Although bearded dragons have become very popular, they are still considered an exotic pet. And as exotic pets, we should be very specific with the bearded dragon diet. What can they eat, and what should not be fed to bearded dragons?
This post will cover everything you need to know about feeding your bearded dragon.
Bearded Dragon Daily Diet
Bearded dragons are omnivorous, which means that a bearded dragon diet included both plants and animals.
To help young bearded dragons grow, their diet should consist of 80% insects and worms and the remaining 20% vegetables and fruits, although it is sometimes difficult to get young dragons to eat their vegetables.
Adult bearded dragons, on the other hand, are the opposite. Their diet should consist of 80% vegetables and fruits and 20% insects and larvae.
What kind of insects do bearded dragons eat?
Bearded dragons eat almost anything that moves, however, not all insects are safe or contain the necessary nutrients to grow or develop healthily. It is the responsibility of the owner to ensure nutritious insects. Below is a list of the insects used in bearded dragons’ regular diet:
| Cockroaches | Crickets | Roaches |
| Earthworms | Hornworms | King worms |
| Phoenix worms | Silkworms | Superworms |
| Butter worms | Mealworms | Waxworms |
You should never feed your bearded dragons with wild insects that you have found in your garden. There is a high probability that these insects are carriers of parasites or have been sprayed with pesticides. If so, you would be putting your pet’s health and life at risk by saving a few dollars.
Here are some examples of nutritious bugs and worms you can buy online.
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Can bearded dragon eat chicken?
Yes, the bearded dragon can eat chicken. But, neither by far chicken can be the cornerstone of his daily diet. Although chicken has a lot of fat and protein, this food is very heavy on the bearded dragon’s digestive system. In case you want to give him chicken, this would be rare. once or twice a month at the most. You’d prepare it overcooked and chopped into small pieces. Other reasons make chicken an occasional food. Its high-fat content and its calcium-phosphorus content are far from ideal.
Can bearded dragon eat mice?
Yes, the bearded dragon eats mice. Lab-grown mice called pinkie mice are very nutritious. These little mice provide a lot of protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals. They are an excellent source of calcium, but they provide too much fat. This can lead to obesity problems in the reptile or fat in the liver. These little mice should only be served to our bearded dragon after the egg-laying period. This process demands a lot of resources from the reptile, causing calcium deficiencies that can lead to metabolic bone disease.
Another case is after a period of illness such as impact. In these cases, our dragon must recover weight as soon as possible.
Does a bearded dragon eat veggies?
Many vegetables are safe in a bearded dragon diet. We have a list of over 50 safe vegetables to feed your bearded dragon on our bearded dragon diet page. Below is a list of the most common staple vegetables that you can feed your bearded dragon every day:
| Acorn squash | Artichoke Heart | Asparagus (Raw) | Yams (Raw) |
| Bell Peppers (Raw) | Bok choy | Butternut squash | Yellow squash |
| Cabbage (Raw) | Carrots | Celery | Parsnips |
| Chicory | Collard greens | Cucumber (Peeled) | Pumpkins |
| Lentils (Cooked) | Endive | Kale | Radicchio |
| Kohlrabi | Mustard greens | Okra (Raw) | Turnip greens |
Can bearded dragon eat spinach?
Bearded dragons can eat spinach, which is an excellent source of iron and calcium and other minerals. The problem is that spinach, beet leaves, and chard are high in calcium, but their high levels of a compound called oxalic acid bind with the calcium and reduce its absorption, which can cause nutritional problems. To decrease this effect you can boil the spinach leaves and feed them no more than twice a month.
Can bearded dragons eat carrots?
Yes, bearded dragons can eat carrots. Carrots are a great source of nutrition and vitamins, especially vitamin A and beta-carotene, which is excellent for bearded dragons. Although the carrot can be a little hard to chew. To solve this we suggest chopping up the carrot. You can also boil it, although this way you will lose many nutrients.
What fruits are best for bearded dragons?
Apart from plants and insects, bearded dragons also like fruit. The list of fruits that can be given as food is quite extensive and they are nutritious and safe to incorporate into your bearded dragon’s diet.
| Apples | Apricot | Blackberries | Prickly Pears |
| Blueberries | Cherries | Cranberries | Nectarine |
| Figs | Grapes | Grapefruit | Strawberries |
| Guava | Mangos | Melons | Watermelon |
| Papayas | Peaches | Pears | Chayote |
| Pineapple | Plum | Prunes | Raisins |
Can bearded dragon eat bananas?
Yes, they can. Bearded dragons can eat bananas, but sporadically. Excess banana intake affects reptiles’ calcium metabolism. This is due to their high content of phosphorus and their easy combination with calcium. I don’t want to be categorical, but if strictly necessary, I would only feed bananas to my bearded dragon twice a month. I don’t want him to develop MBD.
Can bearded dragon eat mango?
Yes, the Bearded Dragons can eat mango. The fruit should be cut into small pieces so that it is easier and safer for your dragon to eat the mango. Although they can eat mango, there are other much more nutritious and healthy fruits to feed your Bearded Dragon.
Can bearded dragon eat kiwi?
Yes, a bearded dragon can eat kiwi. Bearded Dragons love kiwi, but it should only be given occasionally as a reward. Fresh kiwi has a lot of vitamin C, but also a lot of oxalic acids. This acid can bind with calcium, reducing the bearded dragon’s calcium intake. This can lead to metabolic bone disease, something you do not want to happen.
Can bearded dragons eat raspberries?
Yes, bearded dragons can eat raspberries. Raspberries should be served in moderation. Apart from the fact that they may become overly tasty to our pet, not accepting any other food, raspberries create calcium oxalate crystals when digested. In this state, calcium is extremely difficult to digest and is expelled almost entirely in the feces. It can become a serious problem for the reptile’s health if it is not combined with a well-balanced diet.
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