When it comes to food, Bearded dragons are hunters and considered ferocious eaters. As pets, there should only be a few times a healthy Bearded dragon will even leave a snack behind.
A Bearded dragon will generally sit and wait until something tasty looking comes along. When this happens, the Bearded dragon will either dash or run onto its direction and grab its prey. This will continue until the Bearded dragons is full.
It is normal for healthy Bearded dragons to eat quite a lot. Juvenile and adult Bearded dragons can eat up to a few dozen adult crickets in one sitting. Underfed Bearded dragons will be even more ferocious when it come to food.
Babies vs. adult Bearded dragons
When looking a bit closer, the eating behaviour of adult Bearded dragons and baby Bearded dragons might be slightly different. Baby Bearded dragons, especially after relocation to a new environment, can be a bit more cautious when it come to live food items. Some might prefer larger items, while other might prefer, many, smaller items. Although they are known not to always eat a lot, baby Bearded dragons should always look interested in moving insects.
On the other hand, it is normal for a healthy juvenile and adult Bearded dragons to eat almost anything that pass by. Adult Bearded dragons are also known to show variation in their eating behaviour. It is often normal to have days where they won’t eat anything at all, especially if they had a large meal a day or two before. These periods will be even more pronounced during brumation.
Types of food
Bearded dragons are classified as being omnivorous, meaning they eat a variety of foods, including plants/greens and live foods. Alse see what greens to feed Bearded dragons for more information. Adult Bearded dragons will often prefer more greens over live insects.
What Do Bearded Dragons Eat?
Bearded dragons are omnivores and eat a wide variety of insects, flowers, fruit, veggies, and occasionally rodents or lizards. Unlike their wild counterparts, domesticated beardies will likely be much more sedentary due to the lack of room and exercise available to them. It’s important to make sure they stay on a healthy diet so as to avoid becoming overweight.
For adult bearded dragons, the ideal diet should consist of 80% plants and 20% insects whereas for juvenile dragons it can either be 80% insects/20% plants or even 50-50. When it comes to founding food for your dragon there are plenty of options available including fruits and vegetables like celery, carrots, apples, and melon; cooked meats like chicken or turkey; leafy greens like kale or mustard greens; as well as crickets, mealworms or other items sourced from pet stores.
Why a Good Diet is Essential
Having a good diet is essential for your bearded dragon’s health and wellbeing. By providing a nutritious and comprehensive diet, you will ensure your Bearded Dragon stays active, has a high quality of life, and looks their best.
A good diet for a bearded dragon should include a variety of foods including live insects, plant matter, and calcium-rich supplements such as powdered cricket gut load or mineral dust. By giving them the appropriate nutritional value, you’ll be able to keep your beardie happy and healthy for many years to come.
The Best Insects For Your Beardie
As a bearded dragon owner, you want to make sure you are giving your pet the best nutrition. Live insects should be the primary source of your dragon’s protein – and there are lots of different bugs available that can provide essential vitamins and minerals.
Crickets are by far the most popular feeder bug for bearded dragons as they provide protein, calcium, and energy in abundance. They can easily escape so it is important to store them securely so they don’t become a nuisance.
Dubia roaches also make great feeders – they offer five times more nutrients than other live bugs, plus they don’t bite or stink so they will not cause an infestation!
Worms are another great option for feeding dragons and could include butterworms which contain plenty of calcium and protein; earthworms for moisture; mealworms for adult dragons (not young beardies!); phoenix worms containing phosphorous and potassium; silkworms with their protein, moisture, and phosphorous and calcium content; or wax worms which are higher in fat but can be given to adults in small doses.
Insects To Avoid
It’s important to be aware of the insects that you should never feed your beardie. Any insect from the wild, your backyard, home, or bait shop may contain harmful toxins so it’s best to avoid them completely. Additionally, dead insects and venomous insects should be avoided at all costs.
Moreover, Elderbugs and fireflies – or any insect that glows – can be very dangerous too. To ensure your dragon is getting the vitamins and minerals it needs makes sure you know how to keep the supplement insects healthy. Buy only those ones that have been fed a diet rich in these nutrients so they are passed on when eaten by your dragon.
The Best Vegetables For Your Bearded Dragon
Choosing the right vegetables for your bearded dragon is essential for making sure they get a balanced and nutritive diet. Vegetables make up 80-90% of a dragon’s diet, so it is important to feed them the best kind.
When it comes to veggies, dark green leafy vegetables are usually the best option as they are packed with nutrients. You can also give your beardie other colored veggies, like bell peppers and carrots that provide essential vitamins and minerals as well. Here’s a list to help you choose.
Safe vegetables for frequent feedings
There are plenty of safe vegetables that you can provide your pet with on a regular basis. Acorn squash, asparagus, and bell peppers should only be given a few times per week while butternut squash, cilantro, and endive need to be given daily.
Collard greens, dandelion leaves, and mustard greens are also safe for frequent feedings as they should be offered daily. And then there are the less common veggies like cactus leaves, okra, and parsnip that should be provided every other week.
Other than these ones, you could give your pet green beans, green cabbage, hibiscus, kale, pumpkin, red cabbage, and yellow squash a few times per week as well as carrots when you feel like it. Plus it’s always recommended to add some peas or snap peas in the mix every other week too!
Safe vegetables for an occasional treat, once a month or so
Some vegetables which are particularly good for this are broccoli, carrot tops, cooked sweet potato, okra, radish, tomato, and zucchini.
It’s important to remember that these veggies should only be given as an occasional treat – don’t make them the main diet staple! This is because they contain vitamins and minerals that can interfere with your dragon’s metabolism if eaten too often.
Make sure to cut the vegetables into small pieces, as your pet may have trouble digesting large chunks of food. And always provide your dragon with plenty of water when you feed them these special treats!
Vegetables to Avoid
When it comes to feeding your bearded dragon, it’s important to know which vegetables should be avoided. While there are plenty of safe vegetables for your bearded dragon to enjoy, there are some that can potentially be harmful if consumed in large amounts or too often. These include avocados, citrus fruits, mushrooms, rhubarb, and wild plants.
Avocado is known to contain a toxin that can cause digestive issues in dragons. Citrus fruits are high in acidity and can be harsh on the stomach. Mushrooms can also contain toxins that could potentially poison the lizard and even lead to death. Rhubarb leaves contain oxalic acid which can form crystals in the urinary tract and cause them serious harm.
The Best Fruit For Your Bearded Dragon
When it comes to feeding your bearded dragon, fruit should only make up about 10-20% of their diet. As delicious and nutritious as fruit can be, too much of it can upset their delicate digestive system. That being said, here’s a list of the best fruits for your bearded dragon:
Apples (peeled; weekly), Apricots (every other week), Bananas (with or without peel; once or twice a month), Blackberries (every other week), Blueberries (weekly), Cantaloupe (every few weeks), Cherries (monthly), Dates and raisins (very rarely), Figs (every other week), Grapes (weekly), Guava(weekly), Kiwi( peeled; monthly), Mango(a few times a week), Papaya(a few times a week), Peaches(weekly), Pears(peeled; very rarely), Pineapples(monthly), Raspberries(every few weeks), Strawberries(weekly) and Watermelon(monthly).
Before offering any of these fruits to your beloved beardie, remember to cut them into bite-size pieces. Besides fruit, other food you can give your pet is edible flowers like dandelions, hibiscus roses, carnations geraniums, and nasturtiums.
Keep Your Beardie Hydrated
As a bearded dragon owner, it’s important to keep your pet hydrated. They get some of their moisture from fruits and vegetables, but plenty of fresh water is essential as well. It’s helpful to provide your beardie with its own water bowl and change the water every day. A good rule of thumb is to replace the water after each feeding – that way you can also remove any drowned insects!
If you find that your dragon isn’t drinking from its water bowl, you can try misting it with a spray bottle once or twice a day – this will help keep them hydrated while also reminding them of the rain in their natural habitat! Ultimately, making sure your pet has access to fresh, clean water is key to keeping them healthy and happy.
Bearded Dragon Supplements
Bearded Dragons require a specific diet to stay healthy and active. This includes supplements such as Calcium, Vitamin D3, and multivitamins.
Calcium is the most important supplement for your dragon as its deficiency can lead to metabolic bone disease. So make sure to provide your dragon with enough calcium through its diet.
Vitamin D3 is another supplement that’s useful for bearded dragons, as it can help make up for the lack of sunlight that typically comes with living in a domestic environment.
Multivitamin supplements are also available and can provide an easy way to ensure that your pet has access to all the vitamins and minerals they need. You should consult with your veterinarian about exactly which supplement will work best for your reptile friend’s needs.
What Greens Can Bearded Dragons Eat
Bearded Dragons have a wide variety of greens that they can eat. Our food list details these delicious greens that Beardies can enjoy: spring greens, floret mix, lambs lettuce, kale, collards, parsley, clover, dandelion greens, turnip greens, mustard greens, endive, rocket, and coriander as well as watercress.
These are all nutrient-packed options for your Bearded Dragon and make for a nutritious snack or meal. The varied flavors in this list will give them plenty of variety to explore and look forward to with each mealtime! And all the nutrients their body needs are there too! So go ahead and give your Bearded Dragon the best chance to thrive with these tasty greens.
What weeds do Bearded Dragons eat?
Bearded dragons make delightful pets, and it’s important to provide them with a healthy diet. One of the ways you can do this is by making sure they get the right types of weeds!
Specifically, some of the safe weeds bearded dragons can enjoy include dandelion, catsear, dead nettle, and plantain. These wild plants are packed full of nutrients and will give your beloved dragon exactly what they need for strong bones, good digestion, and happy life.
When feeding your dragon these tasty treats, be sure to chop them into small pieces so as not to overstuff their stomachs. Additionally, make sure that the weeds you feed them have not been exposed to pesticides or other harmful chemicals.
Can Bearded Dragons eat meat?
The answer to the question: Can Bearded Dragons eat meat? is a resounding yes! As omnivores, these awesome lizards can enjoy proteins from both plants and animals. In the case of protein from animal sources, this means that they can eat insects as part of their diet. We’ve put together a list of live food items for you to try with your Beardie, which include crickets, kingworms, waxworms, earthworms, cockroaches, locusts, butterworms, and more.
Keep in mind that waxworms and morioworms are fatty worms and should be fed only occasionally as treats to your Bearded Dragon. Mealworms may also be given to adult Dragons but it is important not to feed them as babies or juveniles due to the risk of impaction. Superworms are larger versions of mealworms and should also be consumed on an occasional basis by adults.
What can’t Bearded Dragons eat?
When it comes to feeding your Bearded Dragon, there are certain food items that you should avoid. Onion, chives, celery, mushrooms, and citrus fruits like lemon and orange can have adverse reactions in their stomachs.
Additionally, iceberg lettuce is low in nutritional value so instead, opt for other greens like collard greens or dandelion leaves. Wild insects should also be avoided as they may contain parasites that can harm reptiles. Fireflies should never be given as they are toxic and can even lead to death.
Avocados contain chemicals that make reptiles ill – with a large portion being fatal – while rhubarb contains high levels of oxalic acid which are poisonous to them. Finally, any type of fish or seafood such as prawns should not be given to Bearded Dragons either, nor wild plants such as bracken fern, buttercup, crocus, and so on.
If you’re ever unsure about whether a particular food is suitable for your pet dragon then don’t risk it! For their own safety, it’s best to only give them foods from the lists above and seek advice from a vet if your pet does get sick. It is important to remember that insurance often covers any problems Bearded Dragons may have.
How Often Do Bearded Dragons Eat
It’s important to know how often a bearded dragon should eat. Young dragons need to eat 2-5 times a day to get the energy they need while they grow, whereas adults only need to eat once a day. It’s essential for young dragons to consume the proper amount of food on a regular basis so that they develop strong bodies and healthy immune systems.
Tips On Feeding Your Baby Or Juvenile Dragon
Feeding your baby or juvenile dragon is an important task that should not be taken lightly. To ensure your little one is healthy, here are a few tips to help you get it right.
You should feed your baby dragon three times daily and for about 10-15 minutes each time but don’t leave any uneaten insects in the cage afterward. As it still needs to grow, it can eat more than an adult dragon so make sure to give it enough food! On top of that, you can leave some vegetables in the cage for them to snack on too.
Not only that but make sure the tank has a substrate without loose bits in it and avoid feeding your dragon there as they might consume it by mistake and this could be very dangerous for them!
Baby Bearded Dragon Feeding Schedule
An example feeding schedule can be seen below:
| Protein | Greens and Vegetables | Fruit | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 (am) | 10x crickets. | 2x small kale leaves, 1x small pumpkin piece. | 1x blueberry. |
| Day 1 (noon) | 10x dubia roaches. | 2x small collard green pieces, 1 small squash piece. | 1x peach slices. |
| Day 1 (pm) | 10x crickets. | 2x small dandelion green pieces, 1x pepper slice bell. | 1x blackberry. |
| Day 2 (am) | 10x dubia roaches. | 2x small kale leaves, 1 small pumpkin piece. | 1x blueberry. |
| Day 2 (noon) | 10x crickets. | 2x small collard green pieces, 1 small squash piece. | 1x peach slices. |
| Day 2 (pm) | 10x dubia roaches. | 2x small dandelion green pieces, 1x pepper slice bell. | 1x strawberry. |
Source:https://www.everythingreptiles.com/what-do-bearded-dragons-eat/
Tips On Feeding Your Adult Dragon
When it comes to feeding your adult dragon, you need to keep a few important tips in mind. First of all, adult dragons only require insects once a day – veggies should be given more frequently and left in the cage. Also, insects can make up no more than 50% of their total diet.
Additionally, feeding your adult dragon can vary depending on their appetite. You may need to feed them once a day or every other day – just watch out for clues from your pet that they’re hungry and ready to eat!
Overall, when creating a nutrient-rich diet for your bearded dragon it’s important to offer an assortment of fresh fruits, veggies, as well as proteins like insects. When done properly, this will help ensure that your dragon experiences optimal health and happiness!
Adult Bearded Dragon Feeding Schedule
An example feeding schedule can be seen below:
| Protein | Greens and Vegetables | Fruit | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | 5x crickets, 5x dubia roaches. | Kale, collard greens, 2x sweet potato pieces, 2x bell pepper slices. | 3x blueberries, 1x strawberry. |
| Day 2 | 5x superworms, 3x earthworms. | Dandelion greens, Bok choy, 2x baby carrots, 2x pumpkin pieces. | 2x peach slices. |
| Day 3 | 5x crickets, 5x dubia roaches. | Kale, collard greens, 2x sweet potato pieces, 2x bell pepper slices. | 3x blueberries, 1x strawberry. |
| Day 4 | 5x superworms, 3x earthworms. | Dandelion greens, Bok choy, 2x baby carrots, 2x pumpkin pieces. | 2x peach slices. |
Source:https://www.everythingreptiles.com/what-do-bearded-dragons-eat/
Best food for a Bearded Dragon that is ill
It’s always a good idea to consult with your vet for the best food for an ill Bearded Dragon. Your vet may be able to recommend specific food that is best for treating their illness. Additionally, if your pet is dehydrated, avoiding solid foods and instead using a syringe to feed them an electrolyte solution may help.
For other illnesses, creating a water-based mixture of food and nutrients and feeding it to the dragon via a syringe can help too. Slowly transitioning the dietary back to solid food over time can also prove beneficial. But again be sure to check with your exotic pet vet first! Your Bearded Dragon will stay healthy when provided with the right kind of nutrition!
How Should I Feed My Bearded Dragon?
When it comes to feeding your bearded dragon, there are several options available. To start, you can use reptile feeding tongs to grab small insects and feed them directly to your pet. If you’re looking for a more convenient way of giving them their food, a food bowl is great for anything from pellets or commercial food.
But if you want something even easier, there are also reptile feeders that make it easy to give them mealworms and other snacks. Whichever method you choose, make sure that you’re providing your bearded dragon with the best nutrition for their diet!
Where Should I Store Their Food?
When it comes to storing your beardie’s food, there are a few different options depending on the type of food. For feeder insects like crickets, a cricket feeder is usually the best option. For worms and other non-hopping insects, their original container or a plastic storage container works fine.
As for vegetables and fruits, refrigeration is best in order to keep them fresh for your pet. Lastly, commercial or pellet food should be stored in an airtight container to preserve its freshness.
No matter what type of food you choose for your bearded dragon, make sure you store it in the proper way so that it remains as nutritious and appetizing as possible!
Common Feeding Mistakes
Common feeding mistakes can have serious consequences for bearded dragons. When it comes to food, you need to be aware of their needs and dietary requirements.
One mistake to avoid is overfeeding: adults should receive no more than twenty insects per day, as they are prone to obesity. This can lead to heart disease and joint issues if not managed properly.
Another common mistake is feeding juveniles mealworms- these have an outer shell made of chitin that they cannot digest properly and can stunt their growth.
The last mistake – not gut loading – is extremely important when feeding your bearded dragon live insects. Gut loading involves feeding the insects fruits and vegetables with high nutritional value a day before feeding them to your pet, which will give them more nutritious options during their meals.
It’s critical that all three of these feeding mistakes are avoided in order for your bearded dragon to stay healthy!
Conclusion
Bearded dragons have various diets that they enjoy and need to stay healthy. It’s important to understand their eating behavior in order to give them the best life possible. By providing a variety of healthy foods, you can help ensure your bearded dragon gets the nutrition it needs.
Furthermore, be sure to always monitor their eating habits for any signs of illness or distress. With proper care and attention, your bearded dragon can live a long and happy life!
