At first glance, a bearded dragon’s diet may seem complicated.
In the wild, these lizards are omnivorous and eat a mixture of insects, vegetables and fruits.
A teddy bear should be fed a variety of foods to ensure that it is warm.
In addition to feeding a variety of foods, the young and babies should be fed different diets – it is important to change the Bearded Dragon’s diet as they grow.
Their diet may seem complicated, but even first-time reptile owners can easily master their nutrition.
This article will explain everything you need to know about feeding bearded dragons. We even have a feeding chart ready for you to follow, so read on…
What Do Bearded Dragons Eat?
Teddy bears have a very diverse diet and eat insects, small vertebrates, vegetables and fruits .
There are many different types of insects, fruits and vegetables that are safe to feed, but the foods below are nutritionally better:
- Ants and beetles.
- Dubia cockroaches, earthworms, crickets and superworms.
- Cabbage, dandelion and kale.
- Grapes, bananas, apples, strawberries, watermelons and blueberries.
They are not very picky about food.
Bearded dragons are agile and hunt live prey in the jungle. They crush crickets and mealworms with their powerful jaws and eat every day.
When kept in captivity, adults must be fed once a day, but they require different foods at different stages of life.
Young people require more protein because they grow quickly. The young should be fed three times a day. They should also eat a mostly insect diet compared to adults who eat fewer insects and more fruits and vegetables.
The young should be offered crickets constantly.
It is important that adults, young and young receive the right food and nutrients to stay healthy.
Bearded dragons will also need a calcium powder sprinkled on their food twice a week. Calcium is necessary for bone development, neurological processes, and a variety of other bodily functions.
The formulation of your diet can be overwhelming.
The easiest way to vary your food intake is to use a weekly food chart.
Bearded Dragon Diet
The correct diet for a bearded dragon should contain protein, vegetables, and fruit. Eating a balanced diet is vital to your health. Feed a split of 25% insects and vertebrates and 75% greens, vegetables, and fruits:
- Dubia cockroaches, earthworms, crickets, and superworms.
- Cabbage, dandelion, kale, grapes, bananas, watermelon and blueberries.
Bearded dragons have been popular pets for only two decades and still retain many of their wild behaviors and eating habits.
When we introduce a wild reptile in captivity, it is important that their food mimics the food they naturally consume.
This will not only help keep them happy, but also healthy.
Bearded Dragon Feeding Program
Young bearded dragons grow very quickly and need a lot of protein. Because of this, the hatchlings and young have a different feeding plan than the full-grown adults.
Your ratio of proteins in vegetables, vegetables and fruits should be 75/25.
They must be fed with 75% insects and 25% plant material.
During the first two months bearded dragons will need to be fed crickets during the day.
Start with two crickets every 10 or 15 minutes in the incubation stage. As they get older, gradually feed them less frequently until they are fed three times a day by two months of age.
Proteins Vegetables and vegetables Fruits Day 1 (am)10x crickets.2x small kale leaves,
1x small pumpkin piece. 1x blueberry. Day 1 (noon) 10x Dubia cockroaches. 2x small pieces of green cabbage,
1 piece of small pumpkin. 1x peach slices. Day 1 (pm) 10x crickets. 2x small dandelion pieces,
1x sliced pepper. 1x blackberry. Day 2 (am) 10x Dubia cockroaches. 2x small kale leaves,
1 piece of small pumpkin. 1x blueberry. Day 2 (noon) 10x crickets. 2x small pieces of green cabbage,
1 piece of small pumpkin. 1x peach slices. Day 2 (pm) 10x Dubia cockroaches. 2x small dandelion pieces,
1x sliced bell pepper. 1x strawberry.
It is important to ensure that you cut any vegetables, greens and fruit into bite-sized pieces before feeding. The pieces should be no larger than the distance between the bearded dragon’s eyes.
Feeding in large pieces can cause gastrointestinal problems.
As your bearded dragon grows, its diet will change.
Beards reach adult size at 18 months. After this they become less active and do not need the high-protein food given to the young and young.
Around this age they can gradually switch to an adult diet.
Adult bearded dragon feeding schedule
Adults should be fed once a day . Try to feed a portion of 75% greens, vegetables and fruits and 25% insects and vertebrates.
It is very important to vary the types of food that are fed. This acts as a form of enrichment and keeps them interested in their food.
An example of a feeding schedule is shown below:
Before serving any vegetables or fruits, cut them into small bite-sized pieces, this will make them easier to eat.
Some owners choose to cut vegetables and fruits weekly and then freeze them. They then thaw this mixture in the microwave before feeding them. Vegetables should always be offered fresh.
If your bearded dragon does not eat its food, you must remove it from its enclosure within an hour. This will prevent them from eating rotten food and getting sick.
Adults are typically good eaters.
If they start to refuse food or eat less than normal, talk to your vet, as this could be the first sign of illness or injury.
Food for the bearded dragon
The following list of insects, vegetables and fruits are good options to include in the diet of the bearded dragon:
- Dubia cockroaches, earthworms, crickets and superworms.
- Apples, blueberries, peaches, strawberries and watermelon.
- Cabbage, carrots, cabbage, kale, kale, pumpkin and sweet potato.
Dubia cockroaches are very rich in protein and are easy to digest, making them an excellent addition to the bearded dragon’s diet. Crickets and super worms can also be fed for a change, but they are not as easily digestible.
It should feed many leafy vegetables such as kale , dandelions and collard greens. These vegetables are high in calcium and are nutrient dense.
A small amount of fruit can be added to your intake but it is important not to overfeed them as they are high in sugar.
Food list of bearded dragons
- Apples
- Bananas
- Blueberries
- Grapes
- Peaches
- Raspberries
- Strawberries
- Watermelon
- Col
- Carrots
- COL SILVERAL
- Green dandelion
- Candle
- pepper
- Pumpkin
- Camote
- Tomatoes
- zucchini
- Cockroaches Dubia
- Earthworms
- Mealworms (adults only)
What fruit can bearded dragons eat?
Fruits are an important part of the bearded dragon’s diet. They provide many vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients not readily found in other foods. The following fruits are good options for feeding your bearded dragon:
-
- Apples
- Bananas
- Blueberries
- Grapes
Strawberries
- Watermelon
You should only feed your bearded dragon fruits occasionally and use them as treats.
Can the bearded dragon eat:
Grapes : Yes. The grapes must be cut into quarters to prevent them from drowning.
Bananas : Yes. You should only feed bananas occasionally as they have a high ratio of phosphorous and calcium, which can be detrimental to health.
Apples : Yes, apples are an excellent choice of fruit to feed your bearded dragon. You should peel the apples and cut them into bite-sized pieces before serving.
Strawberries : Yes, strawberries are great as a gift, as they are high in several key nutrients, including vitamin C, manganese, folate, and potassium. You shouldn’t feed strawberries too often as they are high in oxalates.
Watermelon : Yes. However, unlike many fruits on this list, it is not nutritionally dense and therefore not the best food to feed.
Blueberries : Yes, you can feed blueberries from time to time. They are high in vitamin C and vitamin K. Do not feed them too much as they are high in oxalates which can prevent your bearded dragon from getting enough calcium.
Oranges : No. It is better not to feed oranges or other citrus fruits such as lemons and limes. These fruits are too acidic for bearded dragons. Acidity can irritate your stomach and lead to a variety of gastrointestinal problems.
Raspberries : Yes, bearded dragons can eat raspberries from time to time. Raspberries contain many important nutrients such as vitamin C, potassium, and antioxidants.
What vegetables can bearded dragons eat?
Vegetables and green leaves are a very important part of a bearded dragon’s diet. They should make up 75% of your food intake. The following vegetables are good choices to eat:
-
- Cabbage
- Carrots
- Collard greens
- Kale
- Pumpkin
- Sweet potato
- Tomatoes
Vegetables provide the bearded dragon with many nutrients and calories.
When you feed your bearded dragon with vegetables, you should always wash them and only serve them raw.
Can the bearded dragon eat:
Spinach : No. It is best not to feed your bearded dragon spinach as it binds calcium and can lead to a deficiency of calcium if fed too often.
Kale : Yes Kale is an excellent food choice and is high in calcium, vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin A and folate. Kale can be fed regularly and should be a staple food.
Carrots : Sometimes. Carrots should only be fed occasionally as too many can cause vitamin A toxicity. Include the green tops of the carrot as they are also very hot.
Zucchini : Yes, it is safe to feed but it does not have many nutrients.
Broccoli : Yes broccoli is high in vitamin A, thiamin, vitamin C and vitamin K.
Celery : Not like iceberg lettuce , is mostly water and contains very few nutrients.
Tomatoes : Yes, tomatoes are low in oxalates and high in vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K and folate.
Cabbage : Yes. Cabbage should be fed occasionally to bearded dragons as it can provide them with a lot of vitamin C.
Common feeding errors
There are three common feeding mistakes that can be made when feeding a bearded dragon. These mistakes can lead to a variety of health problems and obesity.
Mistake One: Overfeeding
Obesity in adult bearded dragons is very common.
Like most reptiles, they have a very healthy appetite and are prone to obesity if they feed on many insects.
An adult should not receive more than twenty insects a day!
It is easy to accidentally overfeed, as they will eat as many insects as you feed.
Obesity is a major health problem, as it can predispose the bearded dragon to heart disease and joint problems.
Mistake 2: Feeding mealworms to young
Feeding young mealworms can stunt their growth and prevent them from getting the nutrients they need.
Mealworms have an outer layer of chitin that the young cannot properly digest. You should avoid feeding mealworms to bearded dragons, and opt for superworms when they reach 18 months of age.
Mistake Three: No Gut Loading
When feeding bearded dragon insects live, it is important to load them in the casings at least one day before feeding.
Gut loading involves feeding the insects fruits and vegetables that are nutrient-dense before feeding the insects to the bearded dragon. This process greatly improves the amount of nutrients your bearded dragon receives.
What can’t bearded dragons eat?
There are a handful of foods that should always be avoided when feeding a bearded dragon. The foods in the following list can cause a variety of health abnormalities and toxicities:
- Avocado
- Beef
- Bread
- Chicken
- Eubergine
- Fliernagos
- Fish
- Garlic / onion
- Lettuce Iceberg / Celery
- Spiders / Batters
Bearded dragons do not eat meat in the wild, so they should not be fed in captivity. Meat and fish are high in fat and phosphorous.
Avocado, garlic, onion and eggplant should be avoided as they can be toxic even in small amounts.
It should also not be fed non-nutrient dense foods with a high water content. These include iceberg lettuce and celery.
Finally, fireflies, spiders and ticks can be toxic to bearded dragons. Even half a firefly can kill an adult bearded dragon due to cardiotoxins.
Summary
Bearded dragons are one of the most common pet reptiles.
A youngster needs a diet of mostly insects and some plant material. They must be fed three times a day. Once a bearded dragon reaches 18 months of age, it must transition to an adult diet.
An adult requires food consisting mainly of green leaves and vegetables and some insects and must be fed once a day.
Varying the foods they feed on, occasionally giving fruits and insects that are loaded into the guts before feeding will help ensure your bearded dragon gets the nutrients it needs.
Making sure you feed a healthy diet is essential to a good breeding routine that will keep your pet happy and healthy.
What do you like to feed your pet? Let us know below.