Bearded dragons eat a variety of foods, including insects. It takes some research to know exactly what kind of food to give your bearded dragon. Whether you are looking to buy a bearded dragon for sale or already have one, you need to know what to feed it.
In general, you need to feed your adult bearded dragon once a day, whereas, for babies under three months, you need to feed it around five times a day. As your baby bearded dragon grows older, you can reduce the number of times you feed it as long as it is healthy. Take a look at the following tips for more information on how often to feed your new pet and what to feed it:
What and When to Feed Your Bearded Dragon for Sale According to Its Age
Bearded dragons have a diverse diet, including greens, vegetables, insects, small vertebrates, and fruits. But what kinds of insects and greens and fruits can they have? Here are a few examples:
Dubia Roaches
A protein-rich and easy-to-digest food for bearded dragons is Dubia roaches. The amount of Dubia roaches to feed your bearded dragon will depend on its age. For instance, if your baby dragon is under three months, you can feed it 10-20 roaches. Be sure the frequency of feeding is at least three times per day.
When it reaches four months of age, try to feed it 10-15 roaches twice a day. Maintain the same frequency until it becomes older than 12 months. For a one-year-old bearded dragon, one feeding of 10-15 roaches is enough for a day. An adult bearded dragon needs to consume 10-20 Dubia roaches one to three times per week.
Crickets
Dubia roaches are one of the best foods for your bearded dragon, but they can be quite expensive. If you can’t afford to buy Dubia roaches, you can look into other, more cost-effective options. Crickets are one of these cost-effective options available. Just like you would do with Dubia roaches, you need to adjust how many crickets you feed your bearded dragon as it ages.
A baby who is four months or under should eat 30-60 crickets three times per day. Bearded dragons between the ages of 4 and 12 need 20-40 crickets two times per day. When your baby bearded dragon becomes an adult (which is around one year), reduce the number of crickets you feed it. You can offer 10-20 crickets once a day at this stage.
If you are offering crickets, you need to dust them with multivitamins and calcium. You can dust the feeder with calcium 4-5 times per baby dragon. For an adult bearded dragon, you need to dust its food with calcium at least three times per week. You also need to offer it a vitamin supplement at least twice a week.
Veggies
As your baby bearded dragon grows, you need to add more vegetables to its diet. Vegetables should be about 70-80% of their diet. The rest can be insects like Dubia roaches or crickets. Here is the list of vegetables that you can (and should) give to your bearded dragon:
Daily Veggies
- Squash (acorn, butternut, spaghetti, summer)
- Turnip Greens
- Collard greens
- Dandelion greens
- Mustard greens
Veggies for Occasional Use
- Cilantro
- Peeled Cucumber
- Carrots
- Celery
- Arugula
- Asparagus
- Basil
- Bell pepper
- Alfalfa
- Uncooked Artichoke heart
Veggies for Rare Use
- Parsley
- Peas
- Raw rutabaga
- Corn
- Lettuce
- Brussel sprouts
- Raw cauliflower
- Beets
- Raw broccoli
Even though veggies are good for bearded dragons, not all of them offer the same results. It is better to follow the guide and offer the right veggies to your dragon. Besides daily, rare and occasional veggies, there are a few veggies you should completely avoid. These include onions, spinach, eggplant, lettuce, and rhubarb.
Fruits
If you are planning on buying a bearded dragon, you need to develop a proper feeding plan and schedule. Know that fruits aren’t a good option when it comes to feeding a bearded dragon. However, a few fruits are good when given only 1-2 times a week.
Fruits for Occasional feed
- Grapefruit
- Guava
- Honeydew
- Mandarin oranges
- Cranberries
- Figs
- Red or green grapes
- Apples (peeled)
- Apricots
- Blackberries
- Blueberries
- Cantaloupe
- Cherries
Rarely (Once a month)
- Pomegranate
- Raspberries
- Starfruit
- Tomato
- Banana
- Kiwi
- Olives
Fruits can be good if you use them in moderation.
Avocados can be extremely toxic for your bearded dragon. Be sure you steer clear from offering avocado to your dragon.
Conclusion
Now that you know how and what to feed it, it’s time to bring home a bearded dragon for sale. If you want your baby bearded dragon to live a long life, feed it properly.
Make sure it has a diet full of protein, calcium, and vitamins. Give it the right amount of food based on its age and health condition.
Also, make sure you don’t keep the feed open for more than 20-30 minutes. This is because it can invite mold and bacteria, which can affect the health of your baby or adult bearded dragon.
