Considered omnivores, a healthy bearded dragon needs a mix of food items such as live insects and certain leafy greens. Here is everything you need to know about a beardie's diet.
Bearded dragons need a variety of greens and vegetables, and it's important to know which ones are safe.
As hatchlings and juveniles, bearded dragons need about 80% protein and 20% vegetables. Some baby bearded dragons won't eat their veggies at all, but it is important to continue feeding them so that they are used to them being offered. Once bearded dragons reach maturity, the dietary ratio switches.
What Is A Bearded Dragon's Diet?
An adult bearded dragon's diet will consist of 80% vegetables and 20% insects. As they get older they will usually show more interest in vegetables.
What Vegetables Do Bearded Dragons Eat?
- Greens such as kale, arugula, mustard greens, collard greens, and endive.
- Squash of all kinds: Acorn squash, butternut squash, yellow squash, and spaghetti squash.
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Sweet potato
Vegetables and Fruits to Feed Occasionally:
- Spinach
- Turnip greens
- Pumpkins
- Okra
- Cucumbers (peeled)
- Apples
- Zucchini
- Berries like strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries.
- Mangos
- Melons
- Papayas
- Watermelon
- Bok Choy
What Shouldn't Bearded Dragons Eat?
- Mushrooms
- Citrus of all kinds
- Romaine or iceberg lettuce
A few things to note about foods to feed occasionally: fruits should be fed as supplemental foods or treats, as they are very high in sugar.
Why Bearded Dragons Shouldn't Be Fed Romaine or Iceberg Lettuce?
Both types of lettuce have an extremely high water content; while that isn't harmful to your bearded dragon, it means that those types of lettuce have little to no nutritional value. The high water content can also result in loose stools. Spinach, while very good for your bearded dragon, has the same effect.
What Do Baby Bearded Dragons Eat?
As mentioned above, sometimes it is hard to get a younger bearded dragon or a picky eater to eat their vegetables, it works best if you feed veggies with insects, because the insects will cause the beardie food to move which sometimes will peak their interest. You can also dust their veggies and insects with calcium powder to ensure they're getting the necessary vitamin D3 and calcium supplements.
Feeder insects to feed occasionally:
Live food such as:
- Superworms
- Earthworms
- Silkworms
- Mealworms
- Locusts
- Waxworms
- Dubia roaches
- Butterworms
Hagen Exo Terra Glass Terrarium
A bearded dragon enclosure, because feeding your beardie roaches anywhere else other than a terrarium just doesn't sound like a good idea. The reviews are wonderful! Many customers are happy with the space, and that each door can open separately. The bottom is also waterproof!
Daenerys Tagaryen who? You'll soon be the Mother of Dragons since you're all caught up with bearded dragon nutrition.
You can find a more complete list of bearded dragon diet, here.
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This post was originally published on April 15, 2016.
