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Feeding Bearded Dragons
Bearded Dragons are primarily insectvorious, about 70% of their diet should be crickets and other invertebrates. (NO LIGHTNING BUGS!!! THEY ARE POISONOUS TO YOUR DRAGON) They will also eat vegetables, but stay away from those with high vitamin A or phosphorus content. The dragon's food needs to be dusted periodically with a calcium/mineral powder. When feeding insects (crickets are the food of choice) one method used is to provide as many as they will eat in a 5 to 10 minute period. Remember that crickets should be no bigger than the distance between your dragon's eyes.
HATCHLINGS:
JUVENILES:
ADULTS:
TYPES OF INSECTS:
Crickets are the insect of choice, but there are others available. Here we list the good, the bad, and the deadly. Crickets go almost without saying, dusting every other day with a quality mineral/calcium powder. Wild caught insects should never be fed to your dragon! Some other good insects are Roaches (available from most cricket breeders), mealworms, waxworms, grasshoppers, moths, butterflies, katydids, beetles, and mayflies (aka Shadflies).
Although you can use any of the above insects listed, you must be careful. Roaches can be quite large and the Hissing Roaches can be too tough for some dragons. Mealworms should be used sparingly and then only when they are white and freshly moulted, as they have a very thick indigestible skin that could cause impactions. Waxworms are much too rich to be used for anything other than an occasional treat, too many will lead to such complications as fatty liver disease or kidney failure in later years.
Always make sure the insects being offered are small enough for the babies and not too tough. Adults will chew up almost anything, but always be careful and use common sense. Avoid worms, as there are too many things that can effect the worm itself that can cause illenss or death in your dragon. Be cautious with mealworms, waxwomrs, and pinkie mice. Too many of these are not good, they are too fattening and too rich. Mealworms and waxworms have been covered, now to the pinkies. Only feed one pinkie once a week maximum and be sure not to use any store bought mice as they are not raised to be food items and may have parasites that can cause illness in your dragon.
VEGETABLES:
Mustard Greens, Collard Greens, Turnip Greens, Bok Choy, Chickory Greens, Zucchini, Clover, Bean Sprouts, Corn (cooked), Dandelion greens, Beet Greens, Sunflower Seedlings, Carrots (shredded), Peas, Red Tip Lettuce, Parsley, Beans, Purslane, Collards, Kale, Squash, and Parsnips (shredded). Spinach is not good for your dragon and should be avoided as a food item. Flowers too can be fed to your dragon. Hibiscus, Mustard Flowers, Dandelions, Carnations, Ice Plant, Squash, Clover, Nasturtium, and Daisys. Fruits that can be fed to your dragons are Melon, berries, banana (occasionally as a treat only), grapes, strawberries, raspberries, and apples. When feeding any fruit, vegetable of flower, always cut or shred it into small enough pieces. Slice lettuce, collard greens etc very thinly, shred carrots and chop up peas and cook unsalted sweet corn, these are their favorite everyday food items. Occasional treats are bananas, apples and rarely strawberries and raspberries. You may feed fruit sparingly as although they may love it, it can cause very loose stools, which may aggravate the digestive system and cause stress and dehydrate the dragon.