The answer to this question depends on several factors, including the age and size of the bearded dragon, as well as the size of the cricket. Generally speaking, hatchling bearded dragons should be fed one to two crickets per feeding, juveniles should be fed three to five crickets, and adult bearded dragons should be offered five to seven crickets per feeding.
It is important to note that the size of the cricket should be appropriate for the size and age of the bearded dragon; if the crickets are too large, then the bearded dragon may not be able to eat them.
Crickets should not exceed the length of the space between the bearded dragon’s eyes. Additionally, it’s important to provide variety in a bearded dragon’s diet, so they should not eat the same type of insect at every meal.
How much should a bearded dragon eat a day?
It depends on the size and age of the bearded dragon. As a general rule of thumb, juvenile bearded dragons (up to 8 months old) should be offered as much food as they can eat in 10-15 minutes at each meal.
Adult bearded dragons should be offered a meal-sized portion of vegetables and insects two to three times per week. Vegetables should make up the majority of their diet. Offer a variety of dark, leafy greens and other vegetables like squash, zucchini, bell peppers, and kale.
When it comes to insects, ensure they are no bigger than the space between the bearded dragon’s eyes. Give your bearded dragon ample space to roam and explore to ensure they can move around to forage for their food.
With this kind of diet, your bearded dragon will be able to maintain a healthy weight and get the nutrition they need.
How often and what should I feed my bearded dragon?
Bearded dragons should be fed about once a day, every day. As for what to feed them, the diet should be a variety of proteins and greens. Live insects are the most nutritional option, including feeder roaches, crickets, and various types of worms.
Gut-loaded insects, which have been fed nutritious food, help make sure your bearded dragon gets all their essential nutrients. Your dragon should also have plenty of dark, leafy greens such as collard greens, dandelion greens, and kale.
Veggies such as squash, bell peppers, carrots, and green beans can also be incorporated into the diet. For juveniles, experts recommend integrating Insects with the greens, while adult dragons need more plant-based diets with occasional insect feedings.
Lastly, it’s important to make sure your dragon has a good source of calcium, such as sprinkling a calcium supplement or multivitamin over their food.
What are the times to feed a bearded dragon?
A Bearded Dragon, also referred to as Pogona, should be provided with nutritious food two to three times a day. The exact amount and type of food they require will depend on their age and size. The main diet of an adult Bearded Dragon consists of fresh vegetables, live or frozen insects, and a few additional supplements.
For younger dragons, they require a slightly different diet and should only be fed once a day.
To keep your Bearded Dragon in optimal health, it is important to ensure that their diet consists of the right type and amount of food. For adult dragons, their regular diet should typically consist of 70-80% vegetables and 20-30% live and/or frozen insects.
Vegetable choices include dark green leafy vegetables, like endive, kale, escarole, and collard greens, as well as bell peppers, sweet potatoes, and squash. Appropriately sized insects to provide your Bearded Dragon include dubia roaches, crickets, and mealworms.
You may also provide your dragon a few additional supplements like calcium, multivitamins, and a variety of fruits.
When feeding your Bearded Dragon, it is important to remember that they will hunt and consume their food in their natural environment. Therefore, it is recommended that you offer the food to your dragon in smaller amounts and place it directly in their enclosure so that they can actively hunt for their food.
This will help keep your dragon’s foraging instincts active, which is important for their overall health and wellbeing.
Is it okay to overfeed a bearded dragon?
No, it is not okay to overfeed a bearded dragon. Overfeeding a bearded dragon can lead to a number of health issues. The primary problems associated with overfeeding a bearded dragon are obesity and metabolic bone disease.
A bearded dragon that is overfed and becomes obese is at risk of other medical issues such as metabolic bone disease, which is caused by a lack of calcium and vitamin D3. Bearded dragons require a balanced diet that includes a variety of proteins, veggies, and occasional treats.
Feeding too much or the wrong types of food can cause an imbalance in the nutritional needs of your pet. To avoid overfeeding your bearded dragon, it is important to provide appropriate portions of food at regular intervals.
Bearded dragons should also have access to fresh, clean water every day. Additionally, be sure to provide your bearded dragon with a well-rounded diet that provides the necessary nutrients for their overall health and wellbeing.
Can bearded dragons eat dead crickets?
No, bearded dragons should not eat dead crickets. Bearded dragons are strict insectivores, meaning that they rely solely on a diet of insects. This means that they should not consume anything other than live insects or worms.
Not only is it not a natural part of their diet, eating dead prey can cause impaction due to the lack of movement required to move the food through their digestive tract. Additionally, dead crickets may contain bacteria that could be harmful to bearded dragons, as they do not have the same immune system as other animals.
Therefore, it is important to only feed bearded dragons live crickets, as this will keep them healthy and safe, as well as provide all of the necessary nutrition for their life-stage.
Is it OK to leave crickets in with my bearded dragon?
No, it is not okay to leave crickets in with your bearded dragon. Crickets are a food source for bearded dragons, and they should be fed on a regular basis outside of their enclosure. Crickets can also carry parasites, bacteria, and viruses, which can be transmitted to your beardie if the crickets are in their enclosure for too long.
Additionally, crickets can also annoy and stress out your bearded dragon, so it’s important to provide a space for them to live in which is free from these potential annoyances. To keep your bearded dragon healthy and stress-free, it’s essential to provide them with a healthy diet and remove any crickets from their enclosure once they are done being fed.
Do crickets need to be dusted for bearded dragons?
Yes, crickets should be dusted for bearded dragons. Dusting food items with a calcium and/or multivitamin supplement can ensure your bearded dragon is getting the right amount of nutrients. For adult bearded dragons, Vitamin A should be supplemented as well.
The most common type of dusting powder is Repashy Calcium Plus, as it is a balanced calcium and multivitamin combination powder specifically formulated for reptiles. Other dusting powders, such as Zoo Med Repti Calcium, can also be used.
Dusting should be done before feeding the crickets to the bearded dragon. Simply put some crickets in a cup or container, sprinkle some dusting powder over them, and shake them around for a few seconds.
This will ensure that your bearded dragon gets a balanced diet and remains healthy.
How do I know if my bearded dragon is getting enough calcium?
There are several ways to determine if your bearded dragon is getting enough calcium.
First, you should make sure that the food that you are feeding your bearded dragon contains high levels of calcium. Many vegetables and some fruits contain calcium, but you should also supplement by providing a diet including either cricket dust or powder to provide additional sources of calcium.
You can also provide your pet with calcium supplements that you can find at pet or feed stores.
Second, you should also monitor your dragon’s growth to make sure your dragon is receiving the adequate amount of calcium in their diet. If you notice that your bearded dragon is not growing or is growing very slowly, they may not be getting enough calcium.
It is also important to monitor any changes in your dragon’s behavior; if it appears to be lethargic, this could be an indication of a lack of calcium.
Third, monitor your dragon’s bloodwork, as testing your dragon’s blood levels will demonstrate how well their calcium levels are doing. If their calcium levels are low, it may indicate that your dragon is not receiving enough calcium.
It is extremely important to make sure that your bearded dragon is receiving enough calcium in its diet. By monitoring your dragon’s diet, growth, and behavior, along with consulting with a veterinarian and performing routine blood tests, you can be sure that your bearded dragon is receiving ample amounts of calcium.