What can bearded dragons eat is quite an interesting pet. It's not as common as dogs or cats or birds; nevertheless, it is equally amusing. When you look at it, a bearded dragon may not look friendly or easy to handle; but when you get to know them better, they are in fact one of the most pleasant and docile creatures you'll ever know.
They rarely get aggressive and are quizzical in nature. They also have these very entertaining gestures and behaviour that set them out from other animals. However, in essence bearded dragons are really wild animals so holding them in captivity would require cautious consideration regarding their care.
And one of the most important elements in caring for a bearded dragon is their diet-what they should and shouldn't eat. Providing your dragons with an insufficient diet or incorrect foods can cause them to become unhealthy or ill. So to help you make sure your pet reptile is at its best condition, I have shared below a couple of tips with regards to bearded dragon eating do's and don'ts.
Do's
- Do provide your bearded dragon with these greens-- collard greens, dandelions, escarole, endive, turnip greens, grape leaves, mustard greens, romaine, parsley, kale, carrot tops, red cabbage, watercress and cilantro.
- Do supply your bearded dragon with vegetables-snow peas, shredded green beans and lima beans, radishes, shredded flesh of squash, sweet potato, carrots, cauliflower, yam, corn, kohlrabi, parsnip, peas, cooked potatoes, cooked rice, pumpkin, rutabaga, acorn squash, red and green bell peppers, butternut squash, green beans, lentils, peas, pumpkin and turnips.
- Do feed you dragon with a variety of seedless fruits--such as apple (remove seeds), apricots, blueberries, banana, berries, cantaloupe, figs, grapes, honeydew, kiwi, mangos, papaya, peaches, pears, plums and watermelon (remove seeds).
- Do supply your reptiles with protein in the form of insects and other tiny animals. The most common insect food for dragon is crickets; but wax worms, mealworms and silkworms are also good for them.
- Do provide your pets with nutritional supplementation. Baby dragons would require calcium supplementation thrice a week and a reptile multivitamin once every month. Adult dragons can remain healthy with a good diet and calcium supplements once a week and monthly multivitamin supplementation.
- Do feed your dragons using a dish to avoid ingestion of substrates.
Don't's
- Don't feed your dragons with spinach as this contains a high level of oxalic acid that interferes with calcium absorption.
- Don't give your bearded dragons wild-caught insects as these may have been exposed to pesticides.
- Don't feed your reptile insects or animals that are bog for them as this can cause to paralysis, gut impaction and even death.
- What can bearded dragons eat is an omnivorous creature. This means that it prefers a diet that is composed of both plant and animal materials. Providing them with a nutritious variation of greens, vegetables, fruits and animal food sources can keep them healthy. However, you need to remember that optimum health cannot be attained only with the provision of a good diet. You would also need to make sure that your dragons have a comfortable and appropriate habitat and as well as the right grooming and handling.What can bearded dragons eat
