For being silent and gentle creatures, bearded dragons can be excellent pets. Bearded dragons have a reputation for being gentle pets as well as they can create great bonds with children. In fact, the children love to handle the bearded dragons as their most docile creatures. Also, most people prefer bearded dragons as pets because they are easy to handle and all they need is care, attention and food.
However, you have to be careful with the meal of bearded dragons as they have sensitive taste buds. As bearded dragons are fond of bugs, however, do they eat stink bugs? In this article, we are going to answer whether bearded dragons eat stink bugs or not.
Can bearded dragons eat stink bugs?
You shouldn’t let your bearded dragons eat stink bugs. As stink bugs contain chemicals that are semi-toxic to the bearded dragons. Stink bugs contain parasites and pesticides that can be harmful to your bearded dragons. You shouldn’t let your dragons eat not only stink bugs but also any wild bugs.
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Stink bugs contain a smell that is very harmful to the health of bearded dragons. Also, the stink bugs have a chemical that can also affect the health of bearded dragons negatively. Bearded dragons are kind of semi-toxic to this type of stink bug and if they consume these bugs it can lead them to health complications.
In addition, the parasites that come from the stink bugs can be very sensitive to the bearded dragons. The parasites can reside on the skin of bearded dragons and can produce their offspring on the bearded dragons. Therefore, you need to keep the bearded dragons in an environment where any sort of bugs cannot enter.
Also, you should prevent your bearded dragons from eating any sort of wild bugs. You should always buy the bugs that are found in the store as meals for bearded dragons. However, it can be very difficult to prevent your bearded dragons from eating stink bugs. Therefore, you should keep your bearded dragons in a controlled environment all the time.
If your bearded dragons have ingested a stink bug then you should take your bearded dragon to the vet as early as possible. Because the health of your bearded dragons can get worse even leading to zero survival rate.
Baby bearded dragons:
You shouldn’t feed stink bugs to your baby bearded dragons. As stink bugs can cause health complications to your bearded dragons, therefore, you should completely avoid giving your baby bearded dragons stink bugs.
Are stink bugs bad for bearded dragons?
Yes, stink bugs are very bad for bearded dragons. Bearded dragons are semi-toxic to stink bugs. Also, the parasites and pesticides that pass from the stink bugs can be very harmful for the health of stink bugs. The parasites can cause many diseases if they are settled on the body of bearded dragons.
Also, the stink bugs contain pesticides that affect the health of your bearded dragons negatively. The chemicals of the stink bugs can cause many more health complications to your bearded dragons. Not only consuming stink bugs but consuming any sort of wild bugs can create health complications for bearded dragons.
Therefore, you should always be careful not to let your bearded dragons eat stink bugs. Otherwise, it can cause complex health complications.
5 reasons why bearded dragons cannot eat stink bugs
There are many reasons why bearded dragons cannot eat stink bugs. Most reasons are based on the health complications that the stink bugs cause. It is also recommended from the vets that you shouldn’t give your bearded dragons stink bugs as it can do bad to the health of bearded dragons. The reasons why bearded dragons cannot eat stink bugs are given below:
Semi-toxic:
Bearded dragons are semi-toxic to stink bugs, therefore, consuming the stink bugs can cause complex health complications. The chemicals present in the skin of stink bugs can make them sick.
Parasites:
The stink bugs carry parasites that can be very dangerous for bearded dragons. Also, the parasites can cause many health problems if they reside on the skin of dragons for a longer time. In addition, the parasites can create serious stomach problems to your bearded dragon.
Impactions:
The bearded dragon may not be able to digest the stink bugs which can lead to impactions. In this scenario, it will be better if you take your dragon to the vet.
Chemicals:
The stink bugs carry pesticides that can be very harmful to bearded dragons. The chemical can cause different types of diseases as well as can lead to bigger problems.
Change of diet:
Your bearded dragons may or may not like the stink bugs. However, if they like it they will not eat any sort of meal other than stink bugs. For being a stubborn animal, you shouldn’t let your bearded dragons eat any sort of wild bug or else they will always want wild bugs in their meal.
What if my bearded dragon eats a stink bug? What happens?
If your bearded dragon eats a stink bug then you will need to take some measures. But the most important thing is that you have to take those measures quickly. As the stink bug can affect the health of your bearded dragon negatively, therefore, you will need to take the measures as early as possible. We have explained what happens if your bearded dragon eats a stink bug and some of the measures you can take if your bearded dragon eats a stink bug:
The first thing that will happen if your bearded dragon eats a stink bug is that it will get sick. It will not be able to digest the stink bug as there are chemicals present on that stink bug. Also, the stink bug’s parasites will strike the stomach of the bearded dragon which can create more complex complications.
Therefore, if your bearded dragon has eaten any of the stink bugs then you have to take your bearded dragon to the vet as early as possible. Also, you have to follow the medications that are suggested by the vet strictly.
What bugs are poisonous to bearded dragons?
There are many bugs that are very poisonous to bearded dragons. The bugs that glow in the dark are very poisonous to bearded dragons. Some of the names of the bugs that are poisonous to bearded dragons are given below:
Fireflies:
Fireflies are very poisonous to bearded dragons. The chemical that makes the bug glow can be very poisonous to your bearded dragon. Therefore, you shouldn’t let your bearded dragon eat fireflies. Otherwise, it will lead to serious health complications. If your bearded dragon has eaten fireflies then you should take your bearded dragon to the vet.
Worms:
Worms can also be dangerous to bearded dragons. As worms can create problems in the digestion of the bearded dragon. Therefore, you shouldn’t let your bearded dragon eat worms. In addition, if your bearded dragon has eaten worms then you should wait for symptoms of complications. Otherwise, you should take your bearded dragon to the vet as early as possible.
Wasps or bees:
Wasps or bees can be highly toxic to bearded dragons. As wasps or bees are toxic and can be highly poisonous for your bearded dragons. Therefore, you shouldn’t let your bearded dragon eat bees or wasps by any means.
How to prevent my bearded dragon from eating stink bugs?
You can prevent your bearded dragon from eating stink bugs in many ways. You will need to follow these steps carefully as any sort of problem can cause serious complications to your bearded dragon. The steps on how to prevent your bearded dragon from eating stink bugs are given below:
Controlled environment:
You will need to create a controlled environment for your bearded dragon. So that, it can only eat the meal that you will offer. The other bugs or insects cannot be able to enter that closed chamber. In addition, if you don’t keep your bearded dragon in a closed chamber then you can keep him indoors.
Change in the diet:
Most bearded dragons are stubborn, therefore, if anyhow they get the taste of stink bugs, they might not eat any other meal. This can lead to a change in the diet of your bearded dragon. Therefore, you should not let your bearded dragon eat any stink bugs. If they eat somehow you should make sure that it doesn’t eat anymore and also you will need to treat them with delicious meals every day. Also, you can keep his interest away from other bugs by offering him delicious meals.
Final Thoughts:
Bearded dragons cannot eat stink bugs because the stink bugs contain chemicals, parasites and pesticides. Also, the stink bugs can cause serious stomach problems as well as health problems to your bearded dragon. That is why you should keep bearded dragons away from stink bugs.