Feeding Tips for Your New Baby Bearded Dragon

As a new bearded dragon owner, it’s important to understand the nutritional needs of your pet. Providing a balanced diet can ensure that your bearded dragon grows healthily and happily. In this article, we’ll share some tips on how to feed your baby bearded dragon and keep it healthy!

What to Feed Your Baby Bearded Dragon

Bearded dragons are omnivores, which means they eat both insects and vegetables. As babies, they require a more protein-rich diet, with insects accounting for the majority of their food intake.

Recommended insects for a baby bearded dragon include:

• Crickets
• Mealworms
• Dubia roaches
• Phoenix worms
• Hornworms

It’s important to choose insects that are appropriate in size for your baby bearded dragon. Their food should be no larger than the width between their eyes, as they can choke on food that’s too large.

In addition to insects, baby bearded dragons should also receive a variety of vegetables. Good options include:

• Collard greens
• Mustard greens
• Turnip greens
• Kale
• Endive

Once they have reached adulthood, their vegetable intake should increase and insects should make up less of their diet.

How Often to Feed Your Baby Bearded Dragon

It’s recommended to feed your baby bearded dragon 2-3 times per day. Their main meals should consist of insects, with vegetables offered as a supplement. A good rule of thumb is to offer as many insects as your baby bearded dragon can eat in 10-15 minutes. Any uneaten insects should be removed from their enclosure.

When feeding vegetables, you should offer them daily in small quantities. Start with a teaspoon and increase as your bearded dragon grows.

How to Feed Your Baby Bearded Dragon

When feeding insects, it’s important to provide them with a healthy diet as well. Gut-loading insects involves feeding them a high-nutrient diet before feeding them to your bearded dragon. This ensures that your pet is receiving optimal nutrition.

In addition, you should also offer a calcium supplement to your baby bearded dragon. Calcium is important for healthy growth and bone development. You can either dust their food with a calcium supplement or provide them with a cuttlebone to chew on.

To prevent impaction, you should also supervise your baby bearded dragon while they are eating. This means removing any uneaten insects after 10-15 minutes or when your pet is full.

Finally, make sure to provide plenty of fresh water to your baby bearded dragon. A shallow dish that is cleaned daily is ideal. You can also mist their enclosure to increase humidity, which can aid in shedding.

Conclusion

Feeding your baby bearded dragon can be a fun and rewarding experience. By providing a balanced diet of insects and vegetables, gut-loading insects, and offering calcium supplements, you can ensure that your pet grows up happy and healthy. Remember to supervise feeding times, and provide fresh water and humidity to aid in shedding. With these tips, your baby bearded dragon will be thriving in no time!