Hand feeding your bearded dragon is very important for your pet’s health. You can feed it fruits, invertebrates, and mealworms. You should feed your beardie slowly so that it won’t choke. To make hand feeding your beardie easier, here are some helpful tips:
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Mealworms
When it comes to feeding your bearded dragon, you can do two things: hand feed them, or buy them from a pet store. If you choose to hand feed your dragon mealworms, it is important to know that they are not the best choice for every beardie. Mealworms are high in fat and often contain too much phosphorus for a beardie’s diet. They also don’t represent the full range of nutrients and cannot be gut-loaded like primary feeder insects.
To feed your beardie with mealworms, make sure they fit comfortably in its mouth. Use two to three mealworms at a time, and offer a variety of sizes and shapes. A smaller worm will fit in the mouth easier than a large one. Make sure the worms have minimal leftover ends, or your dragon will end up with impaction. Once you get your beardie to eat mealworms, be sure to offer it a variety of other insects.
Fruits
There are several fruits and vegetables you can offer your beardie. While some people stick to serving salads to their dragons, you can also give them non-green vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower. While most vegetables are safe for beardie hand feeding, some may not be safe to feed to your dragon. To help you choose the safest fruits and vegetables to offer your beardie, here are some tips:
Apples are a great choice for your dragon as they are high in vitamin C and contain no oxalates. Apples are also good options, but remember to peel them before feeding. Watermelon is not very nutritious, so you should limit your beardie’s fruit intake to once a week. Grapes should be chopped into quarters to avoid choking. Apples can be served occasionally, but should always be served with plenty of water to ensure they don’t become too dry.
Insects
During the bromation period, your bearded dragon must be kept warm by giving them a warm bath or shower with drops of water. Feeding live insects to your dragon can be as simple as hand feeding it, but you should also take into account its size and age when selecting what to feed him. Remember, babies need more protein and fat than adults and should receive at least 80% insects and 20% vegetables.
To properly feed your beardied dragon, select a variety of bugs that fit within 15 minutes of being added to the tank. If the beardie doesn’t eat enough insects in 15 minutes, collect them and save them for the next feeding. If you leave live bugs in the tank for too long, they may burrow and overeat. To avoid this, only feed them once every two to three days. Using tongs or tweezers is the best way to hand feed your beardie dragon.
Time to feed
The best time to start a new routine with your pet is by hand-feeding him a protein-rich salad. You can also feed him small insects, but make sure to leave enough time for him to eat. Remember that the metabolism of an adult beardie differs from that of a baby, so don’t force him to eat for too long. You should try to feed him two or three times a week and give him enough insects to enjoy.
Start by offering your beardie some fresh leafy green vegetables. This will allow him to pick at them at will. You don’t have to give him a lot at one time, so keep fresh vegetables in the cabinet. Avoid giving him long-cut insects, such as crickets, because it could lead to impaction. The last thing you want is for him to choke on his own food. Rather, serve bite-sized portions of vegetables to your beardie every few hours.
Force feeding
You can force-feed your bearded dragon by using a syringe filled with food. Use a size twelve or 14 gauge needle with a larger hole. Fill the syringe with 2ml of food for every 100 grams of your dragon’s weight. While holding your beardie in a vertical position, slowly insert the syringe into its mouth. The syringe should be pushed down the side of its throat until the tip of the tube touches the dragon’s throat.
While it’s possible to force feed your beardie, you should use extreme care when doing so. Force feeding can cause negative associations with mealtime and destroy the bond between the beardie and its owner. Only force feeding is necessary in serious situations, and you should always consult a reptile veterinarian before you do it. Here are some things you should keep in mind while force feeding your beardie:
