Diet
Bearded Dragons Are Omnivores
Like humans, bearded dragons consume both animal proteins
and plant matter. Young bearded dragons consume 80% insect meat and 20% plants,
while adult bearded dragons begin to show an opposite diet.
Meat
The most common source of animal protein for bearded dragons
is crickets. They are relatively cheap and can be purchased and most pet
stores. Mealworms, Wax worms, and other worms are the cheapest food for bearded
dragons, but should not be the main source of protein because of their high fat
content. Pinky mice can be used to feed adult bearded dragons, but are too
large for young bearded dragons to digest. The most common phrase for bearded
dragon owners "is that any item fed should be smaller
in size than the space between your bearded dragon's eyes," not following
this rule can lead to health issues such as impaction, which will be covered
later in this blog (BeardedDragon.Org). Never catch your own insects, they will
be infested with parasites that will severely damage your dragon.
Plants
Leafy green vegetables should be a
staple in your bearded dragon's plant diet, but they should also be exposed to
a variety of vegetables and a small amount of fruits. Provide a wide variety of
plants for your bearded dragon every day, even if your dragon does not
initially show any desire in the plant matter, they will gradually begin to eat
more as they mature. Create a "colorful" salad for your bearded
dragons on a daily basis by cutting the greens, vegetables, and fruits into
small pieces, this not only will make their diet more exciting to them, but
will also ensure they are consuming all of their proper vitamins.
Beautiful Dragons has a complete and
easy to read chart of what your bearded dragon can and cannot eat.
Sources
- Bearded Dragon Diet Requirements. (n.d.). What to Feed Your Bearded Dragon. Retrieved April 10, 2014, from http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?articleid=824
- Impaction in Bearded Dragons. (n.d.). Impaction @ BeardedDragon.org. Retrieved April 10, 2014, from https://www.beardeddragon.org/articles/impaction/
- Nutrition Content. (n.d.). Nutrition Content. Retrieved April 10, 2014, from http://www.beautifuldragons.com/Nutrition.html
- What do Bearded Dragons eat?. (n.d.). PogoPogona. Retrieved April 10, 2014, from http://pogopogona.com/feeding-bearded-dragons/what-do-bearded-dragons-eat
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