If you’re wondering what foods to feed bearded dragons, there are a few things that you can try. These include fruit, vegetables, mealworms, and lightening bugs. This article will discuss the benefits of these foods for your dragon. You may also consider adding some crickets or other bugs to your beardie’s diet. But be careful: don’t overfeed your dragon! Remember that insects can cause waste, so you should provide smaller portions the next time.
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Fruit
Many fruit options are safe for your Beardie. Grapes, cantaloupe, apricots, and strawberries are rich in calcium and vitamin A. Be sure to wash and dice the fruit before feeding it to your Beardie. Cherries are high in potassium, but are safe in small amounts. Bananas and apples are high in phosphorous and should be served sparingly. Grapes are also a good choice for your Beardie, but make sure to peel them first and cut them into small pieces.
The best fruits to feed bearded dragons are not high in sugar or acidity. Oranges are particularly acidic and may damage your beardie’s digestive system. Other fruits that bearded dragons can eat include apricots, strawberries, dates, and raspberries. Try to keep the amount of oranges you feed your beardie to a minimum. However, you can add more than one orange per day if you want.
Vegetables
Various vegetables can be fed to bearded dragons. Most of these vegetables should be cut into bite-sized pieces because the beardies can easily grab them with their tongues. Avoid feeding your dragon lettuce, which is high in water and may cause diarrhea. Spinach, on the other hand, is high in calcium and has laxative qualities. Lastly, fruits like cucumbers and cactus are excellent treats for your beardie.
Vegetables are good for your beardie, but you should vary their diet with a variety of vegetables every once in a while. Try serving small salads to your beardie so it can get a varied diet. Avoid feeding your beardie lettuce because it is largely made up of water and will result in diarrhea. Cucumbers are also safe to feed beardies and contain high amounts of fiber and vitamin C.
Mealworms
Mealworms are a good food for bearded dragons, and they can be a great way to add more variety to your pet’s diet. These mealworms contain a low amount of phosphorus and high levels of calcium. Bearded dragons have a high need for calcium and vitamin D3, but too much phosphorus in their diet can prevent the formation of D3 and the absorption of calcium. To ensure proper health, you should feed your beardie a balanced mix of calcium and phosphorus. This is easily achieved with mealworms, which contain a phosphorus to calcium ratio of 0.33:1.
The best way to ensure that your beardie gets the highest possible amount of protein is to buy mealworms that are fresh. Keeping them in the fridge can result in mealworms becoming dormant, which is harmful for your beardie. Always place them in a shallow bowl, as they will be unable to move if they are dead. Another way to ensure that your beardie gets the most protein from his food is to provide him with calcium supplements.
Lightening bugs
One common mistake pet owners make when trying to feed their bearded dragons is feeding them fireflies. While these bugs are tasty and can make for an entertaining meal for bearded dragons, they can be deadly. The chemicals in fireflies can be toxic to bearded dragons, and they may suffer digestive upset, seizures, and even death. For these reasons, it is best not to feed your beardie lightning bugs.
The chemical lucibufagin, which is responsible for the firefly’s bioluminescence, has been linked to a range of diseases in lizards. Although this compound is generally not harmful to bearded dragons, it is toxic to many other animals. Some research has shown that the chemical lucibufagin is toxic to many species of chameleons, lizards, and birds. Hence, it is best to feed bearded dragons other safe insects and plants.
Plant matter
In general, bearded dragons need to eat at least 75% meat and 25% plant matter. They need more protein as juveniles but less as adults. They need a varied diet that includes a wide variety of insects, plant matter, and fruits and vegetables. You can follow a feeding chart to make sure your beardie is getting the right amount of both types of food. You can even add some crickets to their diet.
Almost any type of plant matter will do, but you should focus on leafy dark greens for the best results. Kale and collard greens are excellent examples of this. You can also feed them alfalfa hay and cilantro. Red and green cabbage are also good choices. These foods are high in calcium, and bearded dragons will enjoy the taste and texture.
