One of the best ways to keep your bearded dragon healthy is to feed them only raw fruits and vegetables. While spinach and other leafy greens are okay to feed your dragon, they can cause a deficiency in calcium. Another great food for your beardie is kale, which is high in calcium, vitamin C, and vitamin A. However, don’t feed your beardie carrots, which contain vitamin A, even if the green tops are safe to eat. Zucchini, on the other hand, is safe to feed to your beardie, although it doesn’t contain many nutrients.
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Avoiding foods for bearded dragons
There are some foods you should avoid feeding your Bearded dragon, so you can keep him healthy. Red and green sweet peppers are bad for your pet as they have high Phosphorus and calcium content. Avocados are toxic and may seriously injure your dragon. Avocados are also very acidic, so avoid feeding them to keep your beardie happy and healthy. However, don’t worry if you don’t eat these foods yourself.
You shouldn’t feed your beardie any commercial insects, such as mealworms, butterworms, waxworms, and Superworms. These insects contain trace amounts of pesticides and parasites, and can poison your beardie. You can purchase safe feeder insects from your local pet store or online. As much as possible, you should feed your beardie vegetables and fruits. A handful of berries and avocados is fine.
Fruits
While vegetables are considered safe to feed your bearded dragon, celery should be avoided. Celery contains calcium and is toxic to bearded dragons. However, kale is an excellent choice for your beardie’s diet, as it is high in calcium, vitamin A, and C. You can serve kale to your beardie a few times a week. To ensure its safety, be sure to remove the stem and chop the leaves finely before feeding. Zucchini is also safe, but it does not contain many nutrients.
Apples are a great source of calcium and fiber and are considered a safe food for your beardie. Apples contain the seeds, but the skin is safe for your beardie. Watermelon, meanwhile, contains a lot of water and is an excellent source of vitamin A. While it may be acidic for your beardie to eat, it is a great way to get in some vitamin C. Mangos are also a great choice because they have high fiber content and vitamin A and E.
Insects
The best diet for your bearded dragon includes an abundance of fresh bugs. The ideal mix is 80% insects and 20% plant matter. When your beardie is young, you should feed it insects twice or three times a day. Remember to adjust the amount of food you give them based on their size. For babies, feed them insects more than vegetables. They also need more frequent feedings than adult beardies. Baby beardies should be fed at least three times a day, with a 10 to 15 minute feeding window.
Worms, mealworms, and crickets are ideal. You can also give your beardie occasional grass snacks, but try to avoid them if possible. Moreover, you must make sure that your beardie roams around in a pesticide-free area. Worms bred especially for bearded dragons are a good choice. But be aware that worms bought at bait stores or dug by yourself might contain parasites.
Bread
Although bread is one of the bearded dragon’s safe foods, it is not suitable for regular feeding. This is mainly because it contains high amounts of carbohydrates. Although bread can be beneficial for your beardie, too much of it can lead to diarrhea. Bread also lacks essential vitamins and minerals and can cause digestive distress in your beardie. However, the bread is a great food for hiding meds and hiding a small amount of food in your beardie’s tummy.
The beardie needs protein and calcium, so vegetables are very important. Vegetables can give your beardie a good source of calcium. You can sprinkle calcium powder over your beardie’s food at least two or three times a week. Ideally, these supplements should be dusted on small pieces of salad. You can also mix up a general reptile mineral supplement and feed your beardie with this.