Hailing from Australia, the bearded dragon is an omnivore. This means that they eat both plants and other animals. If you think about their landscape, then a bearded dragon’s diet makes sense. They are normally in the middle of a vast, dry, and arid landscape that doesn’t often produce a reliable source of food.
Since bearded dragon diets consist of both vegetation and other animals, there are many things that they can eat. In order to achieve proper bearded dragon care, their diet should always be varied.
What do bearded dragon’s eat?
What kind of fruits can a bearded dragon eat?
Bearded dragons, just like humans, will choose their favorite foods. It doesn’t matter if they are male or female, albino or silkback, or if they’re old or young. They will be picky sometimes. The key is to choose vitamin-rich fruits. Some of the best options for your bearded dragon diet are as follows:
- Melons
- Strawberries
- Figs
- Apples
- Mango
- Papaya
- Peaches
- Dates
- Kiwi
- Plums
- Grapes (On occasion)
- Guava
- Pears
- Apricots
Bearded dragons can be picky, so you may have to try a few of these options before you see them really get excited about them. That being said, it’s a good idea to mix the fruits with some of the other food options in this article.
It’s also worth mentioning that soft fruits fed often can result in issues with your bearded dragon’s teeth. Exercise caution anytime you’re feeding your dragon any soft fruit, and only offer them around 1 or 2 times per month.
What kind of vegetables can a bearded dragon eat?
Just like fruits, vegetable options are plentiful, and your bearded dragon’s diet will greatly benefit from the boost in calcium, vitamins, and other supplements that they wouldn’t otherwise get in insects alone. Here are some of the vegetables a bearded dragon can eat:
- Okra
- Green beans
- Asparagus
- Butternut squash
- Bok choi
- Sweet potato
- Bell pepper
- Parsnip
- Cabbage
- Acorn squash
- Broccoli (Not frequently)
One thing to bear in mind when picking vegetables for your bearded dragon is to avoid watery choices like celery and iceberg lettuce. Although eating these sorts of vegetables will not harm your bearded dragon, neither one of those options provide many nutrients.
What kind of green can a bearded dragon eat?
Bearded dragons eat a lot of vegetation in the wild, and therefore will most likely really enjoy them in captivity. Just like fruits and vegetables, greens (although technically a vegetable) provide loads of healthy vitamins and calcium. Here are some of the greens your bearded dragon can eat:
- Kale
- Collard greens
- Mustard greens
- Turnip greens
- Parsley
- Clover
- Dandelion
- Coriander
- Rocket
- Endive
Many of these options (as well as the other fruits and vegetables) are readily available at your local grocery store. Anytime you feed your dragon non-insects, make sure you wash and clean them thoroughly, and present them in a bowl that is off the ground.
What kind of insects can a bearded dragon eat?
It is very important for your bearded dragon to have insects in their diet. In the wild, bearded dragon diets consist of a variety of different insects, but the most readily available to the average bearded dragon owner are:
- Crickets
- Mealworms (Mealworms should only be fed to fully grown dragons, and only with care. The mealworms have a hard outside shell that can cause impaction if fed too often or to small dragons.)
- Dubia roaches
- Kingworms
- Waxworms
- Earthworms
- Locusts
- Super worms (Just like mealworms, super worms have a hard shell. Superworms, however, are much larger.)
Insects are a great source of protein for a bearded dragon diet, and should not be left out. Many of the options listed above are readily available at your local pet shop, nearby breeders, or even online.
A few times a week (most certainly not every day) it’s also a good idea to dust the insects with calcium powder in order to boost the bearded dragon diet.
Conclusions
Being omnivorous, bearded dragon diets vary drastically. This is good news for bearded dragon owners, as they always have plenty of options for feeding their dragon.
Before you purchase your bearded dragon, it’s a good idea to find a good source of insects that are always available. Whether that’s a local breeder, your local pet shop, or an online store isn’t so important. As long as you have access to a good supply, your dragon will be happy.
If you’re a new bearded dragon owner and you want to learn more about how to set up its cage, we’ve created a full guide for your bearded dragon cage setup and examples.