This post is about one of the most popular lizards in the pet trade – the Bearded dragon. But while it is one of the most rewarding lizards you can keep as a pet, it is also one of the most sensitive.
Thus, you need to be careful about what you’re feeding it with. This section will give you a list of the bearded dragon’s natural diet and other foods within the bearded dragon food chart. And in the later section, we listed foods you shouldn’t feed your pet with.
So keep reading…
General Description
Pogona, a genus of reptiles, has eight species of lizards, which are frequently known by the common name “bearded dragons.” The terms “bearded” and “dragon” refer to the lizard’s “beard,” which is the underside of its throat that turns dark whenever the lizard sees a potential threat.
They are clever animals, climbing and spending time on bushes and branches, and even near humans. The individuals in the Pogona genus lie around overexposed branches and rocks during the daytime. They are widely distributed across Australia and in various tropical habitats such as Eucalyptus woodlands, deserts, and scrublands.
Several Pogona species like the central bearded dragon are frequently adopted as pets or displayed in zoos because of their ability to survive in tough environments. They are also easier to care for compared to other wild reptiles.
What do the Bearded Dragons Eat?
Bearded dragons are omnivorous lizards. They can consume different things. A bearded dragon’s usual diet includes insects, vegetables, and non-citrus fruits. In feeding your “beardie” with insects, make certain that the insects are small enough for the lizard to eat.
If the insect is longer or larger than the space between the lizard’s eyes, it’s probably too large.
Bearded Dragon Food Chart
Can The Bearded Dragons Eat Meat?
These lizards can eat meat via insects. Our food list shows you the types of meat your pet lizard can eat:
- Mealworms
- Waxworms
- Kingworms
- Earthworms
- Crickets
- Locusts
- Cockroaches
What Fruits Do Bearded Dragons Eat?
These reptiles can eat a variety of fruits. Below is our food list of the kinds of fruit your beardie can eat:
- Kiwi
- Figs
- Apples
- Peaches
- Melon
- Plums
- Papaya
- Mango
- Apricots
- Dates
What Vegetables do Bearded Dragons Eat?
Bearded Dragons eat a wide variety of vegetables. These are the veggies your beardie can eat:
- Peas
- Brocolli
- Okra
- Courgette
- Green beans
- Bell pepper
- Sweet potato
- Butternut squash
What Greens Do Bearded Dragons Eat?
Bearded Dragons can eat green food. Some of the greens they can munch include:
- Collards
- Kale
- Clover
- Parsley
- Turnip greens
- Dandelion greens
- Mustard greens
- Coriander
- Rocket
- Endive
What is the Diet of a Baby Bearded Dragon?
Baby bearded dragons have to eat more meat or insects than veggies because they are still developing. You should constantly put fresh vegetables in its enclosure; at least three times a day.
You should provide them with as many meat or insects as they can consume in a 10 to 15-minute period. After feeding time, you should take out the leftover insects from their cage. A young bearded dragon usually eats anywhere between 20 and 60 insects per day.
What Comprises an Adult Bearded Dragon’s Diet?
Mature bearded dragons do not require plenty of insects to eat. Over-feeding can result in obesity. Adults usually consume insects only once a day, so provide them with as many insects or meat as they can eat in a 10 to 15-minute period, but take out the leftovers from their cage.
Feeding the Bearded Dragon Insects and Bugs
This section talks about how to feed your beardie with insects as a pet owner. Learn the different types of insects to give them, while keeping the insects healthy and ensuring that you’re giving your proper pet nourishment.
Safe Insects for the Bearded Dragons
There are various insects that you could feed your beardie. Do not feed them with insects that you captured yourself as these go in and around our houses, and contain parasites or pesticides that will make your pet sick.
What Can Bearded Dragons Not Eat?
Buy the food listed in this section, and you and your beardie should be fine. However there a couple of foods these lizards cannot eat. Bearded dragons will eat even the dangerous stuff, so it is your job to ensure they are eating the right stuff.
If your bearded dragon does get sick, go to a vet immediately for advice.
So what can’t bearded dragons eat? Don’t feed your beardie the following foods:
- Iceberg lettuce. It mostly contains water and has very little nutritional value, so don’t allow your Bearded Dragon to eat it.
- Beet tops and spinach. Some will claim that these are okay for your pet. But both contain harmful chemicals that can result in calcium deficiency and even cause metabolic bone disease. However, an occasional taste should not harm your Bearded Dragon, but with many other options available, it is recommended to buy other greens instead.
- Wild insects. Insects caught in the wild may contain parasites that can harm lizards. Exotic pet shops must have a variety of dead and live insects for your beardie.
- Fireflies. Never give your beardie, or any other lizard, fireflies. Any insect that glimmers in the dark are toxic and deadly, and can even kill your pet.
- Avocados. Avocados contain chemicals that are toxic to Bearded Dragons. A small portion can make your lizard ill, and a large amount can be deadly.
- Rhubarb. Rhubarbs may contain high levels of oxalic acid, which can be poisonous for your reptile.
- Fish or seafood. Do not feed your beardie seafood such as prawns or fish.
There’s a long list of exotic or wild plant that Bearded Dragons cannot consume. Here are just some of them in the United Kingdom: buttercup, crocus, bracken fern, daffodil, horse chestnut, holly, ivy, poppy, and oak.
Final Words
Your bearded dragon’s diet should mirror what its natural diet in the wild. It must take vegetables, meat, greens, and fruits. But as your reptile develops, you will have to cut the amount of meat to avoid obesity. Feeding too much can be bad for your pet.
