Bearded dragon feeding is quite simple and easy, however, you need to make sure that you are feeding your bearded dragon the right types of insects and vegetables. Owners should also ensure that the bearded dragon receives adequate amounts of calcium and other nutrients so that they can continue to have strong bones and do not suffer from mineral or nutrient deficiencies.
The bearded dragon’s diet usually consists mainly of insects. The most commonly fed insect is the cricket. Crickets are good for bearded dragons of all ages. The bearded dragon lizard will also appreciate a wide variety of different insects. Large bearded dragons enjoy having a choice of mealworms, superworms, silkworms, and waxworms. Wax worms are high in fat content and it is suggested that you do not overfeed them but instead give them to your bearded dragon as one more treat. The young bearded dragon should not have mealworms, as the mealworm has a large amount of indigestible chitin. These worms will cause a young bearded dragon to suffer an impaction, which can be fatal. If you decide to round up some outside bugs for your bearded dragon, make sure they are free of pesticides. You also don’t want to feed your bearded dragon lightning bugs. There have been several bearded dragons that have died from eating just one lightning bug.
Crickets are generally available at all pet stores. They can also be purchased through wholesale outlets that will deliver them to your home to feed your bearded dragon. Crickets will require a home of their own and will generally do well in a five to ten gallon fish tank. Provide some kind of hiding place for the crickets as they need to be able to hide from each other. Crickets are known to eat each other, which will leave fewer crickets to feed the bearded dragon. Empty egg cartons and other pieces of cardboard will allow crickets to hide. The crickets will also need to be well fed before giving them to your bearded dragon. Crickets will eat a variety of different foods, including vegetables, oatmeal, dry milk, alfalfa hay, dog or cat food, and cricket food. Crickets will also need a damp sponge as a source of water and moisture. The crickets will drain in a dish of water.
Young bearded dragons have very large appetites; this is because they have rapid growth in their first year. If your young bearded dragon lizard isn’t showing a big appetite, there’s an underlying problem somewhere. Young dragons may develop food shocks or may simply be intimidated by their cage mates. They must also have a body temperature of one hundred degrees before they can digest their food. New bearded dragon lizards may also have a hard time adjusting to their new homes and may require a few days before they are ready to eat.
Many owners may also have a separate feeding cage. This allows you to not have to worry about food and insects causing your usual habitat to get dirty and develop odors. The bearded dragon feeding cage can be a very simple cage that allows the bearded dragon to stay warm enough to eat but does not require all the other features such as peat. You can also have several different types of dishes for different types of insects or food. This makes cleaning the cage much easier. The bearded dragon’s feeding frequency will vary with age. Bearded dragon bodies need to warm up before they can digest their food, so you’ll want to feed them about an hour after the lights have come on. Timers will make this process easier for you, as you can simply set the lights to come on an hour before you wake up in the mornings. You’ll also want to give your bearded dragon all of the food it will eat at one time. Each bearded dragon can eat between five and twenty crickets. Adults will benefit from fresh vegetables and fruits every other day. The worms can be kept in a dish with some potato, as they also need food. Gravid or pregnant females will require more feeding time. Gravid females will appreciate the Waxworm treats. You must also get enough calcium in your diet. The pregnant female bearded dragon should have her UVB lights increased and calcium supplementation increased.
The bearded dragon’s diet should also consist of appropriate fruits and vegetables. Some bearded dragon lizards may have a hard time eating them by the fist, but there are several tips to help them learn. Vegetables should be offered every other day and they should also be offered a wide variety. Most bearded dragons will enjoy kale, mustard greens, collard greens, parsley, carrot tops, turnip greens, romaine lettuce, and endive. To vary the diet, you can also add bok choi, red cabbage and endive, and cilantro. These dark green vegetables are high in calcium and will be very beneficial to your bearded dragon. Avoid spinach as it contains oxalic acid, which causes calcium to bind, which we want to avoid. Iceberg lettuce should also be avoided because it is mostly made up of fiber and water with no nutritional value. Other vegetables and fruits can include peas, broccoli, bell peppers, grapes, cantaloupe, raspberries, and bananas.
A well-rounded diet with plenty of variety will keep your bearded dragons strong and healthy. Avoid those foods that have little nutritional value and be sure to wash all vegetables and fruits well before feeding to remove any pesticide residue.