What do Bearded Dragons Eat?

Bearded dragons are omnivorous reptiles that eat a variety of items in the wild. In captivity, they can be fed a wide range of foods, including fruits, vegetables, and insects. Some of the most common items that bearded dragons can eat in captivity include apples, oranges, grapes, broccoli, carrots, and crickets. Bearded dragons typically eat once or twice a day, depending on their age and size.

What Can Bearded Dragons Eat?

Fruits:

Apples, oranges, grapes, and other fruits make great snacks for bearded dragons. Bearded dragons can eat most fruits, but they should avoid citrus fruits like lemons and limes. Fruits should only make up a small part of a bearded dragon’s diet, as they are high in sugar.

Vegetables:

Broccoli, carrots, sweet potatoes, and other vegetables are an important part of a bearded dragon’s diet. Bearded dragons should eat a variety of vegetables every day. Vegetables should make up the majority of a bearded dragon’s diet, as they are packed with nutrients.

Insects:

Crickets, mealworms, and other insects are a great source of protein for bearded dragons. Bearded dragons should eat a few insects every day. Insects should make up a small part of a bearded dragon’s diet, as they are high in fat.

Descriptions of what bearded dragons can eat:

Beardies’ diet consists of a wide range of items, including insects, small vertebrates, greens, veggies, and fruits.

Below are the main categories of bearded dragon’s diet;

• Ants and beetles.
• Dubia roaches, earthworms, crickets, and super worms.
• Collard greens, dandelion greens, and kale.
• Grapes, bananas, apples, strawberries, watermelon and blueberries.

Are they picky eaters?

No, they’re not.

They will try to eat anything that moves.

However, you should avoid feeding them poisonous insects or animals. Crickets and mealworms are their favorite foods, although they will eat anything you put in front of them. With their powerful jaws, they crush crickets and mealworms and consume them every day.

Adults should be fed once a day in captivity, although they require distinct nutrients at various life stages.

Because juvenile animals are rapidly developing, they require more protein. Juveniles should be fed three times a day. In comparison to adults who eat fewer insects and more fruits and vegetables, youngsters should consume a diet that is mostly insect-based.

Hatchlings should be fed crickets on a regular basis. Adults, youngsters, and hatchlings all require adequate food and nutrients to stay healthy. Twice a week, give your bearded dragon calcium powder to supplement his diet. Calcium is required for bone growth, neurological function, and a host of other bodily functions. Creating their meal may be stressful.

Hatchlings should be fed; 100% live insects.

Young and juvenile dragons;

Young and juvenile dragons should be fed;

• 50% live insects
• 50% vegetables

Adults should be fed;

• 70% vegetables
• 30% live insects

Begin feeding two crickets every ten to fifteen minutes at the hatchling stage. Feed them less often as they mature until they are fed three times a day at two months of age.

Typical bearded dragon feeding schedule;

• 10x crickets at 1 pm
• 2x small kale leaves, and 1x small pumpkin piece at 1 pm
• 1x blueberry at 1 pm

Repeat the same in the evening.

Keep in mind that, before feeding, any greens, vegetables, and fruits should be cut into small bites. The distance between your bearded dragon’s eyes is the best guideline for piece size.

Large bites of food can cause gastrointestinal problems.

Your Bearded Dragon’s diet will alter as they grow older. At 18 months old, beardies become adults.

They become less active and do not require a high-protein diet like youngsters and hatchlings. They may gradually be transitioned to an adult’s diet at around this age.

Note: Do not feed them before they shed their skin as this can lead to digestive impaction.

Feeding Bearded Dragon Adults:

Adults should be fed once a day. Get vegetables and fruits to provide 75 percent of the diet, with insects and vertebrates making up the remaining 25%.

This can be a typical feeding schedule for an adult beardie;

• 5x crickets, 5x dubia roaches.
• Kale, collard greens, 2x sweet potato pieces, 2x bell pepper slices.
• 3x blueberries, 1x strawberry.

Bearded Dragon Food

• Dubia roaches, earthworms, crickets, and super worms.
• Apples, blueberries, peaches, strawberries and watermelon.
• Cabbage, carrots, collard greens, kale, pumpkin and sweet potato.

Dubiai roaches are high in protein and easy to break down, making them an excellent complement to a bearded dragon diet. Superworms and crickets can also be offered as a source of variety, but they aren’t as easy to digest. Collard greens, dandelion greens, and kale should all be fed in large amounts.

What Fruit Can Bearded Dragons Eat?

Bearded dragons can eat a wide variety of fruits, including blueberries, strawberries, watermelon, and cantaloupe. Fruits should only be fed as part of a varied diet and in moderation, as they are high in sugar.

What vegetables do bearded dragons eat?

A variety of vegetables can be offered to bearded dragons, including collard greens, dandelion greens, kale, turnip greens, and mustard greens. Other vegetables that can be given in moderation include carrots, sweet potatoes, bell peppers, and squash.

Can Bearded Dragons Eat:

Apples: Yes, apples are safe for bearded dragons to eat. Peel them and cut them into bite-sized pieces before serving.

Grapes: Yes, in moderation. They should be chopped into quarters to avoid choking.

Bananas: Yes, give bananas occasionally as they have a high phosphorous to calcium ratio which can be unhealthy.

Cherries: Yes, in moderation. Remove the pits to avoid choking.

Strawberries: Strawberries are delicious as a treat since they’re high in vitamins C, manganese, folate, and potassium. Because strawberries are high in oxalates, you shouldn’t feed them too often.

Watermelon: Yes, they can eat but they are not nutritionally dense and aren’t the greatest food to feed, they should be fed in moderation.

Blueberries: Yes, blueberries are safe to feed occasionally. They’re abundant in vitamin C and K. Don’t offer too many since they’re high in oxalates, which can prevent your bearded dragon from getting adequate calcium.

Oranges: No. It’s not a good idea to offer oranges or other citrus fruits like lemons and limes to your beardie. These fruits are too acidic for bearded dragons, which can lead to stomach discomfort and other health concerns.

Raspberries: Yes, raspberries can be fed to bearded dragons on occasion. Raspberries are high in vitamins C, potassium, and antioxidants and contain many important nutrients.

What Vegetables Can Bearded Dragons Eat?

A variety of vegetables can be offered to bearded dragons, including collard greens, dandelion greens, kale, turnip greens, and mustard greens. Other vegetables that can be given in moderation include carrots, sweet potatoes, bell peppers, and squash.

Can Bearded Dragons eat:

Spinach is not recommended. If fed too often, spinach binds to calcium and can cause a calcium deficit in your bearded dragon.

Yes, Kale is high in calcium, vitamin C, vitamins K and A, as well as folate. Kale can be fed on a daily basis and should be included in your diet.

Carrots: Occasionally, if carrots are not tolerated by cats who have been fed vet-prescribed diets that include grains. Carrots should only be given on rare occasions since too much vitamin A can cause toxicity. Include the green top of the carrot as part of your diet.

Zucchini: It’s perfectly fine to feed zucchini, but it doesn’t offer a lot of nutrients.

Broccoli is a good source of vitamin A, thiamine, C, and K.

Celery: Celery is largely water and has low nutritional value.

Tomatoes: Tomatoes are low in oxalates yet high in vitamin A, C, K, and folate.

Yes. Cabbage may be fed to bearded dragons on rare occasions since it is high in vitamin C.

What Can’t Bearded Dragons Eat?

Avocado: The avocado fruit, leaves, and tree are all poisonous to bearded dragons.

Cherry: The cherry pits contain cyanide, which is poisonous to bearded dragons.

Rhubarb: Rhubarb leaves are poisonous to bearded dragons.

Potatoes: Green potatoes contain solanine, which is poisonous to bearded dragons.

Beans: Beans contain high levels of phytic acid, which can bind to calcium and other minerals and prevent their absorption.

Nuts: Nuts are generally too high in fat and phosphorus for bearded dragons.