Is this a good diet for a Bearded Dragon?
Tuesday, September 8th, 2009 at
10:30 am
Is this a good diet for a Bearded Dragon?
I feed my bearded dragon mostly just squash and, every now and then, crickets. Hes 2 years old, and hes been doing just fine. Is this a good staple diet for him?
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FEED DAILY
Collard Greens
Dandelion Greens
Endive
Escarole
Mustard Greens
Turnip Greens
Acorn Squash
Butternut Squash
Hubbard Squash
Green Beans
Peas
Parsnips
Turnips
Scallop Squash
Spaghetti Squash
Summer Squash
Sweet potato
Figs
Mango
Papaya
Raspberries
Silkworm
Cactus Pad/Leaf
FEED OCCASSIONALLY
Arugula
Bok Choy
Kale
Bell Peppers, red & green
Bell Peppers, yellow
Celery
Cucumbers
Okra
Potato, russet
Pumpkin, raw
Radish
Spinach
Watercress
Yams, raw
Zucchini, raw & peeled
Apples
Apricots
Blackberries
Blueberries
Cantaloupe
Cherries
Cranberries
Grapefruit
Grapes
Guava
Honeydew
Kiwi
Nectarines
Orange, naval
Orange, mandarin
Peaches
Pear, not asian
Pineapple, canned
Pineapple, fresh
Plums
Prunes, canned
Raisins, seedless
Strawberries
Watermelon
Butterworms
Silkworms
Superworms
Waxworms
Basil
Beans, garbanzo
Beans, kidney
Beans, lima
Beans, pinto
Cilantro
Peppermint leaves
Spearmint
Wheat grass
FLOWERS/PLANTS
rose petals
dandelions
dahlias
hibiscus
nasturtiums
alfalfa
astible
baby tears
basil – leaves & flowers
Chinese lantern – flowers
Carnations – petals
Chamomile, English
Clover
Day lilies
Dracaena
Fennel
Ficus – leaves
Geranium – flowers & leaves
Grape – leaves & fruit
Impatiens
Hollyhock
Hens & chickens
Lavender
Mint
Oregano
Pansies – flowers
Phlox
Rosemary – leaves & flowers
Spider plant – leaves, sap may irritate
Split leaf philodendron – leaves
Squash flowers
Thyme – leaves & flowers
Yucca – flowers
Wandering Jew – leaves, sap may irritate
RARELY
Broccoli
Brussel sprouts
Carrots
Cauliflower
Green peas raw
Rutabaga, raw
Tomatoes
Pomegranate
Star fruit
Bananas
Rice, brown, long grain
Soybeans
NEVER
cabbage
Corn
Lettuce
Spinach
Avocado
Eggplant
Mushrooms
Rhubarb
Chicken
Ground beef
Pork chops
Spaghetti, cooked
Meal Worms
He should get a diet consisting mostly of fruits and vegetables. Insects should be given as infrequent "treats".
He should have crickets twice a week
Heres a list of vegetables, just read the key to know whats good and bad.
http://www.beautifuldragons.503xtreme.co…
Here is a good schedule to go by with a 2 year old dragon.
Sunday: feed 20 large crickets, salad of collard greens and squash
Monday: feed salad of collard greens and squash and 5 superworms
Tuesday: feed salad of collard greens squash and chopped strawberries
Wednesday: Nothing
Thursday: feed 20 large crickets and salad of collard greens and squash
Friday: Collard greens only
Staurday: Feed salad of collard greens squash and starwberries.
And throw in a pinkie mouse every couple weeks, your beardie will love you!
Meat food sources for your Bearded Dragon can include pinky mice (for adults) and insects such as:
Crickets; pinhead crickets for juveniles
Mealworms
Wax worms – high in fat, so feed sparingly
King worms
Earthworms
Cockroaches
Did You Know?
Fireflies are poisonous to Bearded Dragons, other reptiles, amphibians, and birds.
Freshly molted insects are easier for your Bearded Dragon to digest. You should coat feeder insects with a calcium supplement (powdered calcium carbonate or calcium gluconate) 3-5 times per week for adults; every day for juveniles. Feeder insects should also be "gut-loaded," which means the insects are fed nutritious and vitamin-rich foods before they are given to the dragon. Feed your feeder insects food such as: ground legumes, corn meal, carrots, sweet potatoes, collard greens, mustard greens, broccoli, spinach, apples, oranges, cereals, and rolled oats. Several commercial products, formulated to be rich in calcium and vitamins, may also be used to gut-load feeder insects. Insects may be purchased or wild-caught (without the use of pesticides).
Feed insects by placing them in a small bowl. After feeding, check that none of the insects escaped and fouled the water supply in the cage. You can also use a specially designed feeder rock, which allows insects to feed, but not escape until you're ready to feed your dragon. To improve hygiene, some owners prefer to have a separate cage for feeding the meat-based portion of their dragon's diet.
Meat Food Sources
Be sure the size of food you feed is proportional to your dragon's size. Malnourishment, seizures, and intestinal blockages can occur if hatchlings and juveniles are fed insects too large for them to capture or digest.
Plant Food Sources
Plant matter should make up approximately 20% of your dragon's diet and should consist mainly of green leafy vegetables. You may also include other vegetables. Fruit should make up the smallest portion of the diet. Shred or tear vegetables and fruits into small pieces and mix them together to encourage your dragon to eat all that is offered, and not just pick out his favorite foods. Following is a list of some popular plant-based dragon foods.
Greens Vegetables Fruit
escarole
kale
collards
bok choy
Swiss chard
parsley
clover
alfalfa pellets
dandelion greens
turnip greens
mustard greens
beet greens-only occasionally
spinach-only occasionally
NEVER iceberg lettuce
broccoli
okra
peas
green beans
zucchini
squash
grated carrots
sweet potato
bell pepper
frozen mixed vegetables
figs
kiwi
papaya
melon
apples
grapes
dates
peaches
apricots
strawberries
(seeds removed)
plums
tomatoes
bananas (with skin)
Prepared Diets
Prepared diets are fortified with optimal levels of vitamins and minerals so no other food supplements are required.
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