Bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps) are an increasingly popular pet reptile due to their calm demeanor and relatively easy care requirements. One of the most important aspects of caring for a bearded dragon is making sure they receive proper nutrition, which includes knowing how often to feed them.
Frequency of Feedings
It’s generally recommended that juvenile bearded dragons be fed every day, while adults can usually go down to being fed every other day. However, this frequency should be adjusted based on their feeding response if your dragon seems to be eating more than usual, then it’s safe to feed them daily. If they seem more sluggish or less interested in food, then reduce the frequency of feedings.
Portion Size
The portion size of your dragon’s meal will depend on its age and size. Juveniles usually require about 3-4 crickets per feeding, while adults may need up to 10-15 crickets per feeding. Other types of prey can also be offered in place of or in addition to crickets such as waxworms, mealworms, roaches, and locusts but make sure not to overfeed your bearded dragon on these treats as they tend to have a higher fat content than crickets. Additionally, provide plenty of leafy greens such as collard greens and mustard greens at least twice per week as well as some vegetables like sweet potato or squash on occasion.
Vitamin Supplements & Calcium
To ensure your bearded dragon is getting all the necessary vitamins and minerals in their diet, dust each insect with a calcium supplement prior to feeding once or twice per week and administer a multivitamin supplement once per month. A phosphorous-free calcium supplement is best for adult dragons since juveniles typically require phosphorous along with calcium for healthy bone growth. Be sure not to skip this step insufficient calcium intake can lead to serious health problems in reptiles including metabolic bone disease (MBD).
9 Healthy Food Ideas for Your Pet Bearded Dragon
Bearded dragons are a type of lizard that can make great, low-maintenance pets. Keeping your bearded dragon healthy requires providing them with the right diet. This means making sure to provide a variety of nutritious food sources for your pet in order to ensure it is getting all the vitamins and minerals it needs to stay healthy. Here are 10 healthy food ideas for your pet bearded dragon.
Calcium-Rich Greens
Greens, such as collard greens, kale, turnip greens, and bok choy, are high in calcium and other essential nutrients that provide optimal nutrition for your pet. Be sure to wash these vegetables thoroughly before feeding them to your bearded dragon.
Insects
Insects such as crickets and mealworms should be part of your pet’s diet as they contain high levels of protein which is essential for their growth and development. Make sure to dust the insects with a calcium supplement before feeding them to your pet.
Fruits
Fruits like apples, pears, peaches, and mangoes are also good choices when it comes to providing nutritious snacks for your beardie. These foods contain vitamins A and C which help support vision health and strong bones in reptiles. Again you should dust these fruits with calcium supplements prior to feeding them to your reptile friend.
Veggies
Vegetables like squash, sweet potatoes, bell peppers, carrots, and tomatoes provide additional essential vitamins for beardies such as vitamin A and antioxidants that promote overall health in reptiles. As with fruits, be sure to supplement these veggies with calcium before serving them up as part of their dinner menu.
Commercial Reptile Diets
Commercial reptile diets are designed specifically for use by reptiles like bearded dragons and can be an easy way of providing a balanced diet for your pet without having to prepare each individual meal yourself. These diets come in either dry or canned form so you can choose whichever works best for you and your beardie’s nutritional needs.
Silkworms
Silkworms are another tasty food option that has become increasingly popular among reptile owners due to their high nutrient content including proteins, fats, and carbohydrates along with various vitamin sources like B1 & B2 vitamins as well as niacin & riboflavin which help support eye health & overall bodily functions in reptiles. Again make sure to dust the silkworms with a calcium supplement prior to feeding them off the plate!
Super Worms
Super worms are an excellent source of nutrition for reptiles that have higher levels of fat than crickets but still provide necessary protein levels along with additional nutrients like phosphorus which helps promote normal bone development & joint function in reptiles; not only that but they pack some extra flavor into every bite! As always make sure you’re dusting these worms with supplements prior to offering them up on the dinner plate!
Waxworms
Waxworms may be small but they’re packed full of energy-boosting fats along with important fatty acids like omega 3 & 6 acids which help support healthy skin & coat condition along with promoting immune system functioning in pets! Waxworms are also rich in proteins which is beneficial for overall growth & tissue repair helping keep those scales looking their best! As usual, don’t forget the supplements when feeding waxworms off the plate!
Earthworms
Earthworms provide a great source of nutrition packed full of proteins & carbohydrates needed by reptiles plus a healthy dose of iron which helps support muscle strength & vitality; not only that but earthworms also offer some nutritional benefits from vitamins like thiamine (B1) which helps boost brain functioning ensuring better cognitive skills in lizards! Don’t forget about supplementing these wriggly treats prior to offering them up on the plate too.
The Benefits of Dusting Insects with Calcium Supplements before Feeding them to Your Beardie
Having a beardie as a pet is a rewarding experience, and it can bring much joy. However, with that comes the responsibility of providing proper nutrition. Proper nutrition is especially important for young beardies since their bodies are still growing and developing. In order to ensure that your beardie gets all the necessary vitamins and minerals it needs, it is important to understand the importance of dusting insects with calcium supplements before feeding them to your pet.
What are Calcium Supplements?
Calcium supplements are simply a form of supplement that provides a concentrated amount of calcium to an animal or insect’s diet. It’s important for reptiles such as beardies because calcium plays an essential role in their bones and muscles’ growth and development. Without adequate calcium intake, your beardie could suffer from a metabolic bone disease which could lead to stunted growth, weakened bones, and even death.
Benefits of Dusting Insects with Calcium Supplements
Dusting insects with calcium supplements before you feed them to your beardie has many benefits:
- It provides an extra source of nutrients – By dusting insects with calcium supplements, you can be sure that they have an adequate supply of nutrients that your bearded dragon needs for healthy development. This helps ensure that they get enough calcium on a daily basis so that they can grow strong bones and muscles.
- It helps keep the insects healthy – When feeding live food to your reptile, such as crickets or mealworms, there is always the chance of parasites or bacterial infections in them. These can be harmful or even fatal if ingested by your pet. Dusting these insects with calcium supplements before feeding them to your beardie, helps keep the insects healthy which means less risk for disease transmission into your pet!
- It makes them more appealing – Not only does dusting insects help provide nutritional value for your pet but also makes them look more appetizing by giving off a bright sheen when exposed to light. This can make it easier for picky eaters to consume their food!
How To Dust Insects With Calcium Supplements
It’s very easy to dust live food for your reptile with calcium supplements; all you need is some type of container (e.g., a plastic bag or cup) and some powdered calcium supplement mix (available at most pet shops). Simply place the live food inside the container along with half a teaspoon or so of powder per every five ounces (approximately 150 grams)of live food and then shake it up well until all the bugs are coated in the powder evenly!
Once dusted, feed immediately since this will help ensure maximum absorption rate into their bodies! Finally, always remember never to supplement too much calcium can cause health problems just like too little! Therefore make sure you know how much supplement you should give based on size/age/gender/diet etc., so ask your local veterinarian if needed.
Conclusion
If you provide your bearded dragon with the proper diet consisting of both insects and leafy greens along with the appropriate supplementation, then he/she should remain happy and healthy! Remember that all reptiles have different dietary needs so it’s best to do research specific to your species before providing them food for the first time.