Bearded dragons have a diverse diet. They can eat all types of food, which is why they are called omnivores. Bearded dragons can eat food from both plants and animals. They can enjoy a grand feast of green vegetables, fruits, grains, and meaty bugs. Their meaty feast includes worms, crickets, and other insects. You can feed them greens such as kale, parsley, and cilantro, including vegetables such as pepper and sweet potato. You can also feed them a partial amount of fruits. While feeding your bearded dragon, keep in mind that they need to consume food that is rich in nutrients, as it is necessary for their balanced growth. You can consult your veterinary doctor to get a good amount of information about their nutrition and other issues. Here are details of What Do Bearded Dragons Eat.
What Does a Juvenile Bearded Dragon Eat?
Age plays a vital role in determining what bearded dragons eat. Baby dragons must consume food in a ratio of 80% bugs and 20% plants. Baby dragons can eat small feedings 3 to 5 times a day. Young bearded dragons must be fed small insects like crickets twice or thrice a day. They don’t require a large amount of food, though. Insects are tasty for them but don’t fulfill their nutritional requirements, especially calcium supplements. They should be fed greens to keep them hydrated. Cut these vegetables into small pieces that are easy for them to consume. Introducing quality pellets at an early stage is also advantageous for their health, including vegetables and green herbs in your baby bearded dragon’s food, as this will keep them at a healthy weight and prevent them from becoming obese.
How Much Should I Feed My Bearded Dragon?
By the age of 18 months, bearded dragons are mature and reach adulthood. They are sexually mature and need food only twice a day, including large portions of veggies and smaller portions of live insects. Do not overfeed your bearded dragon. As a pet parent, you must take care of their health. How much your bearded dragon will eat depends on its ability to consume a diet set up. Monitor their feeding by giving food for a certain period of time. Allow them approximately 30 minutes to eat vegetables and fruits. This helps prevent overfeeding. Make sure to remove any leftover food to prevent mold growth. Below is a list of what bearded dragons eat:
Live Food
- Crickets
- Mealworms
- Earthworms
- Butterworms
- Silkworms
- Superworms
- Cockroaches
- Wax worms
- King worms
- Hornworms
Fruit and Insects
Bearded dragon fruit is easily available in pet stores. Some insects are also sold at pet stores. Live crickets are the best food for them. Whatever food you are offering, remember to consider its quality, nutritional value, storage, and cost-effectiveness. It’s suggested that you offer a diverse range of food to your pet. They should be offered healthy and clean food, as wild insects may carry diseases and harmful parasites on their bodies, which can harm their health.
Whatever insect you are feeding, just make sure it provides a good amount of nutritional value.
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Vegetables
Vegetables are a cost-effective and easily available food for your pet bearded dragon. They are safe to eat and help keep them healthy, hydrated, and maintain a balance of nutritional values. Below is a list of some common vegetables that your pet can enjoy:
- Kale
- Asparagus (Raw)
- Butternut squash
- Yellow squash
- Acorn squash
- Spaghetti squash
- Butterworms
- Celery
- Peeled Cucumber
- Yams (Raw)
- Turnip greens
- Collard greens
- Mustard greens
- Zucchini (Raw)
- Okra (Raw)
- Radicchio
- Bell Peppers (Raw)
- Cabbage (Raw)
- Artichoke Heart
- Bok choy
- Carrots
- Endive
- Pumpkins
- Parsnips
- Cooked Lentils
- Chicory
Fruits
It is safe and better to consume fruits, they also supply essential vitamins and minerals but feed in moderate quantity. You can use these fruits from the below given list
- Apples
- Peaches
- Strawberries
- Apricot
- Blackberries
- Blueberries
- Cranberries
- Cherries
- Chayote
- Figs
- Grapes
- Grapefruit
- Melons
- Plum
- Watermelon
- Guava
- Nectarine
- Prunes
- Raisins
- Pears
- Pineapple
- Papaya
- Mango
How Often Can a Bearded Dragon Be Fed?
The eating habits of young and juvenile bearded dragons are different from adults. Young bearded dragons eat three to five times a day for growth and nutrition, whereas adult ones eat every 24 to 72 hours as they are now grown and do not require as much food.
How Long Can a Bearded Dragon Go Without Food?
The eating appetite of each animal is different. If your pet bearded dragon isn’t eating much or not eating at all, you must not worry excessively; they won’t die. The food consumption requirement depends on age, weight, and health. An adult bearded dragon can go without eating for several days to several weeks or even months. While eating, they may consume dirt and other things, which is why it is recommended not to feed them on loose substrate. Adults are grown and capable of digesting a little substrate more easily.
Is There Any Chart for What Bearded Dragons Eat?
There is no specific diet chart for what bearded dragons eat. While feeding, just ensure the food is healthy. You can get exact information from your vet regarding what and how much they would prefer to eat. A vet can assess their health, provide advice, and guide you about their requirements and characteristics.
Bearded Dragon Diet
If it is a pet, then it will depend on you for its food. Their diet includes a wide variety of food as they are omnivores that can feed on both plants and animals. They can absorb nutrition from a wide range of food, including various worms, crickets, and other insects. They are also fed green veggies, herbs, and a limited amount of fruits.
Bearded dragons grow in habitats where food is abundant, which is why they are adaptive to a wide range of different foods from plants and animals. They have sharp vision and a great sense of smell. They can be omnivores, carnivores, insectivores, and at certain stages tend to be more herbivores.
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What Do Bearded Dragons Eat?
Still scorching heads on What Do Bearded Dragons Eat? You can feed them a good variety of animal-based protein, which includes calcium-dusted crickets, small worms, roaches, silkworms, and hornworms. These are nutritious for them, but avoid feeding them blackworms and superworms daily as they have high fat and may cause your pet to become overweight. You can find food for them in pet stores where they have a variety of insects, fresh veggies, and fruits.
If you wish, you can raise various worms and insects like crickets, or you can buy them from pet stores or reptile breeders. Outside insects can be toxic for your bearded dragon. Do not feed fireflies to them as they are very toxic to lizards. They can be fed pinkie or young fuzzy mice sparingly.
Correct and balanced feeding is important for them. An unbalanced diet may cause serious health issues such as hypocalcemia (low blood calcium) or Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD).
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Favorite Foods of Bearded Dragons
Bearded dragons love to feed on live bugs like crickets, worms, and roaches. You can feed them one type of insect as a regular or primary food and also add supplements. Below is a list of a few insects that are bearded dragons’ favorites:
Crickets
Crickets are the tastiest food choice for bearded dragons. They are rich in calcium and protein, making them a favorite snack. They are easily available at pet stores. Crickets are noisy and can be irritating, so when you buy them from stores, make sure to store them securely and out of earshot.
Dubia Roaches
Your pet bearded dragon is really fond of these bugs. They are extremely rich in protein and low in fat, providing five times more nutritional value than any other insect. Dubia roaches are a good and easy choice for feeding your pet as they are quiet, cannot climb or escape, and if they escape, they cannot infest your house.
Worms
You can feed your bearded dragon with worms. They are safe and healthy food for them, providing a variety of nutrients. There are different types of worms that can fill the tummy of a bearded dragon. Let’s read about a few of them:
- Butter Worms: They are very tasty and full of calcium and protein, making a great dietary supplement to your dragon’s primary feeder insects.
- Earthworms: These regular worms are not very popular but provide hydration and calcium for your pet. Be sure to feed them only after rinsing them well.
- Mealworms: You can feed them to your adult bearded dragons as they are mature enough to digest them. Mealworms have a tough exoskeleton that can cause gut issues for young bearded dragons, whereas a mature dragon can handle them in small amounts.
- Phoenix Worms: These are very small worms rich in protein and calcium, making them an excellent supplement. Feeding them as snacks is a great choice.
- Silkworms: These worms are an excellent choice for feeding your pet as they are rich in protein, moisture, phosphorus, calcium, and potassium.
- Wax Worms: These are tasty treats for bearded dragons, but don’t feed them too much as they have high-fat content. Feed them occasionally only.
Do I Need to Give My Bearded Dragon Vitamins and Minerals?
Like humans, animals also need vitamins and minerals to grow properly. A bearded dragon needs a good amount of dietary calcium for growth and bone development, especially when young. Your veterinary doctor may recommend sprinkling light calcium powder that contains low phosphorus on the food. You can also sprinkle calcium powder that contains vitamin D3 on food. It must be dusted only in a very small portion of their vegetables or fruits and that food must be fed first so that your bearded dragon consumes it well.
A common problem seen in pet bearded dragons is inappropriate supplementation with calcium and vitamins (especially vitamin D3) and minerals. Ask your veterinarian for specific recommendations about supplementing your pet’s diet.
Do Bearded Dragons Need Water?
Bearded dragons need water to stay hydrated. You can place water in a small dish that doesn’t tip over. Change the water daily and clean the dish with disinfectant every day. Bearded dragons living in the wild get water from rain or morning dew on plants. You can keep your bearded dragon hydrated by misting over washed vegetables and allowing them to stay in warm water every day for several minutes.
Do I Need to Have a UV Light for My Beardie?
It is essential for bearded dragons to absorb some UV light so that their bodies can utilize vitamin D3, which helps absorb calcium from the diet.
Conclusion
There is no specific mention of a single diet as bearded dragons have different nutritional needs. Opinions vary regarding their diet as many live as pets or in captive tanks. Bearded dragons can eat a wide variety of foods as they are omnivores. If you have a pet bearded dragon that doesn’t eat much or at all, you can seek advice from your veterinary doctor as the health of your pet is your prime concern.
The most important thing to keep in mind is to always wash your hands thoroughly after feeding, cleaning, or handling your bearded dragon, as they may carry bacteria or parasites on their bodies.