Can Bearded Dragons Eat Locusts?
Yes, captive-bred locusts are an excellent lean staple for bearded dragons. Learn nutrition, sizing, gut loading, calcium dusting, and feeding by age.
Locusts are one of the best lean staple feeders for bearded dragons, prized for their high protein, low fat, and the fact that they come in graded sizes for every life stage. They are a favorite among keepers in many regions for their cleaner smell and easy handling compared with crickets. As with all grasshopper-type feeders, the rule is captive-bred only, never wild-caught.
The verdict: Excellent staple, captive-bred only. Yes, captive-bred locusts are a lean, high-protein staple available in every size. NEVER feed wild-caught locusts, which carry parasites and pesticides. Dust with calcium and gut load.
A Lean Staple Feeder and Calcium
Clean, captive-bred locusts in graded sizes, a lean high-protein staple feeder.
Dust locusts to offset their phosphorus and support strong bones.
Locust nutrition for bearded dragons
Locusts are a type of grasshopper bred specifically as feeder insects, and they offer a strong nutritional profile: high protein, low fat, and a good size range. That makes them a dependable staple for building muscle and fueling growth without adding excess fat. They have a moderate exoskeleton, so their chitin sits between soft worms and very hard-shelled insects, and correct sizing keeps digestion easy.
Their calcium-to-phosphorus ratio leans toward phosphorus, as with almost all feeders, so dusting with calcium for growing dragons is important. Gut loading on greens and vegetables before feeding boosts their value further. The convenience of graded sizes makes them especially easy to match to your dragon's age.
| Factor | Locusts (captive-bred) |
|---|---|
| Protein | High |
| Fat | Low |
| Chitin | Moderate exoskeleton |
| Ca:P ratio | Phosphorus-heavy, dust with calcium |
| Best role | Lean staple, captive-bred only |
How to feed locusts
- Buy only captive-bred locusts from a feeder supplier, never wild-caught.
- Choose the size graded to your dragon, no longer than the space between the eyes.
- Gut load on fresh greens and vegetables for a day or two before feeding.
- Dust with calcium for growing dragons on your usual supplement schedule.
- Remove any uneaten locusts after the feeding session, as they can nibble on a resting dragon.
How often to feed locusts by life stage
- Hatchlings and babies (0 to 5 months): small locusts offered several times a day, eaten freely in short sessions.
- Juveniles (5 to 18 months): a frequent staple once or twice a day as greens grow in the diet.
- Adults (18 months and up): a handful 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 key danger, due to parasites and agricultural chemicals.
- Impaction: a moderate exoskeleton means sizing to the eye gap matters.
- Escapees and bites: loose locusts can hide and nibble a resting dragon, so remove uneaten ones.
A balanced bearded dragon diet is roughly 80 percent insects for babies and 80 percent leafy greens for adults. Captive-bred locusts are among the best lean staples to anchor that insect portion, ideally rotated with other feeders for variety. Compare options 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 locusts?
Yes, captive-bred locusts are an excellent feeder for bearded dragons. They are high in protein, low in fat, and come in a range of sizes to suit any age of dragon. Locusts are especially popular as a staple in Europe. The only rule is to use captive-bred insects from a feeder supplier and never wild-caught locusts, which can carry parasites and pesticides.
Are locusts better than crickets?
Locusts and crickets are both good lean staple feeders, and each has advantages. Locusts are often quieter, do not smell as strongly, and come in graded sizes, which many keepers prefer. Crickets are usually cheaper and more widely available in North America. Both need calcium dusting and gut loading, so the best choice often comes down to availability and price where you live.
What size locust should I feed my dragon?
Locusts are sold in sizes from tiny hoppers to large adults, so match them to your dragon using the space between the eyes as the maximum length. Small locusts suit babies and juveniles, while a large adult dragon can take bigger ones. The graded sizing is one of the conveniences of locusts, since you can buy exactly the right size.
Do locusts need to be gut loaded and dusted?
Yes. Locusts, like nearly all feeder insects, have more phosphorus than calcium, so dust them with calcium for growing dragons and follow your usual calcium with D3 and multivitamin schedule. Gut loading them on fresh greens and vegetables for a day or two before feeding turns the locust into a more complete nutritional package for your dragon.
Why must locusts be captive-bred?
Wild locusts and grasshoppers feed on field and garden plants, where they absorb pesticides and herbicides, and they often carry internal parasites. Those hazards can seriously harm a bearded dragon. Captive-bred locusts are raised on a clean, controlled diet, so they are free of agricultural chemicals and far less likely to carry parasites. Always buy from a reputable feeder supplier.
How many locusts should a bearded dragon eat?
Because locusts are lean, you can feed them generously within the insect portion of the diet. Babies and juveniles can eat appropriately sized locusts in short, frequent sessions, while adults take a handful a few times a week. As always, let young dragons eat their fill of correctly sized insects in a 10 to 15 minute window, then remove the rest.
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