? The answer will remain unknown unless your beardie ingests one and shows swelling symptoms.
Therefore, we suggest ruling out bees as a safe meal, even as a treat. It is not advisable to risk the life of your pet just to find out. The bee sting may not be so kind, or the dragon may not be fast enough to eat it before getting bit.
Lastly, choose better and healthier insect matter like Dubia roaches, crickets, worms, etc., instead.
One final piece of advice to our readers – keep your dragon away from any glowing bugs. Good luck!
References
- Franko, Yasmin., “Nutritional Advantages and the Impact of Bee Pollen in the Feed of Exotic Animals”, (2020)
