Bearded dragons should eat primarily during daylight hours—so anywhere from 8–12 times per day depending on the age and size of the dragon. Hatchlings and very young dragons should be fed every 2-3 hours, while juvenile and adult bearded dragons should be offered food about every 12–24 hours.
It’s important to note that as a general rule, the larger your bearded dragon is, the less frequently it needs to be fed, and this will gradually decrease as the dragon ages.
Foods for bearded dragons should include a mix of insects (at least 60% of their diet) and greens. Depending on the size and age of your dragon, your insect options could include crickets, mealworms, waxworms, silkworms, roaches, grasshoppers, locusts, etc.
They should be dusted with a calcium powder supplement at least 2–3 times per week. Greens should make up at least 40% of their overall diet and should consist of a variety of dark, leafy vegetables such as collard, mustard, and turnip greens, as well as other vegetables like dandelion greens, red leaf lettuce, escarole, and parsley.
In order to ensure your bearded dragon is getting an adequate diet, it’s important to stick to a consistent feeding schedule. Typically, you’ll want to offer the food in the morning and then again at night with a few small snacks throughout the day.
Be sure to remove any uneaten food from the enclosure after each feeding.
Is it okay to overfeed a bearded dragon?
No, it is not okay to overfeed a bearded dragon. Overfeeding your bearded dragon can cause numerous health problems. Obesity is a common health issue in pets, especially reptiles, and it can lead to decreased lifespan as well as respiratory and digestive problems.
Feeding too often can also cause a nutrient deficiency, particularly with vitamins and minerals. It is important to provide your pet with a balanced diet complete with fresh vegetables, a small number of insects, and a vitamin and mineral supplement to ensure they maintain proper health.
It is best to stick to a feeding schedule, such as two to three times a week, to ensure they don’t overeat. If your pet is overweight, reduce the number of feedings or the size of their meals and be sure to occasionally offer them greens as a snack.
Additionally, be sure your bearded dragon has access to plenty of exercise, as this can help to keep them healthy and fit.
How much should a full grown beardie eat?
Bearded dragons, or ‘Beardies’, are omnivorous lizards so their diet should include a combination of fresh fruits, vegetables and insects. The exact amount a full grown Beardie should eat will vary depending on their age and size.
So, an established feeding routine that is adjusted according to their individual needs is best. Generally, a full grown Beardie should be offered food no more than two to three times per day, with each feeding amount totaling no more than 5-10% of the dragon’s body weight.
For example, if a full grown Beardie weighs 100g, 5-10g of food should be offered per day. It is also important to note that younger Beardies should Eat up to 15-20% of their body weight, two to three times a day.
Vegetables and fruits should be finely chopped for juvenile Beardies and the size of food items should increase as the Beardie grows. Insects should also be offered but size should be limited to half the width of the dragon’s head and should be hard-bodied, such as crickets, mealworms and wax worms.
Insects should only make up as much as 30% of a full grown Beardie’s diet, as they are high in fat and do not provide the same nutritional content of fresh fruits and vegetables. It is also important to supplement their diet with vitamin and mineral supplements, typically 2-3 times per week.
Finally, it is important to offer fresh, clean water to your Beardie daily.
Do bearded dragons know when they’re full?
Yes, bearded dragons definitely know when they’re full. They will stop eating when they feel their stomachs are full and will usually not take food from their owners once this happens. Bearded dragons have a very good sense of satiety, much like other animals or people.
If the dragon is not eating, then it may be that it doesn’t need to eat or doesn’t have enough appetite to eat what it is being offered. It is always best to respect this and not overfeed your dragon, as this can lead to health problems in the future.
How do I know if my bearded dragon is too big to eat?
If your bearded dragon appears to have a round abdomen and doesn’t show any interest in food, it could be an indication that your dragon may be too big to eat. Visually observing your dragon’s body shape should give you a clear indication whether it is too large for being able to swallow food.
Other signs that your bearded dragon may be too big to eat are if it starts shedding its skin prematurely or if its appetite has started to diminish significantly. Bleeding or inflammation around the mouth and head can also be an indication that your dragon is too big to eat, which should be checked out by a veterinarian.
If you are unsure, it is best to consult with a reptile care specialist, as they will be able to provide you with the best advice on whether your bearded dragon is too large to eat.
Is my bearded dragon over weight?
To determine whether your bearded dragon is overweight, you should look at its overall body condition. A healthy dragon should have a visible abdomen and a defined neck and shoulders. It’s body should be visibly longer than its tail, and its tail should be long and full.
In comparison, an overweight dragon may have an obscured abdomen and a rounder body with a wider tail base. Its tail may be shorter, thinner, or even round.
If you are still unsure, then take your dragon to an experienced reptile vet to have it professionally weighed and measured. Based on these results and the vet’s judgment, they can provide you with the best advice on how to optimize your dragon’s health and determine whether it is overweight.
Weight gain in reptiles can be caused by several factors including incorrect husbandry, an unbalanced diet, and too much feeding. To ensure your dragon remains healthy, provide them with correct enclosure temperatures and humidity, offer a nutritious diet of both insects and vegetables, and use appropriate feeding schedules and techniques.
Is it possible to overfeed a lizard?
Yes, it is possible to overfeed a lizard. Too much food can have serious health repercussions, both short term and long term, for your pet lizard. The first sign of overfeeding will usually be a visibly overweight lizard, which can lead to health issues such as difficulty breathing, impaired mobility, and even organ failure.
To avoid these risks, it’s important to be mindful of the amount of food you are feeding. Many pet lizards, especially store-bought lizards, are used to a diet that includes ready-made foods, like freeze-dried insects.
This type of specialized diet is nutritionally complete and can be fed sparingly as opposed to fresh fruit and vegetables. That said, fresh fruits and vegetables should still play an important role in their diet as long as it is limited to two or three days a week.
It is also important to feed appropriately-sized insects: those that are the proper size for your lizard’s mouth, as larger insects can cause digestive blockages if swallowed. Additionally, be sure to remove any uneaten food from the enclosure after fifteen minutes so it does not spoil, creating further health risks.
Do bearded dragons need to eat bugs everyday?
Bearded dragons are omnivorous in nature meaning they eat a variety of foods including insects, fruits, vegetables, and insects. They do not need to eat bugs every day to meet their dietary requirements, but bugs do provide them with essential nutrients and should be part of their diet.
In fact, it’s recommended that bearded dragons eat insects at least once a day. When feeding bearded dragons, it’s best to feed a variety of foods to ensure they get all the necessary nutrients for a healthy and happy life.
A combination of insects, fruits, and vegetables should be fed daily, as well as a variety of other carefully chosen items like pinky mice, lean meats, and live plants. It’s especially important to give them a variety of nutritious insects like crickets, earthworms, cockroaches, locusts, and mealworms which make up an important part of their diet and should be given to them daily.
How long can a bearded dragon go without eating insects?
Bearded dragons can typically go a week or two without eating insects, however they should not be deprived of food for too long. It is important to provide them with a balanced diet, as they are omnivores, and to vary their diet to prevent vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
Insects are a critical part of a healthy diet for bearded dragons, as they provide essential proteins, vitamins, and minerals that are not found in plant material. During times when insects may not be as readily available, you can supplement their diet with canned insects, commercially-prepared diets, and other forms of freeze-dried insect snacks.
However, it is important to only provide one or two snacks that are specifically made for bearded dragons each week, as these are usually higher in calorie content than insects from the wild, and could lead to health problems if consumed in large quantities.
Ultimately, the best way to ensure that your bearded dragon has proper nutrition is to provide a good variety of insects and plant material, as this will ensure that they have enough proteins, vitamins, and minerals for a healthy life.
Can bearded dragons survive a week without food?
Bearded dragons are omnivorous animals that require a balanced diet to stay healthy, so it is not recommended that they go a week without food. When food is available, they should eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, and insects.
A lack of food can lead to rapid weight loss, a lack of energy, and ultimately death after a week of going without food. It is also important for them to have access to fresh water, as well as an appropriate basking and hiding spot, to help regulate their body temperature.
To ensure their survival, it is best to stick to a regular feeding schedule and provide a balanced diet. Overfeeding can also lead to health complications and should be avoided.
What happens when bearded dragons don’t eat?
When bearded dragons don’t eat, they can become prone to a variety of health issues and behavioral changes. Firstly, bearded dragons who don’t eat enough food can suffer from weight loss and even emaciation, as the nutritionally rich reptile food provides their body with vital vitamins and minerals.
Nutritional deficiencies, such as calcium- and phosphorus-related metabolic bone disease, can also arise when a bearded dragon isn’t consuming enough of the adequate food. Secondly, appetite loss can be a sign of another serious medical issue, like parasites, so taking your bearded dragon to a vet is highly recommended.
Finally, a lack of appetite can often coincide with inactivity, lethargy and depression, which can lead to a miserable quality of life. Therefore, if your bearded dragon isn’t eating, it’s important to observe them closely and act accordingly.
If you’re worried, nutritional supplements should be administered and a vet appointment should be made.
What are the signs of brumation?
Brumation is a natural process in reptiles and amphibians that is similar to hibernation in mammals but with some important differences. Signs of brumation include decreased activity, reduced eating and drinking, and change in sleep habits.
Reptiles may become more lethargic and become inactive for days or weeks at a time. They may also remain in one spot or burrow for long periods of time or even several months. Other signs of brumation in reptiles include decreased appetite, burrow building or sleeping in a hide spot, and dehydration due to decreased drinking.
To induce brumation for a healthy reptile, make sure its habitat temperature is around 10°C (50°F) and provide it with a dark and cool area to rest.