It is essential to understand how many crickets to feed a bearded dragon if you are thinking of having one as a pet. Crickets are a major part of the dragon’s diet, and so it is important to know the correct amount to give them.
Figuring out how many crickets to feed a bearded dragon can be tricky. The amount of crickets they need will change depending on their age; from baby to juvenile to adult. However, this guide can help you better understand their dietary needs.
What is the Recommended Amount of Crickets for Feeding a Baby Bearded Dragon?
From birth up until 3 months of age, your bearded dragon is considered a baby. Similar to babies in other species, baby bearded dragons require additional frequent feedings during the day for the purpose of keeping them healthy, extending their lifespan, and helping them to become strong and robust. During meal times, it’s essential to let your infant dragon consume as many crickets as possible.
It is recommended to have five feeding sessions every day that are around five to ten minutes in length. Do not push your dragon into eating and make sure that you have a sufficient supply of crickets beforehand. To be even more precise, you may want to look at feeding charts that take into account factors like the age, size, and health of your dragon.
The diet of baby bearded dragons typically consists of between 25 and 80 crickets a day. As the lizards grow, their need for crickets decreases and they start to transition to a diet that is more plant-based.
Number of Crickets to Feed an Adult Bearded Dragon
As a bearded dragon owner, it’s essential to understand how many crickets you should feed your reptile companion! Crickets play a major role in their diet, so it’s important to have knowledge on this topic. Further information about cricket consumption can be found later.
For adult bearded dragons, their diet should consist of 80% greens and 20% proteins. Younger lizards should get the majority of their protein from insects, especially live crickets.
Adult bearded dragons should receive around 10 crickets per day, or 20 crickets every other day. These crickets should be given in a single feeding session that lasts for about 10 to 15 minutes. It is important for bearded dragon owners to remember to offer their pets this appropriate amount of crickets.
When deciding how much and what type of food to give your bearded dragon, there are several factors to consider. These include the age of the beardie, their overall health, whether the female is gravid or not, the source of the live crickets, and whether greens or other proteins like Dubia roaches or worms are also being consumed. It is important to carefully consider these criteria in order to properly feed your bearded dragon.
It is important to allow baby bearded dragons to eat as much as they want during each feeding session. As they grow and become juveniles (around 3 to 8 months old), the number of feedings per day can be gradually reduced to 2 to 3 times a day. It is important to remember to adjust the feeding schedule as your bearded dragon grows and reaches different life stages.
As bearded dragons mature into full-grown adults, their appetite will decrease significantly. This is because they will have finished growing by the time they reach about 18 months old. It is important for owners to adjust the feeding schedule for their adult bearded dragons accordingly.
A tip from experts: After bearded dragons reach adulthood, some owners choose to feed them crickets every other day or every third day. This can be based on the individual appetite of the bearded dragon and the owner’s understanding of their feeding habits. It is important to closely monitor your bearded dragon’s appetite and adjust their feeding schedule accordingly.
What Size Should the Crickets Be
Unlike dogs, bearded dragons will not eat more than they need, even if there is a surplus of food available. It is important to pay attention to the size of the crickets you feed your bearded dragon, as baby dragons should be given smaller crickets than fully grown dragons. This can make feeding your bearded dragon easier and more efficient.
A tip from experts: While bearded dragons may not eat more than they need, they can still experience difficulties if they consume crickets that are too large for them to safely eat. This is because the sharp parts of the cricket’s body may become stuck in the bearded dragon’s digestive tract, causing painful impaction and potentially leading to serious internal issues. It is important to be mindful of the size of the crickets you feed your bearded dragon in order to prevent these problems.
One general guideline to follow when selecting crickets for your bearded dragon is to only use crickets that are no larger than the space between the lizard’s eyes. This can help to ensure that your pet does not encounter any digestive issues or other problems when eating. By following this rule, you can easily keep your bearded dragon safe and healthy.
Feeding Juvenile Bearded Dragons: What About Juveniles?
Bearded dragons that are between 3 and 8 months old are typically considered juveniles. During this stage of development, your dragon will continue to grow, although the rate of growth will be slower than it was during the first 3 months of life. It is important to provide your juvenile bearded dragon with the proper nutrition and care to support their growth and development.
As your bearded dragon becomes a juvenile, it is important to continue providing them with protein in the form of crickets. However, you should reduce the number of feeding sessions to 3 times a day at this stage. It is important to remember to adjust the feeding schedule as your bearded dragon grows and reaches different life stages.
A tip from experts: As a juvenile, your bearded dragon should receive around 25 to 50 crickets per day. It is important to allow them to eat as much as they want during each feeding session, which should last for about 5 to 10 minutes. By following this feeding schedule, you can ensure that your juvenile bearded dragon is getting the proper nutrition they need.
Once your juvenile bearded dragon reaches about 9 months old, they will be considered an older juvenile, although they are not quite adults yet. Some pet owners jokingly refer to their dragons as teenagers at this age. It is important to continue providing your older juvenile bearded dragon with proper care and nutrition as they continue to grow and develop.
As your bearded dragon reaches the age range of older juveniles, you should reduce the number of cricket feedings to 2 times a day instead of 3. As they approach 14 months old, you can start to incorporate more greens into their diet. It is important to carefully monitor your bearded dragon’s nutritional needs and adjust their feeding schedule accordingly as they grow and develop.
As your bearded dragon approaches adulthood, you will gradually increase the proportion of greens in their diet and decrease the amount of crickets or other proteins they eat. This transitional period will continue until your bearded dragon is eating a standard adult diet, which should consist of 80% greens and 20% proteins like crickets or roaches. It is important to remember to adjust your bearded dragon’s diet as they grow and reach different life stages.
The Influence of Age on Cricket Consumption in Bearded Dragons
As bearded dragons grow and age, it is important for their owners to have a general understanding of how many crickets to feed them. By providing the appropriate amount of crickets, you can help ensure that your pet is getting the proper nutrition they need to stay healthy and happy.
As previously mentioned, it is generally best to not limit the number of crickets that baby bearded dragons (those in the first three months of life) are allowed to eat. Bearded dragons will not overeat, so it is not necessary (and can even be harmful) to try to force them to eat more or less than they seem to want. It is important to trust your pet’s appetite and provide them with the appropriate amount of food.
As your bearded dragon grows and ages, the frequency of cricket feedings will gradually decrease. After about 14 months old, you can start to reduce the length of the twice-daily feeding sessions. For example, at 13 to 14 months, you can give your bearded dragon 5 minutes to eat instead of the 10 minutes they were previously given. It is important to adjust the feeding schedule as your bearded dragon grows and reaches different life stages.
Why It Is Important to Feed Bearded Dragons Live Crickets
Individuals considering owning a bearded dragon should make an effort to understand the importance of feeding their pet live crickets rather than dead insects.
To summarize, it is important to never feed your bearded dragon dead crickets or other dead insects. This also means that you should remove any uneaten crickets from the tank after the feeding session is over. It is important to follow these guidelines to ensure that your bearded dragon stays healthy and well-nourished.
Reptiles, such as bearded dragons, may be attracted to eating dead crickets that have started to decompose in the environment. However, this can be harmful to your bearded dragon, as they may become very sick if they consume crickets that have begun to decompose. It is important to avoid feeding your bearded dragon dead crickets or other insects to prevent any potential health problems.
One simple way to avoid this potential problem is by never leaving dead crickets in your bearded dragon’s habitat. This will prevent your pet from being exposed to potentially harmful insects and help to keep them healthy. It is important to carefully monitor your bearded dragon’s environment and food to ensure that they are receiving the proper care and nutrition they need.
In addition to removing uneaten crickets, it is also important to remove any uneaten greens from your bearded dragon’s habitat. These greens can begin to wilt and become contaminated with bacteria or mold that can harm your pet’s health and cause them to become sick and unhappy. Removing uneaten food should be an important part of your normal spot-cleaning duties as a bearded dragon owner. By keeping your pet’s environment clean and free of potentially harmful substances, you can help to ensure their well-being.
The Importance of Crickets in the Diet of Bearded Dragons
In their natural habitat, bearded dragons spend much of their time hunting for insects like crickets. Crickets tend to capture the attention of nearby bearded dragons due to their hopping movements, which are not very stealthy. This makes crickets an important part of the diet of bearded dragons in the wild.
Crickets are a vital part of the diet of bearded dragons, as they provide a healthy source of protein and also offer a form of enrichment for reptiles in captivity. Bearded dragons, like other predators, enjoy chasing, stalking, and eating crickets. In addition to providing nutrition, feeding crickets to your bearded dragon can also provide them with the exercise they need to stay healthy.
A tip from experts: It is important to obtain crickets from a reliable and trustworthy seller, as they may carry harmful parasites that could infect your bearded dragon. It is essential to be mindful of this risk and take steps to protect your pet’s health.
It is worth noting that insects such as Dubia roaches are less likely to carry parasites, are cleaner than crickets, and contain a higher concentration of protein in a smaller serving size. These factors make Dubia roaches a potentially good alternative to crickets in the diet of bearded dragons.
Why choose crickets?
Crickets are a popular food choice for bearded dragons because they are widely available and tend to be less expensive than other protein-rich options. While there is a slight risk of parasites, crickets are generally a safe choice for bearded dragons. Many owners prefer to use crickets as a staple in their pet’s diet due to their convenience and cost-effectiveness.
You can enhance the nutritional value of the crickets you feed to your bearded dragon by lightly coating them with powdered minerals like calcium and vitamins before offering them as food. This can help to ensure that your pet is getting all of the nutrients they need to stay healthy and strong.
In addition to crickets, there are several other protein-rich food options that can be suitable for bearded dragons. These include certain types of super worms, which can offer a significant amount of nutrition. Incorporating these insects into your bearded dragon’s diet can help to add some variety to their meals.
Overall, crickets tend to be a more cost-effective choice for protein in the diet of bearded dragons compared to other options. Additionally, crickets typically have a lower fat content than other protein sources, such as worms, that are commonly fed to reptiles. These factors make crickets a popular choice for bearded dragon owners.
Things to Keep in Mind
Crickets may chirp noisily throughout the night, which can be disturbing to some people. If you keep your bearded dragon’s tank in a location that is close to your bedroom or other areas where you spend a lot of time, you may want to consider this when deciding where to place the tank. This is a common issue that many new bearded dragon owners overlook.
It is important to seek the advice of a veterinarian if your bearded dragon appears to be sick, uncomfortable, or is refusing to eat. This can help to prevent further harm to your pet if they have become impacted by large pieces of cricket or other food. A veterinarian with experience in treating bearded dragons can be a valuable resource for dietary advice and tips on preventing illness in your pet. Do not hesitate to reach out to a professional if you have concerns about your bearded dragon’s health or nutrition.
In conclusion, once you are familiar with the process of feeding crickets to your bearded dragon and understand their dietary needs, you and your pet can enjoy a long and happy relationship. Providing your bearded dragon with the proper nutrition and care is an important aspect of responsible pet ownership and can help to ensure the health and well-being of your reptilian companion.