The Bearded Dragon Manual. Philippe De Vosjoil
mice, which can be a useful part of a varied diet for larger dragons, providing nutrients such as calcium as well as many vitamins and trace minerals that are not readily available from invertebrates and salads. Vertebrate prey require you to feed them balanced diets and water you keep them for more than a day. Feeding your dragons frozen or thawed pinkies and fuzzy mice is a humane and convenient option.
Greens and Other Produce
Regarding vegetarian foods, torn dark leafy greens are best for juvenile dragons, while subadult and adult bearded dragons can make use of a variety of approved vegetable and fruits. There is a food chart available on the Fire and Ice Dragons’ website that lists feeding recommendations for a wide variety of fruits and vegetables: www.fireandicedragons.com/food_chart/food_chart.html.
You can feed your dragons plants from fields and lawns that haven’t been treated with pesticides and herbicides, too; they especially relish leaves and blossoms from clover, dandelion, and mustard. Other treats include petals from rose blossoms, hibiscus, and calendula (again, untreated with chemicals). Calendula is very easy to grow from seed and has beautiful yellow flowers.
Salads and other fresh produce provide both nutrients and water.
Pellets
Commercial diets for bearded dragons are primarily in the form of dry pellets, marketed either specifically for bearded dragons or for other pets. Bearded dragons have been raised and maintained successfully on diets that consist partially of commercial dry dog and cat foods as well as dry foods made for iguanas, tortoises, and caged birds. It is our opinion that no bearded dragon’s diet should consist solely of dry commercial foods, whether bearded dragon food or food made for other animals. The advantages and drawbacks of commercial diets are discussed later in this chapter.
Supplements
Bearded dragons require supplementation with a powdered vitamin/mineral supplement and calcium to make up for the deficiencies and high phosphorus levels found in commercially produced insects and produce. Reptile supplements are readily available online and in stores that sell reptile supplies. Because supplements vary widely in their formulations, you should carefully examine their labels to determine their ingredients. Ideally, you should select a source of calcium, such as calcium carbonate powder, plus a supplement that contains vitamins and minerals, including trace minerals. You need to give your dragons only small amounts— just enough to lightly coat, or dust, the insects.
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