The Bearded Dragon Diet And Care - What You Must Know

The bearded dragon diet could quite possibly be the most finicky thing you may ever have to go through as far as pet diets go. Bearded dragons, which are omnivores (meaning they eat both animal and plant, require a specific diet in which to function properly. Below are some specific steps you can take to ensure your bearded dragon is getting the best diet and care it can.

1. Variety is the spice of life. Feeding your beardie only crickets is asking for it to become nutritionally deficient. Spice up its diet by providing a wide variety of foods.

2. When it comes to maintaining a healthy bearded dragon diet, it is essential to do two things when feeding your beardie crickets; Gutload your crickets with healthy stuff. Essentially what your crickets eat, so does your bearded dragon. And secondly, you may also powder your bearded dragons food with bearded dragon vitamin supplements.

3. When eating vegetables, feeding spinach and a few other dark leafy greens may not be healthy in large amounts for your bearded dragon as they may leach precious calcium that they require.

4. As a rule of thumb, never feed your bearded dragon iceberg lettuce.

5. Dandelion Greens (yes, the weed), collard greens and mustard greens are very healthy for bearded dragons and can be eaten regularly.

6. Mealworms are a great source of protein however in large amounts it is hard for the bearded dragon to digest and may cause digestion problems.

7. When it comes down to bearded dragon care, keep in mind that anything in excess is bad. Small amounts here and there provide your dragon with a healthy variety.

8. Maintaining proper temperature in the bearded dragons cage is essential for the bearded dragons digestion. Often times many beardie owners keep their cages too cool and cause problems with the beardies digestion. Remember, these are cold-blooded desert animals, they rely on outside temperatures to maintain health and warmth.

9. Stress and other factors can lead to your bearded dragon not eating in addition to constipation and getting parasites. Keeping a quiet, calm surrounding can be beneficial to your bearded dragon care.

10. If your beardie is sick by any means, if at all possible, take them to a herp vet as soon as you can. Often times if your dragon is visibly sick, it is a really bad sign and something should be done as soon as possible.

Beardies are great companions and quite possibly one of the best pets a person can have. By maintaining a healthy bearded dragon diet and being mindful of your dragons needs you can optimize its health and longevity. By becoming an expert in bearded dragon care, you can best serve your pet for years to come.

by Gabriel Killian - 10/04/08

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