Bearded dragons, also called “beardies,” are among the most common reptiles kept as pets. Due to their docile nature and low maintenance requirements, these amiable reptiles are often suggested for beginners to take as pets. If you are planning to pet a bearded dragon, you must know that it needs a safe environment that supports their natural habitat. Most importantly, a good diet plan is needed for a long life. In this write-up, we will discuss what do bearded dragons eat and how to feed them.
What Do Bearded Dragons Eat?
Greens and Vegetables
Bearded dragons can eat a wide variety of leafy greens and vegetables. Please note that young dragons should primarily be fed insects but can also have limited veggies. Good options include:
Arugula – High in vitamins K, A, and C. Provides calcium and folate. Feed a few leaves a few times a week as part of a mixed salad.
Bell Peppers – Bell papers are rich in vitamin A and C. Chop a mix of red, green and yellow mini peppers. Feed a few slices 2-3 times a week.
Carrots – Shredded carrots make a nice sweet treat. Grate a small amount and mix into salads. Feed carrots 1-2 times per week.
Endive – Rich in calcium, potassium, and vitamins K and A. Chop leaves and mix sparingly into greens 2-3 times a week. Too much may cause diarrhoea.
Escarole – High in fiber and folate. Chop escarole leaves into bite-sized pieces. Feed a few pieces 2-3 times weekly.
Kale – Packed with vitamins A, C, K calcium, antioxidants and beta carotene. Chop kale leaves finely and mix a few small pieces into salads
Fruits
So, what do bearded dragons eat? Fruits are one of their favourite foods. They eat fruits like-
Blueberries – Rich in fiber and antioxidants. Only feed a few small berries at a time and mash gently for baby dragons to prevent choking.
Mango – You can chop small cubes of ripe mango and feed sparingly.
Raspberries – Provide vitamin C and manganese. Due to size and soft texture, mash gently before feeding just a few at a time.
Insects and Protein
If you are wondering what do bearded dragons eat, insects are often fed to the younger and baby bearded dragons. As they mature, more greens and veggies can be offered. Good feeder insects include:
Crickets – Calcium-rich staple feeder insect. Must be appropriately sized. Gut-load crickets with high calcium foods to enhance nutrition.
Dubia Roaches – Ideal feeders with high protein. Cannot climb smooth surfaces or fly. Need vitamin supplementing.
Mealworms – Contains healthy amounts of essential fatty acids. Due to hard exoskeleton, only feed worm halves or limited quantities to prevent impaction.
Superworms – High in healthy fats and protein. Can bite dragon, so feed disabled worms with calcium powder or dead. Limit amounts.
Phoenix Worms: These worms are a fantastic supplement or feeder bug because they’re a terrific source of calcium and protein.
How to feed bearded dragons?
Now that you know what do bearded dragons eat, let’s have a look at how to feed them from time to time-
Morning: A bearded dragon’s day starts with warming up by basking in heat and UVB light. Offer the first feed of veggies and insects once fully heated up and alert – usually within an hour or two of turning on tank lighting in the morning.
Noon: After dragons have been active for a few house, metabolic rate increases and digestion from first meal commences. This makes noon a prime time for offering a secondary smaller feeding. Stick to greens and veggies during this slot.
Afternoon: By early afternoon, most bearded dragons are ready to settle down and nap or rest under basking spot warmth. This makes the 12 pm to 2 pm window less ideal for major feedings that could disrupt an afternoon siesta.
Evening: The final prime feeding time frame for pet bearded dragons is the early evening around 5 pm to 7 pm as light starts fading. Dragons often perk up and become more active at this hour once digestion has had time to occur.
Night: It is important to know what do bearded dragons eat at night because you should not feed any insects to them past dinner time as their digestive tract slows during sleep. However leafy greens or veggies can be left overnight if uneaten earlier.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How often should you feed a bearded dragon?
A: Juvenile dragons under 18 months require multiple small feedings daily of insects and veggies. Adults only need veggies daily with insects every 2-3 days.
Q: Can you feed bearded dragons lettuce?
A: Iceberg lettuce provides little nutrition but leafy greens like kale, arugula and collards are excellent.
Q: Do bearded dragons drink water?
A: Yes. Provide fresh drinking water daily in a small bowl along with regular misting for hydration through water droplets.
Q: What fruits can bearded dragons eat?
A: In moderation, figs, blueberries, strawberries and melons can be offered weekly as treats in tiny pieces. Citrous fruits like citrus should be avoided.
Q: How often does a bearded dragon poop?
A: Baby dragons may poop 2+ times daily. Healthy adults average 1-2 bowel movements every 1-3 days depending largely on diet.
Q: How do bearded dragons communicate?
A: Behaviour like arm waving, beard changes, gaping mouth, tail whips and bobbing heads are all forms of communication from aggression to submission.
Q: What temps do bearded dragon tanks need?
A: Basking temp of 95-105 F while cooler 75 F ends. Nighttime temp of 70ish F with controlled heating, lighting and humidity.
Overview
A healthy diet and the right supplements can help your bearded dragon live a long and healthy life. Without proper nutrition from appropriate bearded dragon foods, they can face issues like metabolic bone disease from lack of calcium, improper growth rates, digestion trouble, and more. That is why knowing what do bearded dragons eat is crucial for properly caring for them as pets. Since they are omnivores, providing the right balance of live feeder insects along with leafy greens, vegetables and some fruits is key to their health and wellbeing.
