If you own a bearded dragon, you’re probably curious about what they should eat on a daily basis. We’ll talk about what should be in your pet’s daily diet, how much they should eat, and how frequently they should eat.
What You'll Learn
Insects
[su_box title=”What You’ll Learn” box_color=”#5a5a5a”]
- Bearded dragons eat insects such as crickets, mealworms, kingworms, dubia roaches, and hornworms.
- It is critical to gut-load any insects before feeding them to your bearded dragon.
- When it comes to feeding your bearded dragon insects, variety is key; make sure you provide a variety of foods to ensure it gets all of the necessary nutrients.
[/su_box]
Types of Insects
Bearded dragons are omnivores, so they should eat a variety of insects. Crickets, dubia roaches, silkworms, earthworms, hornworms (also known as Goliath worms) are common insects for bearded dragons. It is critical to avoid using bugs found around the house because they may carry diseases that are harmful to your dragon.
Gut-loading
Gut-loading is an important part of the diet of a bearded dragon. It entails feeding the insects a nutritious diet before they are fed to the dragon. Because the insects have already eaten a nutritious meal, this process helps to provide the dragon with extra vitamins and minerals. Crickets, mealworms, and silkworms should have their guts loaded with fruits, vegetables, calcium supplements, and multivitamins. This will ensure that the dragon receives all of the nutrition it requires from its food.
Frequency
Adult bearded dragons should consume approximately 10 crickets per day or 20 crickets every two days. 30 to 80 insects per day and three to five feedings are recommended for a four-month-old baby. As a standard feeding, an adult bearded dragon should receive 10-20 dubias once or twice a week.
Fruits and Vegetables
[su_box title=”What You’ll Learn” box_color=”#5a5a5a”]
- Vegetables should account for the majority of plant material in their diet – approximately 80-90% – while fruits should account for only 10-20%.
- Bearded dragons thrive on leafy greens like kale, collards, mustard greens, and dandelion greens.
- Bearded dragons can reap the nutritional benefits of fruits and vegetables by eating a diverse range of these foods.
[/su_box]
Variety
You should feed your pet a variety of fruits and vegetables to ensure that they get all of the necessary nutrients. Dark greens, such as collard greens, dandelion greens, and kale, are ideal for vegetables.
Melons, berries, grapes, figs, peaches, and apples, in addition to these leafy greens, are excellent choices for bearded dragons. Citrus and rhubarb should be avoided because they are poisonous to these reptiles.
Nutritional Benefits
Feeding the dragon a variety of fruits and vegetables helps to ensure that it gets all of the important nutrients it requires for optimal health. Fruits and vegetables are also high in antioxidants, which aid in disease prevention, immune system stimulation, and inflammation reduction.
Furthermore, different colored fruits and vegetables provide different vitamins and minerals that aid in the health of bearded dragons.
How Much of Each to Feed
Bearded Dragons should eat a diet that is 80% greens. The majority of the plant material should be vegetables and flowers, with fruits accounting for only 10-20%.
Supplements
[su_box title=”What You’ll Learn” box_color=”#5a5a5a”]
- Vitamin D3 is required for your dragon’s bones to be strengthened by the calcium and phosphorous in their diet.
- Calcium supplements are required for bearded dragon development.
- It’s important to remember that every dragon is unique and may require different supplements.
[/su_box]
Calcium Supplementation
Bearded dragons require calcium in their diet to stay healthy, so calcium supplements are required. They should be given calcium supplements three times per week, but hatchlings should get it every day.
Supplementation is not required if you feed your bearded dragon commercially prepared diets for 50% or more of the total diet. However, if your dragon isn’t getting enough calcium from its diet, it’s a good idea to get a supplement to keep your pet healthy.
Vitamin D3
Bearded dragons require Vitamin D3 on a daily basis for proper growth and bone development. Vitamin D3 is required for your dragon’s bones to be strengthened by the calcium and phosphorous in their diet.
If your dragon’s UVB bulbs are low, it is critical to provide a separate pure calcium (or calcium with vitamin D3) supplement. As with other supplements, the Vitamin D3 supplement should be taken on a different day than the calcium and multivitamin supplements.
Multivitamins
Bearded dragons require a good multivitamin supplement to ensure that they get all of the vitamins and minerals they require. Multivitamins are an important part of a bearded dragon’s diet because they contain nutrients that are not found in other foods.
To ensure that your beardie is getting the right amount of vitamins and minerals, look for a reptile-specific multivitamin and choose a dosage that is appropriate for your pet’s size and age.
Water
[su_box title=”What You’ll Learn” box_color=”#5a5a5a”]
- Bearded dragons require fresh water to remain healthy and hydrated.
- Water should be changed and cleaned on a daily basis to keep it clean and safe for your pet to drink.
- Misting the enclosure with a spray bottle adds humidity, allowing your dragon to stay hydrated and comfortable.
[/su_box]
Provide a Shallow Water Bowl at All Times
A shallow water bowl is an important part of your bearded dragon’s daily care. Bearded dragons require constant access to fresh, clean water in order to stay hydrated and healthy.
It is recommended to use a shallow water bowl to reduce the risk of increasing the humidity of the enclosure. Water bowls should be cleaned and changed on a daily basis.
Frequent Misting
Bearded dragons don’t need much water, so misting them frequently is the best way to keep them hydrated. While misting will keep the food moist and increase the lizard’s water intake, it is critical not to overdo it as too much water can cause health problems.
[su_box title=”Things to Remember” box_color=”#5a5a5a”]
- A bearded dragon’s diet should consist of 80% greens (vegetables) and 10%-20% fruit.
- Crickets, dubia roaches, silkworms, earthworms, hornworms, and small other small insects are common insects for bearded dragons.
- Before feeding insects to a bearded dragon, they should be gut-loaded with a nutritious diet to provide extra vitamins and minerals to the dragon.
- Bearded dragons require Vitamin D3 and calcium supplements on a daily basis to ensure proper growth and bone development.
- Multivitamins are an important part of a bearded dragon’s diet because they provide essential nutrients that are not found in other foods. To keep the dragon hydrated, fresh water should be readily available.
[/su_box]
Hi! My name is Bryan, I am the “one behind the words” here are BeardieAnswers.com. I believe that providing quality care and nutrition is the best way to ensure the health of your pet. Every beardie is special and deserves the best care and attention. If you have questions about your bearded dragon, please don’t hesitate to ask! View My Full Author Page
