The term bearded dragons can refer to a variety of lizards in the genus Pogona. All the seven known species are native to the desert and arid scrub lands of Southeastern Australia. Also fondly referred to as “Beardies,” these gentle, terrestrial creatures have fast become a popular pet in recent years. Moreover, although many different species are kept as pet, by far the commonly kept one is the Inland Bearded Dragon, or also known as the Central Bearded Dragon.
Taking care of a bearded dragon is generally easy, especially if you know what to feed them. However, what do bearded dragons eat? What are the things that need to be considered when it comes to their diet to ensure optimal nutrition?
First, remember that bearded dragons are omnivorous reptiles in the wild. Hence, they should be given vegetables, fruits, and live insects to survive. Fruits should be kept to a minimum, however, as their bodies require more vegetables and insects. The best diet for an adult Beardie consists of daily servings of various greens, with insects offered only every other day or every third day. Below is the recommended feeding regimen for bearded dragons.
Vegetables
Obviously, most vegetables contain all the essential vitamins and minerals humans need. The same is true for bearded dragons. To be fully healthy, a mixture of fresh vegetables should be offered to them. Collard greens, chicory, dandelion greens, escarole, kale, mustard greens, nasturtium, parsley, and turnip greens are great choices. Lettuce may also be given, although it is not usually recommended because of its relatively low nutrition content.
The majority of the greens should consist of the above-mentioned items. However, it is worth adding the following vegetables in their diet: squash (butternut squash and yellow summer squash), carrots, and green beans. You may also offer red clover and hibiscus.
Be sure to wash the veggies thoroughly before feeding your Beardie, especially the purchased ones. One way to prepare their food is to put the mix of greens in a food processor or chop them manually before storing them in the refrigerator. The processed/chopped vegetables can be kept in the fridge for up to a week. You can also choose to put small batches of chopped greens in the freezer and then thaw them prior to feeding.
Insects
Although a number of online sources may suggest feeding your Beardies some crickets, these insects are generally not recommended because of the high parasite loads they carry. If you choose to feed your pet some crickets, however, don’t forget the general rule of thumb for cricket sizes: the body length of the cricket should be no longer than the distance between the bearded dragon’s eyes. Also, if your Beardie is fed with crickets, be sure to have it checked by a veterinarian twice a year to rule out the presence of internal parasites.
For hatchlings, mealworms that have just shed cuticle are more recommended than the darker ones because they are softer, and hence are easier to digest. Young bearded dragons should be fed every day and supplemented with calcium at least four times a week through calcium dusting. To do this, simply buy some calcium powder in pet stores, put a few amounts in a plastic bag, put some crickets in it, and then shake the bag until the insects are coated with the powder. Again, offer calcium-coated crickets no less than four times weekly.
Adult Beardies, on the other hand, should only be offered insects every other day or every third day. The crickets should be dusted with calcium once a week for optimum nutrition.
The best way to know if your juvenile Beardie is getting enough nutrients is to measure its weight weekly and length monthly. There should be a progressive gain in weight and body length with time. Look for an approximately 2-inch increase in length every month. If your pet is not growing this quickly, it is either your lizard is sick or is not getting the right amount of nutrients.