There are several other options to feed your baby bearded dragon aside from crickets. We will cover these options in the following sections, so please continue reading!
Live foods & meats
They prefer eating insects and worms for meat, such as:
- cicadas
- cockroaches
- darkling beetles
- grasshoppers
- and silkworms.
Below is a table listing almost everything they can and cannot eat. Avoid anything caught in the wild because it can poison them.
| Food | Can bearded dragons eat it? |
| Ants | No |
| Beetles | Some are safe |
| Cheese | No |
| Cicadas | Yes |
| Cockroaches | Yes |
| Cooked chicken | No |
| Darkling beetles | Yes |
| Dead crickets | No |
| Earthworms | Yes |
| Fish | No |
| Grasshoppers | Yes |
| Hard-boiled eggs | Yes |
| Hornworms | Yes |
| June bugs | Yes |
| Ladybugs | No |
| Mealworms | Yes |
| Moths | No |
| Nightcrawlers | Yes |
| Raw chicken | No |
| Red wigglers | Yes |
| Silkworms | Yes |
| Slugs | Yes |
| Spiders | Yes |
| Stink bugs | No |
| Superworms | Yes |
| Wax worms | Yes |
Calcium
The most important dietary need is calcium, followed by phosphorus. It is most notable to the young because of their developing bones.
Veterinarians recommended providing vitamins two to three times a week. Include calcium powder that does not contain vitamin D3 when sprinkling food on your bearded dragon pet. Also, add calcium powder with vitamin D3 2 to 3 times a week.
Below is a calcium powder we recommend feeding to your pet.
Zilla Reptile Munchies Omnivore with Calcium
The Zilla Reptile Munchies is an excellent source of calcium coming from a snack pack. Its content has been dehydrated, eliminating the need to store it in a refrigerator. It is also easy to prepare by adding water to rehydrate it, bringing it back to its original form. Although not beneficial to everyone, it comes in a resealable package for easy storage.
The Zilla Reptile Munchies packs the nutrients your pet needs in a convenient, no-refrigeration package. We prevent the metabolic bone disease from happening by supplementing with calcium nutrients.
Pros
- It ensures your friend gets nutritious food.
- It’s often a hit the very first time it’s fed.
- It’s a great way to include calcium in the diet.
Cons
- It doesn’t provide the protein the same way crickets do.
- Some dragons may not like it.
- Fresh veggies and bugs are still better on a daily basis.
Best treats
We recommend the following treats for your bearded dragon pet.
Fluker’s Medley Treat
The Fluker’s Medley Treat packs several vitamin-enriched formulas, providing:
- fats
- minerals
- vitamins
- and proteins your pet needs.
It is a blend of grasshoppers, mealworms, and crickets freeze-dried to preserve maximum nutrition and flavor.
The Fluker’s Medley Treat is a convenient way to feed your pet if you do not want to deal with live prey items. We recommend storing in a dry, cool environment for the best results.
Pros
- It’s high in protein.
- The freeze-drying process ensures as much nutrition as possible.
- Dragons love it.
Cons
- Fresh food is always preferable.
- The packaging could be better.
The perfect diet for a baby
The perfect diet for a baby dragon involves as many crickets as they can eat within a 5 to 10-minute timeframe, plus 20% vegetables. On the other hand, juvenile dragons must have a 50% veggies and 50% insects diet.
How many crickets should you feed a baby?
Baby dragons have ages 1 to 3 months. They can eat as many crickets within a 5 to 10 minutes timeframe. They should also eat about 20% vegetables.
Why is he not eating?
They can lose their appetite if they are feeling unwell. Poor diet and vitamin deficiency are the leading causes for your bearded dragon to stop eating.
The following are some of the major reasons for it to stop eating:
- It feels stressed because of a new environment. It may involve changes in diet, temperature, and lighting.
- They might refuse to eat if their size is growing. Your pet may also stop eating if its tank feels small. A 16-inches long should fit well in a 40-gallon tank. Get at least a 50-gallon tank if it is longer than 16-inches.
- Shedding is sometimes uncomfortable, causing them to lose their appetite. Do not pull the skin off. Instead, provide warm baths to ease the shedding.
- Your pet is transitioning from eating more insects to more greens. We recommend mixing the greens with a few insects as incentives.
- Your dragon suffers from malnutrition. Providing a balanced diet should address the issue.
- Illnesses may cause it to lose its appetite. Metabolic bone disease, mouth rot, and gut impactions are common diseases.
What flowers can they have?
The following flowers are okay for this pet to eat:
- Roses
- Nasturtiums
- Hibiscus
- Dandelions
- Carnations
- Geraniums
On the other hand, you can offer fruits and vegetables too. However, fruits do not offer a lot of minerals. We recommend serving raw vegetables because it contains more nutrients.
