Feeder Insects
Insects A La Carte
Crickets
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Dubia Roaches
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Wax Worms
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The best source of protein for a growing dragon is bugs. You can find a variety of feeder bugs at local pet stores, but it is much cheaper to buy in bulk online. Never feed bugs you catch from outside as certain insects can be lethal if eaten and you don't know what the bugs have been eating either. It is important to rotate feeder types not only to keep a dragon from being bored with food but to give their digestive tract a rest from heavier feeders, and to prevent impaction. Many pet store chains feed meal worms as a staple bug but I have found they are not that nutritious and dragons really have an issue digesting the exoskeletons so I would advise those only given if you have no other option, and even then feed them sparingly. These 6 insects here are the best feeders out there currently.
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Phoenix Worms
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Super Worms
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Horn Worms
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There is a fantastic Bearded Dragon food chart to reference when you are concerned on fruits, veggies and bugs at www.BeautifulDragons.com
Bite Size
When choosing the size of bugs always make sure that they are no bigger than the space between their eyes to prevent choking. When ordering from online sites use ones that have easy to use measurements at checkout.
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A Balanced Diet is Important
Please make sure to feed your dragon a balanced diet of feeder bugs and vegetables. It is essential to their over all health to have a balanced diet just like us. Dragons under 1 year old should have a small salad daily and 8-12 bugs per day 7 days a week. If your dragon is 1 year old or older he/she should get a salad daily, and 5-10 feeders a day, but only 6 days a week. It is ok to give them a day off eating feeders. As adults they are less active, spending most days just sitting in their basking spot, unlike when they were as babies running all over, so they are slower to digest their food. To compare it to humans think about if all you ate were steaks 7 days a week and did nothing but sit on the couch and watch TV, not a very healthy lifestyle. Over feeding bugs can cause obesity and liver issues which will shorten your dragon's life span.
Please make sure to feed your dragon a balanced diet of feeder bugs and vegetables. It is essential to their over all health to have a balanced diet just like us. Dragons under 1 year old should have a small salad daily and 8-12 bugs per day 7 days a week. If your dragon is 1 year old or older he/she should get a salad daily, and 5-10 feeders a day, but only 6 days a week. It is ok to give them a day off eating feeders. As adults they are less active, spending most days just sitting in their basking spot, unlike when they were as babies running all over, so they are slower to digest their food. To compare it to humans think about if all you ate were steaks 7 days a week and did nothing but sit on the couch and watch TV, not a very healthy lifestyle. Over feeding bugs can cause obesity and liver issues which will shorten your dragon's life span.
Safe Hand-Feeding
Hand-feeding your dragon is great for bonding and building trust. I do recommend that you wear gloves especially when feeding adults. Gardening gloves work best and will prevent your dragon from accidentally biting you. Bites can occur when they see you holding the feeder bugs and they get over excited and try to quickly grab it, especially when they are very hungry. Bites also can occur if a dragon is always used to seeing your bare hand giving it food he/she could assume you have food for example when you are cage cleaning and accidentally snap at you. Seeing a certain glove over and over will help them identify that this object means food is coming.
Check out the nutrition chart we use from www.BeautifulDragons.com
