A bearded dragon can eat several different kinds of foods. These foods include Fruits and Vegetables, Animal-based foods, and Crickets. You should always follow the instructions on the package carefully. You can only feed your dragon fruit once a week, though. If your beardie is not eating fruit at all, consider feeding it watermelon. You can also give him other types of baby food.
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Vegetables
When choosing a variety of fruits and vegetables to serve your beardie, consider their health and nutritional value. Depending on their size, beardies can eat many types of fruit, but you should limit the amount of sugar they get. When choosing vegetables, stick to calcium-to-phosphorus ratios, and avoid feeding them insects found around the house. Vegetables should be prepared in smaller pieces, and cut into bite-size chunks.
As with humans, a bearded dragon will be fussy about a change in diet and should be introduced to a variety of food gradually. For example, starting at about five months, daily vegetables should be fed, and occasional list items should be introduced after that. Vegetables should be offered to your beardie at least four times a week, and they should contain no more than 20% of their daily diet.
Fruit
If you are looking for a variety of fruits that your bearded dragon can eat, here are some ideas. Fruits like apples are a good choice, but you should make sure to wash them first and remove any pits and seeds. Cut them into bite-size pieces to avoid poisoning your pet. Bananas are a great source of vitamins and minerals and are safe for bearded dragons to eat on occasion. Bananas contain a high water content and fiber, so they help your beardie digest food better.
Other fruits a beardie can eat include cranberries. They provide moderate amounts of fiber and vitamin C, as well as some minerals. For additional nutrition, try providing dates, which are sweet edible fruits grown on date palm trees. Dates contain vitamins A, B1, C and E, as well as potassium. They are also good sources of calcium. A few pieces of melons a day can be a tasty treat for your beardie.
Animal-based foods
Several fruit-based food choices are safe for your beardie. Strawberries are especially good for your beardie because they contain a variety of essential nutrients, including vitamin C and K. But be careful: Strawberries are high in oxalates and could prevent your beardie from receiving sufficient calcium. Watermelon, on the other hand, is not nutritionally dense and contains high levels of oxalates.
Fruit is another easy way to offer your beardie plenty of vitamins and minerals. However, avoid providing them with fruits with high sugar levels, as they can choking hazards. Instead, give your beardie an occasional apple or banana, cut into quarters to prevent choking. Grapes are another excellent option, but you should remember to peel them first. Apples are also healthy and safe for beardies.
Some of the most nutritious live food for a beardie are horns worms and mealworms. While mealworms are high in chitin and difficult to digest, dubia roaches and superworms are great options for variety and are high in protein. You can also feed your beardie leafy greens, as they contain a high amount of calcium and are nutrient dense.
Crickets
The only downside to giving your bearded dragon crickets is that they can be difficult to manage, jump out of containers, and die easily. Worse, they’re more likely to contract parasites than most other feeders, so you should get regular fecal exams to make sure they aren’t infected. If you notice your beardie losing appetite or acting lethargically, it’s probably time to give it a break from crickets.
Initially, your beardie will need a smaller selection of crickets to grow into a more mature creature, so make sure to choose the right size for your pet. Baby bearded dragons are best fed pinhead-sized crickets, while medium-sized dragons should eat insects about 3 1/2 weeks old. Older crickets will have a harder exoskeleton, so be sure to select the right size for your beardie.
