Bearded dragons are exotic pets. Sometimes, owners could get a little confused as to what exactly these sweet creatures could eat. The question of what they can eat versus what they should eat has arisen often and this post is here to out a shush to that buzz.
So on the question of “Are bearded dragons omnivorous? The answer is a straight definite ” Yes”. Bearded dragons are designed to live on both plants and animal-based diet.
Now that we have established is a fact, there is another question. One that also begs an answer like the above. If dragons are omnivorous, what exactly should they eat? In the wild, they have adapted to know what is good for them against what is not. Just because they can eat something doesn’t mean that they should. So I have taken time to put together what foods are food for them at different stages. Read on to find out all about these foods.
What Can Bearded Dragons Eat?
Bearded Dragons can eat a wide range of live or dead insects such as crickets, mealworms and king worms. They also eat a variety of vegetables such as sweet potato, pepper and leafy greens such as kale and parsley. let’s not forget the fruit… bearded dragons love their fruits too.
Bearded Dragons in the wild mainly eat animals. In fact, animals make up about 75% of their diet and can include crickets, cockroaches, worms and even small creatures such as mice. Outside of animals, greens, vegetables, and fruit usually make up the other 20% to 25% of their diet.
Bearded Dragon food and diet
If you keep Bearded Dragon in your home, you should try as much as possible to make sure that their diet replicates what they would eat in the wild. Their diet should consist of meat, vegetables, and fruits…
You’ll have to reduce the amount of meat you give your beard is as he grows older though. This is because he will not be getting enough exercise as the beardies in the wild. Beard is are prone to obesity so it is in his best interest that you protect him from this.
Should I feed my Bearded Dragon meat?
Bearded Dragons in the wild eat meat like insects. Your dragon can eat meat such as Crickets, Mealworms, Kingworms, Waxworms, Earthworms, Cockroaches, and Locusts.
How about fruits?
Bearded Dragons can eat a wide range of fruits. You can let their fruit consumption include Figs, Melon, Apples, Mango, Papaya, Dates, Peaches, Apricots, and Plums.
Soft fruits are usually sugary and can destroy bearded dragon teeth so it is important to reduce the amount fed to the dragons.
Vegetables for my dragon
Feed your dragon these vegies yo boost their immunity and health.
Peas, Green beans, Courgette, Butternut squash, Sweet potato, Bell pepper, Okra, and broccoli.
Should beardies eat greens?
Yes. They should. You can feed them. the following: Kale Collards, Parsley, Clover, Dandelion greens
Turnip greens, Mustard greens, Endive and Coriander. You can also add tomatoes and pears with occasionally grated carrots to their meal.
Beardie diet: What to avoid.
The list that has been provided above is large enough to pick some staple diet from. The truth is that bearded dragons will eat anything even if it is harmful. That is why they have you to screen their diet. Here are some foods that are not healthy to feed your dragon.
Iceberg lettuce It’s mostly water and has little nutritional value so don’t let your Bearded Dragon eat it
Spinach and beet tops contain chemicals that can cause calcium deficiency, which in turn can lead to metabolic bone disease. There is no point feeding it to them at all. The harmful tendencies override the nutritional value.
Also, insects that were captured in the wild may have harmful parasites in them. These parasites may harm reptiles like bearded dragons.
Avoid feeding your dragon fireflies or any other insect that glows. They are toxic and poisonous to bearded dragons.
Avocados are dangerous because they contain chemicals that can kill your beard is. Avoid them like the plague.
Any form of meat that is caught in water is not.meant for bearded dragons. Don t feed them fish, prawns or anything else that was caught from water? Plants like bracken fern, buttercup, crocus, daffodil, holly, horse chestnut, ivy, oak, and poppy are all poison to a bearded dragon.
Also, avoid putting sand in bearded dragon food. A lot of owners use it as substrate but it can cause impaction and make your beard is sick. Even calcium sand can cause impaction so it is best to not give it to them at all. Impaction can be fatal so please take this seriously.
Baby bearded dragon diet
Little Beardies will need to eat more insects than they eat veggies. Also, they need to eat more often than their adult. You can feed them as often as three times a day. You can leave veggies and fruits lying around and they will eat them if they are interested.
Baby beardies are likely to eat between 50 and 60 insects daily but they could eat way less or way more than that. Depending on their mood.
Juvenile bearded dragons will do well with 50% of meat and 50% of veggies and fruits. Adult Bearded Dragons, however, should eat fewer insects and animal matter. 25% to 30% of meat will do just fine
Best live food for beardies?
The most popular live food for Bearded Dragons is crickets and mealworms. These can be found easily in most exotic pet stores.
Live crickets are good sources of exercise for the bearded dragon. He gets to chase them around the place. This chase can be stimulating and exciting because the activity helps them to exert their minds and bodies.
Feed them variety
In the wild, the average bearded dragon has a wide range of meal choices to choose from. But they have to eat whatever you give them in captivity. Please try as much as possible to very their meals. This helps them to not get bored or too accustomed to any particular meal.
Supplements
Calcium supplements are good. But don’t overdo it. The same thing goes for vitamins and such. Everything should be given in moderation. Following the vets prescription very carefully.
