Can Bearded Dragons Eat Silkworms?

Can Bearded Dragons Eat Silkworms? The Short Answer

Yes, bearded dragons can eat silkworms, and they are one of the best feeder insects you can offer. Silkworms are soft-bodied, high in calcium, high in moisture, and rich in protein, making them an excellent staple insect for both juvenile and adult bearded dragons. Many reptile keepers consider silkworms a top-tier feeder precisely because they support healthy growth and bone development without the high fat content of some other worms.

As with any feeder insect, silkworms should be appropriately sized, gut-loaded, and dusted with calcium as part of a varied diet that also includes leafy greens and vegetables. Offered this way, silkworms are a fantastic addition to your bearded dragon’s menu.

Why Silkworms Are an Excellent Feeder

Silkworms stand out among feeder insects for several reasons. They have a soft body that is easy to chew and digest, which is gentle on younger dragons and seniors alike. They are naturally high in calcium relative to phosphorus, which is exactly the ratio that supports strong bones. And their high moisture content provides gentle hydration, a welcome bonus for a desert species.

Key advantages of silkworms include:

• High calcium content, supporting bone health and helping prevent metabolic bone disease.
• Low fat, making them suitable as a regular feeder rather than just an occasional treat.
• High protein, fueling growth in juveniles and maintenance in adults.
• Soft bodies, which are easy to digest and unlikely to cause impaction.
• High moisture, contributing to hydration.

This combination makes silkworms one of the few feeders that can responsibly form a larger part of the insect rotation rather than being limited to rare treats.

The Eye-Width Size Rule and Calcium

No matter how nutritious a feeder is, size matters enormously. The golden rule for bearded dragons is that no insect should be larger than the space between the dragon’s eyes. Feeding an insect that is too big risks impaction, where undigested material blocks the gut, and it can also cause choking or hind-leg problems. Choose silkworms sized appropriately for your individual dragon, and offer smaller silkworms to juveniles.

Calcium is the other central concern. Bearded dragons are highly susceptible to metabolic bone disease (MBD) when they do not get enough calcium and proper UVB lighting to use it. Even with calcium-rich silkworms, you should still dust feeder insects with a calcium supplement on most feedings. To understand why this matters so much, read our guide to bearded dragon metabolic bone disease, which explains how to protect your pet’s skeleton.

Gut-loading is equally important. Feeding your silkworms a nutritious diet before offering them passes extra nutrition to your dragon. Our overview of gut-loading and dusting feeder insects walks through the practical steps.

How Many Silkworms Should You Feed?

Because silkworms are low in fat and nutritionally excellent, they can make up a meaningful portion of the insect side of the diet. The exact amount depends on your dragon’s age. Juveniles need more insects than adults because they are growing rapidly and rely heavily on protein.

• Juveniles eat insects multiple times a day and can take a number of appropriately sized silkworms per feeding, alongside finely chopped greens.
• Adults eat fewer insects and more greens; offer silkworms a few times a week as part of a varied insect rotation.

Feed appropriately sized silkworms in a session of about 10 to 15 minutes, removing any uneaten insects afterward. As your dragon matures, gradually shift the balance toward leafy greens and vegetables while keeping silkworms as a valued part of the protein component.

How to Serve Silkworms to Your Bearded Dragon

Here is a simple, safe routine:

1. Source quality silkworms. Buy from a reputable feeder-insect supplier.
2. Check the size. Make sure each silkworm is no bigger than the space between your dragon’s eyes.
3. Gut-load them. Keep silkworms on a nutritious diet, typically mulberry-based chow, before feeding.
4. Dust with calcium. Lightly coat the silkworms with a calcium supplement before offering.
5. Feed and clean up. Offer them in a feeding session and remove uneaten insects.

Proper husbandry supports good digestion, so make sure your dragon’s enclosure provides the right heat and UVB. Our guide to bearded dragon enclosure setup covers the basking and lighting your dragon needs to thrive.

Silkworms for Juveniles Versus Adults

A bearded dragon’s dietary needs change dramatically as it grows, and silkworms fit into that changing picture differently at each life stage. Understanding this helps you feed the right amount at the right time.

Juvenile bearded dragons are growing rapidly and need a great deal of protein to fuel that growth. As a result, the diet of a young dragon is heavily weighted toward insects, with some dragons eating insects several times a day. Silkworms are an ideal feeder for juveniles because they are soft, easy to digest, high in protein, and rich in the calcium that growing bones desperately need. Offer appropriately small silkworms, and let your young dragon eat its fill of correctly sized insects within each feeding session.

Adult bearded dragons, by contrast, need far fewer insects and a much greater proportion of leafy greens and vegetables. An adult’s diet might be roughly the reverse of a juvenile’s, with greens forming the majority and insects offered a few times a week. Silkworms remain a valuable feeder for adults thanks to their excellent calcium content and low fat, making them a smart choice within the reduced insect portion. This makes silkworms one of the more flexible feeders you can keep on hand for dragons of any age.

Storing and Keeping Silkworms Healthy

Silkworms require a little more care than some feeders, but keeping them healthy ensures your dragon gets the best nutrition. Silkworms are typically raised on a mulberry-based chow, and they do best at a consistent, moderately warm temperature. Keep them in a clean, ventilated container and provide their food so they continue to grow and stay nutritious right up until feeding.

Cleanliness matters because silkworms are sensitive to bacteria and mold. Remove any frass and uneaten food regularly, and discard any silkworms that appear discolored, shriveled, or lethargic. A healthy silkworm is plump and active, which is exactly the kind you want to offer your dragon.

Because silkworms are gut-loaded simply by being raised on their nutritious chow, they pass good nutrition on to your dragon naturally. Even so, a light calcium dusting before feeding tops up the calcium your dragon needs to guard against bone disease. If you find ongoing silkworm husbandry demanding, many keepers buy them in smaller quantities and use them as part of a rotation with hardier feeders, ensuring nothing goes to waste while still giving the dragon the benefit of this excellent insect.

Other Feeder Insects to Rotate

Variety keeps the diet balanced and interesting. Alongside silkworms, you might rotate in other staple feeders such as crickets or nutritious worms like hornworms, which, like silkworms, are soft and high in moisture. Each feeder brings a slightly different nutritional profile, and rotating them helps ensure a well-rounded intake.

Whatever you offer, keep up the size rule, gut-loading, and calcium dusting. A varied insect rotation paired with leafy greens is the foundation of a healthy bearded dragon diet.

If you have concerns about your dragon’s growth, appetite, or bone health, consult a qualified reptile veterinarian. Reptile vets can assess calcium status and catch early signs of MBD that owners may miss.

The Foundation: Gut-Loading, Dusting, and UVB

No matter how nutritious a feeder like silkworms may be, three husbandry practices ultimately determine whether your dragon stays healthy: gut-loading, calcium dusting, and proper UVB lighting. Getting these right is far more important than any single food choice.

Gut-loading means feeding your insects a nutritious diet before offering them to your dragon, so the goodness passes through. A well gut-loaded insect is essentially a delivery vehicle for vitamins and minerals, while a starved one offers little. Calcium dusting involves lightly coating feeders with a calcium supplement, often with added vitamin D3, immediately before feeding. This boosts the calcium your dragon receives and helps maintain the balance its bones depend on.

UVB lighting is the third pillar, and it is the one most often overlooked by new keepers. Bearded dragons need UVB light to synthesize vitamin D3, which in turn allows their bodies to absorb and use calcium. Without adequate UVB, even a calcium-rich diet cannot prevent metabolic bone disease, because the calcium simply cannot be utilized. A quality UVB bulb, replaced on schedule and positioned correctly, is not optional for a healthy dragon.

Together, these three practices form the backbone of responsible bearded dragon care. Silkworms are an excellent feeder precisely because they support this system, being naturally calcium-rich and easy to dust, but they work best as part of a complete husbandry routine. If you are ever unsure whether your setup is providing enough UVB or calcium, a reptile veterinarian can assess your dragon and your enclosure and help you correct any gaps before they cause harm.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can silkworms be a staple feeder for bearded dragons?

Yes. Because silkworms are high in calcium, low in fat, and high in moisture, they are one of the few insects that can responsibly form a larger part of the regular feeder rotation rather than being only an occasional treat.

What size silkworms should I feed?

Choose silkworms no larger than the space between your bearded dragon’s eyes. Smaller silkworms are best for juveniles, while adults can handle larger ones, as long as the size rule is respected.

Do I still need to dust silkworms with calcium?

Yes. Even though silkworms are naturally high in calcium, dusting with a calcium supplement on most feedings helps ensure your dragon gets enough to prevent metabolic bone disease.

How often can bearded dragons eat silkworms?

Juveniles can eat insects, including silkworms, multiple times a day, while adults should have insects a few times a week with more emphasis on greens. Silkworms can feature regularly within that rotation.