Yes, bearded dragons can eat spiders. But it’s best not to let your bearded dragon eat spiders regularly. Spiders may carry parasites and it can be harmful to your pet. It’s also possible for spiders to have traces of pesticides. Offering spiders to your beardie is not a good idea.
Spiders are lacking nutritional value for bearded dragons. Providing your beardie feeder insects such as crickets is a better idea. Some spiders may be poisonous and can be fatal for bearded dragons. Some spiders are safe for them but they should not be provided regularly.
Can You Let a Pet Bearded Dragon Eat a House Spider?
Keeping an eye on your bearded dragon can be tough sometimes. If you allow your pet to roam around the house, it can end up seeing a spider. They will eat almost anything that they can find. It’s not a good idea to let your pet eat house spiders. These arachnids may carry parasites that can be passed to the bearded dragon.
Parasites can make your beardie ill. It’s best to monitor what your pet eats at all times to avoid this problem. The best thing to offer bearded dragons are crickets and other feeder insects. Aside from that, you should give your beardie veggies and greens as well for a balanced diet.
Can a Bearded Dragon Eat a Tarantula?
Tarantulas look hairy and they are large species of spiders. They originated from tropical and subtropical America. It can catch and eat small birds, lizards, and frogs. Many species of tarantula are safe for humans. It makes them one of the most popular exotic pets for those who like spiders.
However, tarantulas should not be fed to bearded dragons. It may carry some parasites which can be harmful to lizards. Some of them are also poisonous and can be fatal for bearded dragons. If your beardie comes across a tarantula, it may end up injured even beardies can kill tarantulas
Are Spiders Poisonous to Bearded Dragons?
Not all spiders are poisonous for bearded dragons. They can eat spiders if they don’t have a choice. In the wild, spiders are one of the bearded dragons’ prey. It can be a part of the wild beardie’s diet and can be beneficial for them when food is scarce.
However, pet beardies should not be fed with spiders, centipedes, and the like. It’s best to avoid them, especially if you’re not sure if a particular spider species is poisonous or not. Feeding spiders from the house and the wild can be dangerous for bearded dragons.
Reasons to Avoid Feeding Spiders to Bearded Dragons
1. Poisonous
Some spiders can be poisonous and it can cause paralysis when it bites the bearded dragon or can also be fatal.
2. Lacking Nutrients
Spiders are lacking the nutrients bearded dragons need. It’s best to feed feeder insects such as dubia roaches, crickets, or mealworms to your beardie.
3. Parasites
Parasites may be present on spiders and other arthropods. It can cause infection and can be harmful to bearded dragons.
4. Allergies
Keep in mind that even non-poisonous spiders can still cause harm to the beardie. It may cause an allergic reaction to your lizard and can cause death if not get treated.
What Spiders Can I Feed My Bearded Dragons?
It’s not recommended to feed spiders to bearded dragons. But as long as it’s not poisonous, spiders can still be fed to beardies. These arthropods are rich in protein and can be a good supplemental diet for reptiles. The bearded dragon can hunt for the spider itself if you let it roam around. Below are the non-poisonous spiders for beardies to eat.
1. House Spiders
They are small and can be found in houses and are not dangerous. House spiders are non-poisonous and it’s safe to be eaten by your beardie. House spiders are typically small in size. It makes them easy for bearded dragons to eat. These spiders will not cause any digestive issues as well.
However, house spiders are not a staple food for bearded dragons. It can add more variety from the usual feeder insect your beardie eats. But the downside is, house spiders eat parasites. It can be dangerous for beardies since they can absorb the parasites when they eat these spiders.
It’s recommended to provide your bearded dragon with healthier food. Feeder insects, worms, greens, and veggies are plenty to choose from. House spiders don’t have enough vital nutrients that can benefit bearded dragons. Offer crickets, cockroaches, and mealworms instead for live food.
2. Jumping Spiders
They have fangs but still, jumping spiders don’t have a toxic bite for bearded dragons. It’s alright to let your beardie eat them. Keep in mind that jumping spiders should not be fed to your reptile daily. It also has side effects like muscle spasms and paralysis when the beardie gets bitten.
These spider species are small but they can still bite your bearded dragon. A spider bite can still have harmful effects on reptiles. It’s best to avoid offering it to your bearded dragon too frequently. But make sure to keep an eye on your pet. Let the beardie roam outside the tank to hunt.
If your beardie got bitten by a jumping spider, it usually takes a few hours to ensure that your bearded dragon will not get hurt. Allow your beardie to eat jumping spiders as an occasional treat. Make sure that the reptile is not allergic to these spiders. If this happens, visit the vet right
What Spiders to Avoid Feeding Your Bearded Dragon?
Some spiders can be poisonous to your bearded dragon. If you’re not sure about the spider you found, it’s better to not offer it to your beardie. It can potentially harm your pet. They can make your beardie sick or worse, die as well. Take note of the list of spiders to avoid feeding your beardie.
1. Hobo Spider
Try to stay away from hobo spiders that have a brown and black color. They live in wooded areas and can thrive in different environments. Hobo spiders have two dark stripes on their dorsal. These spiders are also known to be aggressive. It can hurt your bearded dragon when they encounter it.
Hobo spiders usually eat insects going around the tank. They normally eat plants, flowers, and insects that are flying around. These spiders are poisonous and can make your bearded dragon ill. Never feed hobo spiders to your beardie or it can suffer from vomiting, shaky legs, trembling mouth, drooling, and labored breathing.
2. Brown Recluse
It’s a venomous spider that can be seen around North America. Their bites can cause skin lesions and can result in necrosis. It’s dangerous for bearded dragons and even humans. Their venom can induce permanent damage to the organs and nervous system. When bitten, you have to seek immediate medical attention.
Never feed brown recluse spiders to your bearded dragon since it’s fatal for them. Your pet will be in grave danger when they ingest the venom from this spider. To identify a brown recluse spider, check its eyes. It should have six eyes instead of four which most spiders have. Keep your beardie inside the enclosure to avoid any encounters.
3. Yellow Sac
Another venomous spider species to avoid is the yellow sac spider. Their bite can be dangerous for humans and animals. Bearded dragons are not exempted from the effect of their venom. The symptoms from the bite of a yellow sac spider are cramps, labored breathing, and even death. In case you see a yellow sac spider around the house, remove them right away. The bearded dragon will not waste time and try to eat
4. Wolf Spider
This spider species has large eyes with eight lenses. They don’t have pupils and have two rows of short hairs all over their bodies. Wolf spiders have a variety of sizes. It can be identified from looking at their hairy and huge eyes. They can pose danger to both humans and animals.
When a wolf spider bites, it can leave redness and irritation on the skin. Usually, they are not harmful if your pet gets lucky. But some wolf spider bites can have a more serious effect. It can cause nausea, respiratory attacks, cramps, and difficulty in breathing. It can end up in death if not treated.
Due to biting side effects, it’s not recommended to let your beardie eat wolf spiders. It can put your beardie at risk if you allow it to ingest the spider. This will not end well for your bearded dragon so make sure to keep an eye on your pet. It’s best to do that to avoid the beardie from getting sick.
5. Black Widow
Never feed your bearded dragon black widow spiders since it’s dangerous for reptiles. It’s black with a red hourglass shape on its belly that makes them stand out. This is another venomous spider that your beardie might accidentally eat. It has long powerful legs that trap its prey on the web.
When the black widow bites, it will be very painful but will numb after a few hours. If you see your bearded dragon earing a black widow spider, make sure to bring it to the vet right away. The vet can help your beardie to be treated to avoid serious issues.
What Should I Do If My Bearded Dragon Eats a Spider?
If you see your bearded dragon munching on a spider, don’t panic. It’s not likely that it can get poisoned by house spiders. But the problem is, spiders may be affected by pesticides or parasites. When your pet ate them, it can cause the reptile to be ill.
Spiders are not a healthy diet for bearded dragons. It’s lacking the nutrition they need to stay in top shape. If you are worried that the spider your beardie consumed might be poisonous, bring it to the vet immediately. It’s better to seek medical attention right away to prevent severe effects.
Can My Bearded Dragon Eat House Bugs?
No, bearded dragons should not eat house bugs or insects that are caught in the wild. Instead, make sure to feed your bearded dragon feeder insects. Get them from a reputable breeder to avoid parasites that might be passed through to your beardie by house bugs.
Food for Bearded Dragons
- Mealworms
Bearded dragons like eating mealworms since they are tasty. It has a good amount of protein and is low in fat which is good for beardies. You can offer this as a part of their diet or as a snack.
- Crickets
These insects are nutritious and contain more protein than worms. It can be a great snack for beardies. Just be careful when feeding them crickets and don’t overfeed. Crickets contain a lot of calcium on their shells that might be too much.
- Dubia Roaches
These insects are perfect for bearded dragons since they contain a lot of protein and dietary fiber.
- Greens / Vegetables
Greens can provide calcium and other vitamins for bearded dragons. Providing them arugula, collards, turnip tops, cactus, broccoli spears, and dandelion leaves are nutritious for them.
It’s the best alternative to spiders and should be given as a treat for your beardie. It contains fats, protein, and is also a good source of moisture.
