Bearded Dragon Diet
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Bearded dragons eat both fruits and vegetables as well as insects, which makes them omnivorous. When feeding a bearded dragon you need to make sure that you can provide both a feeder insect as well as fruits and vegetables. One without the other, means an unhealthy lizard.
Age should always be taken into consideration when feeding a bearded dragon. Baby and juvenile beardies need to have more proteins in the diet to supplement for growing bones and tissues, but they should still be provided with veggies. An adult bearded dragon diet should consist of mostly fruits and veggies.
Baby bearded dragons should be given as many feeder insects as he will eat within 15 minutes, all uneaten insects should be removed. This should be done every other day. But, you're not getting away with just feeder insects when raising a bearded dragon. You should still provide him with fruits and vegetables DAILY, even if he doesn't eat them. Having the vegetation in the tank with him, will get him used to seeing it, so when he is older he will be more likely to eat the veggies on his own.
As for adults, they can be given feeder insects twice a week, and again, never leave uneaten insects in the tank. So, after about fifteen minutes, remove the uneaten insects. As for fresh fruits and vegetables, provide them daily.
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Bearded Dragon- Feeder Insects
Now, at this point I'm sure you're still trying to figure out what to feed bearded dragons. Well, here we go...
FEEDER INSECTS: As for feeder insects, the rule of thumb for all reptiles is to not feed anything larger than the width between the eyes. So, you need to appropriately size insects for the age and size of your bearded dragon. Some insects that are good staples include:
- Crickets
- Mealworms
- Roaches
- Superworms (can only be fed to adult bearded dragons, due to their hard exoskeletons)
- Silkworms
Fruits
Fruits that are appropriate for bearded dragons include:
- Strawberries
- Apricots
- Mango
- Melon
- Blackberries
- Raspberries
- Blueberries
- Peaches
- Cantelope
- Apples
- Pears
- Grapes
Vegetables
As for vegetables that you can give your bearded dragon, you can feed it just about anything that you eat yourself.
Vegetables that you can feed your bearded dragon include:
- Romaine Lettuce
- Kale
- Collard greens
- Chicory
- Cucumber
- Carrots
- Squash
- Zucchini
- Spinach
- Peas
- Green beans
- Broccoli
- Dandelion greens
- Cabbage
- Other thawed- frozen vegetables
Fruits and Veggies to Avoid
- Iceburg lettuce, as it is nothing more than a filler with absolutely no nutritional value
- Tomatoes
- Lemons
- Oranges
- Other acidic fruits and vegetables
Alot of times I got to the grocery store and purchase the pre-mixed bags of vegetables. Pre-mixed salad mixes are a great vegetable staple, and they're quick and easy to have on hand.
Water
Water can be given in the form of a water bowl kept in the aquarium, baths, or a spray. It is not really recommended to spray the bearded dragon as it can raise the humidity levels in the tank.
A breeder once told me that she doesn't provide water because all the water they need can be gained from eating fruits and vegetables that tend to hold water, such as squash and zucchini. Using this method, you should let you bearded dragon have a bath at least once or twice a week. Babies require baths more often that adults.
When I say "bath," I do not mean soap and water, lather, rinse, and repeat. What I mean by 'bath' is warm water in a large tupperware, sink, or bathtub, depending on the size of the beardy, and letting it hang out for a little while in the water.
Reptile Vitamins
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Supplements
ALWAYS add supplements to your bearded dragon's diet. Dust the feeder insects with calcium at least three times a week, and a vitamin/mineral dust at least twice a week. Supplement at least once a week a calcium PLUS d3 powder.
You can, also, sprinkle the vitamin or calcium powder over the veggies. OR, Fluker's has a vitamin spray that you can purse to spray on top of the veggies in order in ensure that you bearded dragon is getting his proper nutrition.
Without calcium and vitamins, your bearded dragon can end up getting metabolic bone disease, or suffer other illnesses.
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Comments
grat i like this site <><
thanks this relly helps
I have a bearded dragon that is one year old and just found out he needed veggies w/crikets. He is very small for his size as if he is 1 mo. old, will he grow bigger if fed correctley now?
Is it one month or one year? One month definately! One year, it may plump up, but may not grow in length. You should definately begin adding fruits and veggies to the diet as soon as possible, as this can cause serious health concerns. I have heard of beardies not being fed produce and after a year or so, eventualy getting MBD and other health concerns that can be fatal. As the produce provides essential nutrients. The crickets and such are great for younger beardies, but as they age they need more vitamins and such and fewer protein items (the crickets). Continue with the crickets, but definately add some of the above produce to the diet.
thanks! Unfortunatly he is a year and we are giving oscar as much fruits and veggies as he needs.
He should be fine as long as you start feeding him his produce now, and supplement them. I would recommend a spray vitamin for the veggies. But, a vitamin/mineral supplement twice a week, calcium + D3 once a week, and plain calcium the rest of the week.
are the supplements REALLY that necessary? i have had my beardie for about a month (he's about 4-6 months old), he has eaten mealworms everyday, w/ the option of veggies as well(i give him them daily, however he refuses to eat them), and "gut-loaded" crickets on every friday. he seems to be pretty healthy as it goes, but i wish he would eat more fruits and vegetables.
he got MEGA-MOODY the other day, and for the first time, he puffed up his beard and got all angry at me. it was when i tried to get him out of his terrarium to spray him down and do the daily handling/feeding/cage cleaning ritual. is that normal?
i dont know, i just like to talk beardies and this seems like a good place to do so. lemme know, ill be around. late
-Remy
drummerdragon- Supplements are a must!!! Without supplements you risk your beardy getting MBD ( http://hubpages.com/_reptilehelp/hub/Metabolic_Bon ) and other health concerns that are related to vitamin deficiencies.
I would like to share that I did a sort of experiment with supplements and one of my bearded dragons. She is a very healthy big girl, who has been supplemented with vitamins/minerals, calcium, and calcium + D3 since I've had her, at 8 weeks old. Last year, she was about 3 years old, and I did not provide her with supplements for over a period of a few months. At the end, she began showing the beginning signs of MBD, with loose ligaments in her front ankle joints. I immediately began supplementing again, and to boost what she lacked started her on liquid calcium. In less than a month al signs diminished. If I had let it go further, she could have progressed seriously into MBD.
As for getting the beardy to eat the veggies, does he eat any- just a few, or none? If it's just a few, that's better than none. If it's none, you can try hand feeding, not forcefeed, but holding the produce in front of him and wiggling it a bit. After some time doing this, you should be able to get him eating from a bowl. It took me a while to get one of my beardies eating from a bowl, but she successfully eats on her own now.
Find what he likes to eat most, and mix that in every day. I've found my girls love mango, so I can ensure they'll eat all their veggies by adding a bit of mango throughout their salad bowl.
thanks alot! i'll keep you updated, and i'll go get those supplements right away! but you'll be happy to know he shows no signs of MBD, so we're still in the clear, and I'm going to a herp vet tomorrow for an initial consultation, any suggestions of things to look for/ask in a good herp vet? thanks.
-Remy
My dragon is full grown when i got him i bought a mouse and was stuck with a pet for two weeks why wont he eat mouse is it case of the time of the year or because its new
Even though the bearded dragon is full grown, it may not be able to eat a mouse. I have 2 bearded dragons- both full grown, and only one is able to eat mice- frozen ones. It's not the ideal to feed live rodents to any reptile- snakes or lizards.
Mice are actually too large for most bearded dragons to eat, and because they are bigger than the space between the bearded dragon's eyes, it can cause impaction. I only feed my bearded dragon's mice when my snake won't eat them. I don't like to waste frozen rodents, so if I thaw one out and he won't eat (such as in the cooler months), my larger beardy gets it. Even still, sometimes she opts not to take it.
Some bearded dragon's don't like mice, so that could be the case.
If you're temperatures are correct within the enclosure, then the outside weather should not affect whether or not the bearded dragon eats. Mine females are 4 years old, and have never once been affected by season changes.
There's really no need to feed a bearded dragon a mouse or any rodent, but if you really want to, I'd suggest a fuzzy or hopper. Pinkie mice are too fatty and adult mice are too large.
thanks that realy helped can razor my lizzard eat chpped up food
Avoid most meats, dairy, fats, grains, carbs, etc...
I wouldn't suggest it really. You can try cooked turkey and chicken, but not often. Other than that, try to stick with fruits and veggies, raw is better as the essential vitamins and minerals have not been cooked out.
hey were can i get the vitamin supplement to put on the vegatables?? and what is it called??
If you're talking about the spray vitamin, you can find it at most pet stores. PetCo has one brand. I added a link, above, to one brand.
IVE JUST FOUND THIS SITE AND HAVE FOUND THE INFO VERY GOOD.I HAV A 6 MONTH OLD BEARDY CALLED BEZ AND I FIND HIM AMAZING.
Thanks for information! I just got a bearded dragon and this site was very helpful!
yeh thx gr8 web page i have an 8 week old dragon and this has helped me lots
Vitamin Spray or Vitamin Powder, which is better to use on a BD's food?
I'd make sure to keep a schedule of calcium, calcium+D3, and vitamin powder for coating feeders. As for produce, I use calcium powder plus vitamin spray. But I still use the powder. I would suggest having both on hand, but not using them together. Use the spray or the powder at one time, but not simultaneously.
I have new beared dragon, I would say he is at least 5 to 8 weeks old, he's only eating about 4 crickets a day & I have phoenix worms on the way, he is offered greens/salad each day but doesn't eat them. I read elsewhere to give the vitamins WITHOUT d3 to a very young one like that.....is this correct or what should I really give him for vitamins, right now I use the repcal Herptivite Multivitamins w/Calcium, is this safe & phosphorus free? So while he is this young, I guess I need to know exactly what vitamins to give or avoid giving him for right now. Thanks in advance. :)
Bearded dragons need with and without D3. I'd say that you should offer more crickets daily. Growing bearded dragons need more protein than adult bearded dragons. Also, it's normal for reptiles from pet stores (not saying that's where you got it) to not eat their veggies. You still need to offer them daily. They'll get used to seeing them and begin eating.
My first bearded dragon refused her greens for about a year before she started eting them on her own. Now she loves them.
You need to provide calcium without D3 3 times a week. Calcium WITH D3 twice a week. Vitamins once a week. Generally, speaking.
Also, make sure that you have UV lighting, as it's absolutely necessary for diurnal reptiles.
Thank you. Yes, unfortunately he did come from a pet store, there is no breeders in our area, we're very rural. Ok so I'm on my way to order some calcium with & without d3. I just got pinhead crickets too which are WAYYY smaller than the ones he's been eating so maybe he'll eat more of those tiny ones, I was offering him as many as he wanted but he'd only eat about 4 at the most. I also just got some phoenix worms & they're the size of maggots, I'm trying to see if he'll eat those right now. Yes we got the UV light also & I plan on putting his veggies in every day. Thanks so much for the reply. :)
He should be eating more crickets, but a few is better than none. If he stops eating altogether, you'll want find a reptile vet to rule out parasites. Sometimes pet store reptiles can have internal parasites. Also, make sure to not use sand or any loose substrate, and to allow him to get at least 6 inches from the UV, if you're using a tube. You may have to trick him with the veggies, wiggling them in front of his face. Phoenix worms are good for calcium. I'd also consider discoid roaches. They're a great feeder. My beardies love them, and it takes fewer to fill them up. You'll just want to stick with nymphs and not adults until he's bigger.
yea I have aquarium carpet in there & he's now eating a few phoenix worms with his crickets today. I have a reptile specialist that we have used for our mountain horned dragon so if it gets any less I will take him there.
I have him near a window & it's been 80 degrees here, I'm getting an indoor/outdoor thermometer tonite to use in there and I've been rotating, using a household lightbulb & the night black heat spotlight (I was told this was the right kind), & its mounted in a ceramic reflector dome, if he needs anything different I can get it. Wow now that I have one I'm realizing how much different & complicated they are than mountain horned dragons lol. Thanks again for your help. I love this little guy & will do whatever it takes. :)
Your temps are WAY too low. They need to be closer to 100F. You may consider a UTH to help with the temps and a higher watt bulb. Also, keeping the tank by a window can either cool the enclosure when the outside temps are low or over heat the enclosure when the outside temps are hot. Definitely get a digital thermometer with a probe to accurately measure the temps. The stick on ones suck, even if you put them on the surface of the tank. They're far from accurate.
Oh no, I mean out temp outside, our weather has been 80 degrees, not in his cage, it's a lot higher in his enclosure. And he's been near a window in the sunlight, but also not getting too hot either.
OOOO.. Gotcha. I misunderstood. A digtial thermometer is still a good thing.
MY BEARDY IS ABOUT 3YEARS OLD AND HER NAILS ARE GETTING PRETTY LONG. i'VE HEARD THAT THE NAILS SHOULD WEAR DOWN DUE TO CLIMBING AND SUCH, BUT THE NAILS ARE STILL REALLY LONG. WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST?
This morning, I picked up my BD out of his tank and he had black shades embedded in his skin on both the left & right sides. I put him in the bath tub later to soak in some water and when I pulled him out of the tub they were gone. What could be causing this?
Patrick You can trim them, just be sure not to clip the quick (the vein).
Dan, bearded dragons tend to get darker in the morning and cooler parts of the day because when they are near black they absorb more heat. When they are in need of more heat their colors really tend to fade. The morning time is probably the most common time to see black pigments in them. When you soaked it in warm water, you warmed him up. I assume. Now, I'd need more information if you don't think this is it. Otherwise, it's normal, and when the lights turn on, the enclosure will heat up more. Just keep the UTH on at all times. The enclosure tends to stabilize better this way.
ok...I got the trimming thing, but the nails are causing her toes to curl under. the quick almost goes to the end of the nail...should i still just trim them?
By just trimming the end of the naill, the quick will start to recess just a little, You should be able trim the nail every few days until they are no longer curling under her.
thanks for your help!
Hi Whitney, I just thought I'd leave a comment, again thanks for your info. I have all the supplements & lighting & temps he/she needs & on friday he started eating about 16 pinhead crickets & about 11 phoenix worms. He ate a little more than that yesterday & even more today. I've had him a week and 3 days & I guess he's finally comfortable. I really love this little guy!!! I put his veggies in every day & a few bites of grapes, I never expect him to eat them cuz he is still very young, I'd say 6-8 weeks max....well I put his salad in today after he ate his bugs & 10 minutes later walked by & was very surprised to see him on the plate eating his salad!!! He must be doing real good. He's already spoiled as he sits in the front of his enclosure watching me each time as I drop a worm in & eats it each time, then looks at me for more. He's great! Now I just can't wait for him to get bigger & eat a variety of veggies & fruits.
Now for a question....I know he can eat as many crickets as he can in 15 minutes, what about the phoenix worms? He likes to eat as many of them as he does crickets. Is this ok? Or can you overfeed these guys? Then about 4 hours later he will eat even more crickets & worms. Is this okay?
And.....with him being so young, can he have most of the fruits on your list? So far I've given him just a taste of grapes each day.
Thanks again, so much. :)Jen
You can leave the phoenix worms in a bowl to sit in the tank, if you'd like. Because generally they won't/can't climb out of a bowl with a small lip, you shouldn't have any problems. The rule of 15 minutes is so that you don't leave crickets in the tank all the time, as that cal cause the crickets to much on the reptile, leaving wounds that can get very irritated and infected.
There shouldn't be a problem whatsoever with you feeding him any and all of the fruits and veggies on the list. Just remember that fruits can cause runny stool, so make sure to mix in greens for roughage.
i cleaned my beardies vierium out 2 days ago and when i put him back in he was fine but about 1hour and a half later he had 1 eye open and 1 closed and it still hasnt changed does any1 no wats wrong ????????????
I'm not sure of the substrate, but could he have gotten dust in his eye, if you're using a sand substrate? Check to see if anything is in the eye, flush it with saline.
working
teell2 says:
7 months ago
Thank you for a great hub; interesting article. I want to try out this diet at least for a week or two.