Bearded dragons are omnivores reptiles that consume plants as well as insects. In the wild, they prefer eating insects like crickets, earthworms, and cockroaches. However, they are also fed with freeze-dried insects in captivity. These commercially prepared bearded dragon foods are the best alternative to live insects as they are not only easy to feed but also last longer.
Feeding pellet food to your bearded dragon along with live insects is an acceptable approach for the proper growth and health of your reptile. However, you have to choose the best product for your pogona as there are ample options already out there. Since we are concerned about the health of your pet, we have reviewed the four best bearded dragon foods in 2021 that are jampacked with essential nutrients and minerals to help you find the best one.
Bearded Dragon Mix produced by Komodo is a perfect blend of Marigold, Dandelion, and Rose. It is a suitable mix for all reptiles and is recommended for all breed sizes.
Its ingredients are all-natural without artificial additives. Also, it aids some bodily functions like decreasing the number of fluids in reptiles, promoting great functioning of the liver, and strengthening the immune system. Bearded Dragon Mix is in a dry form and can even aid in improving body pressure and blood sugar levels.
Soft Pellets Bearded Dragon Food is a specially formulated food for bearded dragons. It is a product of Exo Terra and is recommended for adult breeds.
This fascinating bearded dragon food consists of all the nutrients to make a complete diet in the reptiles. Also, it is greatly rich in vitamins, amino acids, and minerals, hence artificial supplements aren’t added. Soft Pellets Bearded Dragon Food is in a pellet form and is fortified with natural and fruit ingredients.
Herptile Dragon Gel Reptile Food is one of the best reptile food for your reptiles. It’s a great alternative to live insects and quite suitable for reptiles with insect-eating habits such as bearded dragons.
The reptile food is formulated with nutrients that reptiles will need for normal growth and development. The product doesn’t need to be mixed before being fed as it can be consumed as it is produced. It’s recommended for all breed sizes and has an incredible taste that bearded dragons can’t resist. There’s no artificial preservative in this reptile food and the container is designed to keep bacteria and parasites out.
Beardie Buffet is a product from Repashy meant for bearded dragons. The food is carefully formulated and can be used as supplements when feeding bearded dragons.
This unique food has several good reviews that ascertain how suitable and right it is for bearded dragons. It’s in gel form and is quite easy to prepare. Really, it’s an adequate alternative to insects. Hence, you should consider it while choosing the food for your bearded dragon.
Omnivore Reptile Munchies is a product of Zilla and suitable food for your branded dragon. It’s in a pellet form and is recommended for reptiles of all sizes.
The Fantastic bearded dragon food is quite nutritious and has all the ingredients to promote good health conditions in your pet. It’s easy to prepare, requires no refrigeration, and is formulated with calcium to improve dental care. It also contains all-natural ingredients that will satiate the appetite of your insect-eating dragons.
Most commercial bearded dragon foods contain plant and animal ingredients. They provide a rich source of nourishment and play a vital role in the diet of your beardie. Besides, they have all the essential nutrients, along with the most recommended feed insects, fruits, veggies, and plants.
However, choosing the right bearded dragon food can be hard due to the ample options available on the market. Below, we have explained some important factors you can take into consideration to get your hands on the best nutritional food for your bearded dragon.
Though you can maintain the health of your bearded dragon on a diet solely comprised of animal matter, experts advise that adding 25% of fruits and veggies to their overall meal can provide additional nutritional value. So, you should look for bearded dragon foods that contain a good amount of these fruits, veggies, and insects.
Convincing your bearded dragon to eat veggies can be challenging. That’s why you should start feeding them greens and vegetables in the form of commercial foods when they are juvenile. The older they grow, the more willing they will be to eat a variety of veggies that will keep them healthy.
Some of the best vegetables you can find in bearded dragon foods are turnip greens, kale, parsley, collard greens, dandelion greens, clover, and escarole. All these veggies can function as a great source of greens for your pet. Your beardie will gradually start enjoying these vegetables in the form of commercial foods. Always remember that all of these veggies are essential for your pet, and not feeding them to your pet can lead to the deficiency of various minerals, vitamins, and calcium.
Fruits are high-sugar foods that should not serve as a primary nutrition source for your bearded dragon. However, they can be an effective way to tempt your young pets to eat veggies. Since most bearded dragon foods are a mixture of insects, fruits, and vegetables, they eliminate the need for pairing veggies and high-sugar fruits together. These commercial foods allow you to directly feed the mixture to your beardie as it is even preferred by picky eaters. Some of the fruits you should look for in your bearded dragon food includes strawberries, blueberries, peaches, melon, apricots, papaya, and more.
Catching insects from the outside to feed your bearded dragon can be dangerous. They may contain pests, viruses, or bacteria that can infect your pet. Bearded dragon foods are the best alternative to these harmful insects as they are gut-loaded, natural, and rich in nutrients. The nutritional value provided by the commercial foods makes them ideal for your pet. Thus, they are not only safe for bearded dragons but also help them grow vigorously. Some of the most common insects in commercial foods are crickets, mealworms, spiders, super worms, slugs, earthworms, roaches, and more.
Pellets are nutrient-dense food made for bearded dragons who tend to prefer protein but don’t like eating greens. Most brands need the pellets to be soaked in hot water before feeding. Make sure to read the package as each product has different feeding instructions. Though few bearded dragons don’t like consuming this form of food, it can be a nutritious alternative to live insects and green.
Bites are sweetly scented bearded dragon food with vibrant color, making them an attractive source of food for your beardie. They have a high nutritional value because they are enriched with essential vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that your pet requires. Though bites do not smell good to humans, most bearded dragons love to consume them.
Since keeping superworms and live insects is a difficult task, investing in canned insects for your pet to munch on can be a great idea. Canned food comes in a wide variety of insects like crickets, mealworms, snails, caterpillars, shrimp, large grasshoppers, and more. Crickets and mealworms are mostly available in different sizes to meet the requirements of bearded dragons of all ages and sizes. So, make sure not to feed larger mealworms to juvenile dragons. Besides, canned food spoils quickly once opened. In case the contents become watery, discard them right away.
Dried foods contain a mix of freeze-dried insects, fruits, and vegetables that last for months. They usually come in two different types, including soft pellet foods or tasty dried foods. They are a great source of vitamins, calcium, and minerals, which are paramount nutrients to maintain the health of your bearded dragon. Some dried foods are specifically manufactured for adults, while others are designed to feed babies and juveniles.
The best bearded dragon foods have 100% natural ingredients and don’t contain additives that provide no added nutrition. Dehydrated or freeze-fried insects are the most common example of natural commercial foods.
Some bearded dragon foods comprise artificial colors and flavors to tempt the pets. If your beardie only prefers organic food with real, whole-food ingredients, then investing your money in this product would be a waste of money.
When it comes to bearded dragon foods, you can find different types of products like pellets and free-dried insects. Try to grab a product that is nutritionally balanced and your pet likes to eat, as some bearded dragons don’t prefer pellets although they offer a combination of foods.
You should always purchase commercial food from brands that specialize in manufacturing reptile products. The bearded dragon foods mentioned above are specially made for reptiles by renowned brands, so you can count on them without any second thought.
Bearded dragons make great pets as long as they’re provided with proper food and habitat. Different types of beardies have different nutritional requirements. So, you should carefully choose the right commercial food that suits your pet and provide them with all the essential nutrients. We hope this article helps you garner a great deal of information on purchasing the best bearded dragon food that promotes the health of your beardie.
A: Yes, you can feed freeze-dried crickets to your baby bearded dragons but make sure to limit the amount. However, they need both live and dried food for consuming fats, proteins, and minerals required for proper growth.
A: The average shelf life of dried crickets is about three years. Though it could be more than that, it would be a good idea to look at the expiration date on the package.
A: Yes, dried mealworms are good for your beardie because they provide a lot of nutritional value. But make sure to feed smaller mealworms to your juvenile pet and longer ones to adults. The standard size of dried mealworms usually range from ¼ inch to 1 inch.