Bearded dragons have become popular pet reptiles, and their well-being hinges significantly on proper nutrition. As omnivores, they thrive on a varied diet encompassing both animal- and plant-based foods. This guide provides comprehensive information on formulating the ideal diet for your bearded dragon, emphasizing the importance of balance, diversity, life stage considerations, and appropriate supplementation.
Understanding the Nutritional Needs of Bearded Dragons
The ideal diet for a bearded dragon is balanced, diverse, based on their life stage, and complete with vitamin and calcium supplementation. Bearded dragons should not be fed any diets designed for other animals or humans. Bearded dragons should also not be exclusively fed a commercial pelleted diet. Beardies require more diversity in their diet, as well as hydration from their food.
The Importance of a Balanced Diet
A common misperception around bearded dragon nutrition is that they only need and eat insects. A good way to ensure a balanced diet is to provide your bearded dragon a complete feed like Mazuri Bearded Dragon Diet. It may take time for your bearded dragon to adjust if they’re used to the movement of insects but by transitioning your bearded dragon to a complete pellet, you can trust they’re getting all the nutrients they need without the time intensity of properly housing and gut-loading insects.
Life Stage Considerations
Young bearded dragons eat insects for most of their diet. This changes as they mature and start to eat more vegetables and fruits. Adult dragons have different nutritional needs than juvenile dragons.
Key Components of a Bearded Dragon Diet
A well-rounded bearded dragon diet incorporates insects, vegetables, fruits, and appropriate supplements.
Read also: Is Mazuri Insectivore Diet Right for Your Glider?
Insects: The Protein Powerhouse
All insects fed to bearded dragons should be gut loaded for six to 12 hours prior to feeding to ensure nutrients are delivered to your bearded dragon. Live insects must be gut loaded with a nutrient-dense insect supplement to improve their nutritional value. Insects have a high phosphorus to calcium ratio. The best way to ensure your dragon is getting enough calcium is to “gut-load” all insects before feeding. Gut-loading is where insects are fed a diet high in calcium 24-72 hours prior to being fed to your dragon. These insect diets can be found at most pet stores. “Dusting” insects with powdered calcium supplements can provide additional calcium, but is not a substitute for appropriate “gut loading”. Store-bought insects such as crickets, roaches, superworms, wax worms, black soldier fly larvae, etc. Pinky mice may also be an option for your dragon as they can be a great source of calcium, especially for reproducing females.
Hatchling bearded dragons are fed small meals two to three times daily and tend to eat primarily small-moving prey, such as one- to two-week-old crickets. Prey items should not exceed 1/2 to 2/3 the width of the dragon’s head.
Vegetables and Salads: Essential Vitamins and Minerals
Salads can consist of a combination of the foods listed below. Salads should be offered at an early age. Juvenile bearded dragons should be offered food such as salads, vegetables and live prey items in combination daily. Adult bearded dragons should be fed salad and vegetables daily. Adult dragons can be fed everyday or every other day. Their diet should consist of 50% dark leafy greens, 20% grated or chopped vegetables.
Fruits: A Treat in Moderation
Fruits should be limited in the diet, as they are high in sugar. Adult dragons diet should consist of a maximum of 5% fruits. Every bearded dragon will have a favorite food that they find rewarding. Some like strawberries, and some love to eat live prey items because they enjoy stalking.
Supplementation: Calcium and Vitamins
Calcium supplementation is essential for bearded dragons. Calcium supplements should be used to dust live prey items to ensure your bearded dragon gets an adequate amount of calcium. Vitamin supplements should be provided as a powder with live prey one to two times weekly.
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Mazuri Bearded Dragon Diet: A Convenient and Nutritious Option
Manufactured bearded dragon food can be offered as a supplemental food source. The best dry bearded dragon diet is Mazuri® bearded dragon diet for adults. A good way to ensure a balanced diet is to provide your bearded dragon a complete feed like Mazuri Bearded Dragon Diet. By transitioning your bearded dragon to a complete pellet, you can trust they’re getting all the nutrients they need without the time intensity of properly housing and gut-loading insects. When you choose Mazuri Bearded Dragon Diet to meet your pet’s nutritional needs, you’re choosing the same professional-grade nutrition zoo professionals rely on.
Feeding Frequency and Schedule
Bearded dragon feeding frequency is based on the size and life stage of the animal. Adult bearded dragons should be fed salad and vegetables daily and fed live prey three to four times per week. When offering adult bearded dragons live prey items, gut loaded insects should be offered three to four times per week.
Environmental Factors Influencing Nutrient Absorption
Bearded dragons are ectotherms and control their body heat, and subsequently their metabolism, through their environment. They require heat and UVB lighting to metabolize Vitamin D3 which is essential for their bone health. UVB bulbs should be replaced every 6 months, even if the light itself is still working. UVB levels will deteriorate over time. A digital thermometer and humidity gauge in your dragon’s enclosure is essential. Heat from a heat emitting bulb or ceramic heat emitter (CHE) should be provided in a basking area on the “hot side” of the tank with the ability to retreat to a cooler side. Recommended temperatures vary even among experts. A good place to start is 76°F (24°C) on the cool side to 86°F (30°C) on the warm side, with a basking area ranging from 90°-100°F (32°-37.7°C). To achieve ideal temperatures, reptiles need a basking area with a heat lamp and a cooler side. This allows the bearded dragon to choose their own level of heat, which is essential for them to stay healthy.
Hydration: Providing Fresh Water
Always provide your bearded dragon access to drinking water. DO provide a shallow dish of fresh water yourdragon can step into to drink. Based on the size of your bearded dragon, the water bowl should be a size that will allow them to soak.
Creating an Engaging Environment
To mimic their natural environment, fill their terrarium with a sturdy branch or stone so they can climb and bask under the heat lamp. A fun way to make sure your bearded dragon is getting enough exercise is to take them on a walk. Providing your bearded dragon with a comfortable, engaging environment and proper nutrition will go a long way in supporting their development and longevity.
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Foods to Avoid
Bearded dragons should not be offered animal-based proteins such as scrambled eggs. This type of diet item can lead to nutritional imbalances.
Understanding Wild Bearded Dragon Diets
In the wild, bearded dragons feed on vegetation, including fruit and leaves. Additionally, they consume invertebrates such as ants and beetles. Bearded dragons have also been known to consume small lizards if they are able to catch them.