Bearded dragons are popular pets, and just like any other pet, they require you to make sure they stay healthy. But did you know that you can supplement their diets through food dusting?
Food dusting is a simple process where reptile-specific vitamins, minerals, and supplements are added to your bearded dragon’s food. It’s an option that allows owners to provide complete nutrition for their pets while being quick, easy, and cost-effective.
In this article, I’ll explain what food dusting is and how to do it. Plus I’ll show you the best foods for bearded dragon supplementation so your little friend stays healthy and happy!
Bearded dragon supplementation through food ‘dusting’
Bearded dragons supplementation can either be done through gut-loading, ‘sprinkling’, or the so-called process of dusting. Supplementation plays a vital part in keeping your pet Bearded dragon healthy. ‘Dusting’ is the process of coating insects, or other foodstuffs, with a powdered supplement prior to being fed.
Supplementation through dusting
‘Dusting’ can be done on any feeder insect and on greens, but it is very popular (and quite simple) to do with live crickets. Food is simply mixed with a moderate amount of supplement powder in a spill- or escape-proof plastic bag or container.
In order to keep it fresh, dusting should be done just prior to feeding the insects or greens to Bearded dragons.
Supplements for dusting
Any powdered form of Bearded dragon supplementation can be used for dusting food. To ensure quality and optimal efficiency, commercial reptile (or even ‘Bearded dragon’) supplementation should be used.
The two main supplements recommended for Bearded dragons are multi-vitamin mixtures and calcium/Vitamin D3 combinations. Calcium supplementation should be done 2 to 3 times a week, and multi-vitamin mixtures should be given every other day.
How Often Should I Dust Crickets For My Bearded Dragons?
When it comes to feeding crickets to your bearded dragon, you should dust them with a vitamin/calcium powder at least once every two weeks. This ensures that your reptile gets all of the essential vitamins and minerals they need.
Additionally, dusting is recommended if you are not offering your dragon a varied diet of proteins, vegetables, and fruits.
Why your bearded dragon needs calcium:
Bearded dragons need calcium in order to stay healthy. It is one of the most important and fundamental minerals they can get and is essential for their growth and good bone health. But, they are unable to use and absorb calcium without vitamin D3.
This means that your bearded dragon won’t get enough calcium through their eating routine without supplements to enhance it. Although they can get some of the vitamin D3 they need from their UVB lighting, it’s typically not enough (99.9% of the time). This is why providing supplements is necessary for your bearded dragon’s health and well-being.
Calcium helps bearded dragons with proper muscle functioning, energy levels, digestive health, and overall maintenance of healthy body weight. Make sure your bearded dragon gets enough calcium by finding a supplement rich in both calcium and vitamin D3. These two vitamins are essential for your beardie’s wellbeing so make sure you provide them!
Supplements and powder
Supplements and powder are an effective way to rapidly increase your bearded dragon’s calcium levels. The most common form of supplementation is through using a calcium powder specifically designed for bearded dragons.
This powder contains a concentrated amount of calcium (and vitamin D3 depending on the product) which you can sprinkle onto your beardie’s food items. This process, known as “dusting”, gives you control over how many meals get a dose of extra calcium.
If you choose to use supplements and powders for your bearded dragon, make sure to use ones specifically designed for them and follow the instructions carefully to make sure you don’t give too little or too much of a supplement to your pet!
Feed Bearded Dragons Crickets
When it comes to feeding your bearded dragon, crickets are a great option. They offer high quality protein in a small package that’s easy for them to eat. When offering crickets to your bearded dragons, you want to ensure you’re providing the right amount.
During mealtime for your Bearded Dragon, provide as many crickets as it can eat within 10 minutes and get rid of any excess afterward.
Make sure you don’t leave any uneaten crickets in their enclosure as these can cause problems such as cricket aggression and infestations.
It’s also important to remember that while crickets provide great nutrition, they should only make up part of an overall healthy diet. We recommend pairing them with other popular gut-loaded feeders such as Dubai roaches and mealworms.
This helps provide a balanced combination of carbohydrates and dietary fat needed for proper health and growth.
Dusting the Crickets
Dusting the crickets with calcium and vitamins is an important part of your pet dragon’s diet. But be sure to follow a few guidelines for dusting the crickets, so that your dragon gets all of the important nutrition it needs.
First, you don’t want to dust the crickets with both supplements on the same day, since overdosing can be dangerous for your dragon. Instead, alternate between calcium and vitamin D3 every other feeding.
This way, every time you offer your pet dragon crickets they will be dusted with either calcium or another supplement such as a multivitamin.
These tips can help ensure that your pet gets what it needs in its diet without any risks. If you follow these guidelines each time you dust your crickets, then you’re providing essential nutrients to keep your dragon healthy and happy!
How much powdered supplement do you need to use on food?
When feeding insects to your dragon, you need to use a pinch of powdered supplement. This should be enough to coat a few insects and provide adequate nutrition.
However, if you are trying to dust greens with powdered supplements, it’s not as efficient because the powder can clump up and wash off easily. Fruits and vegetables are better for dusting powders onto since they don’t run the risk of washing off as easily.
Additionally, if your dragon isn’t keen on eating powdered bugs or veggies, you can always opt for pre-dusted ones instead. While there is no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to how much powdered supplement you need to use on food, a general rule of thumb is that a pinch should do the job!
How Much Calcium Does My Baby Bearded Dragon Need?
As your baby bearded dragon grows, its calcium requirements will increase. Calcium is an essential nutrient for your pet’s growth and development, so it’s important to make sure they get enough of it.
Generally speaking, you should dust your baby’s food with calcium about 4-5 times a week. Make sure not to exceed 1 time per day, as this could cause them to become overloaded with too much calcium at once.
You can even mix the calcium powder with a multivitamin two to three times a week, again not exceeding one time per day.
By providing your beardie with the right amount of calcium regularly, you’ll help keep their bones strong and healthy as they continue to grow!
How Much Calcium Does My Adult Bearded Dragon Need?
As an adult, your bearded dragon’s calcium needs are much less than when they were younger.
An adult bearded dragon should have its food dusted with calcium powder around 3 times a week. To ensure optimal health, mix the multivitamin with the calcium just one time a week.
It’s important to keep in mind, however, that all dragons’ dietary needs may differ, so be sure to consult with your veterinarian on how often and how much calcium your dragon is going to need.
Depending on their lifestyle and diet, they may need more or less than 3 times a week. You’ll also want to make sure you’re giving them only the best quality calcium powder that is free from toxins and chemicals.
By following these simple steps, you can give your adult bearded dragon the exact amount of calcium they need for healthy growth and development!
The Importance of Multivitamins
The importance of multivitamins for bearded dragons cannot be overstated. Providing your reptile with a good multi-nutrient, in addition to calcium, is key to keeping them healthy and strong.
The vitamins they receive will help boost their immune system by absorbing only the essential and valuable parts of vitamins, like Vitamin A.
It’s important to keep an eye out for excess vitamin A as it can lead to toxicity in your dragon and even death. To avoid this, look for vitamins with beta-carotene instead as these are much safer for your pet.
Multivitamins are especially important when you think the UVB light isn’t providing enough exposure or when your dragon isn’t getting enough calcium from its diet.
In these cases, multivitamins act as an essential supplement that can keep your beardie healthy and vibrant!
Conclusion:
Food dusting is an incredibly important part of your bearded dragon’s diet. Not only is it necessary to ensure your beardie is getting the vitamins and minerals they need to stay healthy, but it is also an excellent way to provide variety in their diets.
Be sure to use high-quality supplements that are specially formulated for reptiles when dusting your bearded dragon’s food. With a little patience and care, you can make sure that your beardie is always healthy and happy.
