Can Bearded Dragons Eat Grasshoppers?
Yes, but only captive-bred grasshoppers. Learn why wild ones are dangerous, plus nutrition, sizing, calcium dusting, and how grasshoppers fit the diet.
Grasshoppers are a high-protein, low-fat feeder that bearded dragons love to chase, but there is one absolute rule: only feed captive-bred grasshoppers from a reputable feeder supplier. Wild-caught grasshoppers are dangerous because they commonly carry parasites and pesticide residue. Handled correctly with clean, captive-raised insects, grasshoppers are a nutritious part of the rotation.
The verdict: Good feeder, captive-bred only. Yes, if they are captive-bred. Grasshoppers are lean and high in protein, but NEVER feed wild-caught ones, which carry parasites and pesticides. Size to the eye gap and dust with calcium.
Captive-Bred Feeders and Calcium
Clean, captive-raised locusts and grasshoppers, a lean high-protein feeder.
Dust these feeders to offset their phosphorus and protect your dragon's bones.
Grasshopper nutrition for bearded dragons
Captive-bred grasshoppers are a lean feeder, high in protein and low in fat, which makes them a good muscle-building insect that will not pack on weight. They are active and visually engaging, so they bring out a dragon's natural hunting behavior. Their main drawback nutritionally is a firm exoskeleton, which means more chitin than soft feeders like silkworms, so proper sizing matters to keep digestion smooth.
Like nearly all feeder insects, grasshoppers carry more phosphorus than calcium, so they need calcium dusting for growing dragons. Gut loading them on greens and vegetables before feeding makes them more nutritious. The non-negotiable point is sourcing: only captive-bred grasshoppers are safe.
| Factor | Grasshoppers (captive-bred) |
|---|---|
| Protein | High |
| Fat | Low |
| Chitin | Moderate to firm exoskeleton |
| Ca:P ratio | Phosphorus-heavy, dust with calcium |
| Best role | Lean feeder, captive-bred only |
Why wild grasshoppers are off limits
It is worth repeating, because it matters. Wild grasshoppers feed on plants across fields, lawns, and gardens, where they pick up pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers, and they frequently carry internal parasites. Feeding a wild-caught grasshopper can introduce those toxins and parasites straight into your dragon, with serious or fatal consequences. There is no reliable way to clean a wild insect of these hazards, so always buy captive-bred feeders.
How to feed grasshoppers
- Buy only captive-bred grasshoppers or locusts from a feeder supplier, never wild-caught.
- Size each insect no longer than the space between your dragon's eyes.
- Gut load them on greens and vegetables for a day or two before feeding.
- Dust with calcium for growing dragons, following your normal supplement schedule.
- Remove any uneaten insects after the feeding session.
How often to feed grasshoppers by life stage
- Hatchlings and babies (0 to 5 months): small hoppers can be offered, sized carefully, though softer feeders are often easier at this age.
- Juveniles (5 to 18 months): a good rotation feeder once or twice a day as part of the insect diet.
- Adults (18 months and up): a few times a week within an insect rotation, alongside a diet that is roughly 80 percent greens.
Risks to watch for
- Wild-caught insects: the biggest danger, due to parasites and agricultural chemicals.
- Impaction: the firm exoskeleton makes correct sizing essential.
- Long legs: some keepers remove the large hind legs of bigger grasshoppers to ease digestion for smaller dragons.
A balanced bearded dragon diet is roughly 80 percent insects for babies and 80 percent leafy greens for adults. Captive-bred grasshoppers are a lean, engaging feeder for the rotation, but variety and safe sourcing matter most. Explore more feeders in our feeder insects guide, and build the full plan on our diet hub.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can bearded dragons eat grasshoppers?
Yes, but only captive-bred grasshoppers from a feeder supplier. Captive-bred grasshoppers are a high-protein, low-fat feeder that dragons enjoy chasing. Wild grasshoppers are a different story and should never be fed, because they can carry parasites and pesticide residue. As long as you buy clean, captive-raised insects sized to your dragon, grasshoppers are a nutritious addition to the rotation.
Why can't I feed wild-caught grasshoppers?
Wild grasshoppers are one of the riskiest insects you can offer. They frequently carry internal parasites, and because they feed on plants in fields and gardens, they can be loaded with pesticides and herbicides. Those chemicals and parasites can seriously harm or even kill a bearded dragon. Only feed grasshoppers and locusts that were bred in captivity on a clean diet.
Are grasshoppers a good staple or just a treat?
Captive-bred grasshoppers are lean and high in protein, so they can be a frequent feeder rather than just a treat. They are popular as a staple in some regions. The main considerations are their hard exoskeleton, which means sizing matters, and their cost and availability, which can make them more of a rotation feeder than an everyday one for many keepers.
What size grasshopper is safe to feed?
Follow the space-between-the-eyes rule strictly with grasshoppers, because they have a firm exoskeleton and long legs that can be tough to digest. A grasshopper should be no longer than the gap between your dragon's eyes. Younger, smaller grasshoppers, sometimes called hoppers, are gentler on the digestive system and suit juvenile dragons better than large adults.
Do grasshoppers need calcium dusting?
Yes. Like most feeder insects, grasshoppers have more phosphorus than calcium, so dust them with calcium powder for growing dragons and include calcium with D3 and a multivitamin on your normal schedule. Gut loading them on leafy greens and vegetables for a day or two before feeding also boosts their nutritional value before they reach your dragon.
Are locusts the same as grasshoppers for feeding?
They are closely related and treated very similarly. Locusts are a type of grasshopper widely sold as feeders, especially in Europe, and they share the same high-protein, low-fat profile. The same rules apply to both: only feed captive-bred insects, never wild-caught, size them to the eye gap, dust with calcium, and offer them as part of a varied diet.
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