How much should you feed your 7-month-old bearded dragon?

Bearded dragons are amazing pets that can live up to 15 years if cared for properly. One of the most important aspects of their care is their diet. Bearded dragons are omnivorous reptiles that need a balanced diet of insects and vegetables to stay healthy and happy.

But how much should you feed your 7-month-old bearded dragon? And what are the best food choices for them? In this blog post, we will answer these questions and more. We will also provide you with a list of safe and unsafe foods for bearded dragons, as well as some tips on how to ensure your bearded dragon is getting enough vitamins and minerals.

Understanding Bearded Dragon’s Diet

Before we dive into the specifics of feeding your 7-month-old bearded dragon, let’s take a look at the general overview of a bearded dragon’s diet. Bearded dragons are omnivores, which means they eat both plant and animal-based foods. In the wild, bearded dragons eat a wide variety of insects, fruits, and vegetables.

However, not all insects, fruits, and vegetables are suitable for bearded dragons. Some can cause digestive problems, nutritional imbalances, or even poisoning. Therefore, it is essential to know what foods are safe and what foods are unsafe for your bearded dragon.

Another thing to consider is the age of your bearded dragon. Bearded dragons have different dietary needs depending on their life stage. Baby bearded dragons need more insects than vegetables because they are still growing and need more protein and calcium. Juvenile bearded dragons need a balanced diet of insects and vegetables, with a ratio of about 50:50. Adult bearded dragons need more vegetables than insects, with a ratio of about 80:20.

As you can see, feeding your bearded dragon is not as simple as throwing some crickets and lettuce into their enclosure. You need to pay attention to the quantity, quality, and variety of their food.

Feeding Your 7-Month-Old Bearded Dragon

So, how much should you feed your 7-month-old bearded dragon? And what are the best food choices for them?

At 7 months old, your bearded dragon is considered a juvenile. This means they need a balanced diet of insects and vegetables, with a ratio of about 50:50. You should feed your bearded dragon twice a day: once in the morning and once in the evening.

How much to feed a 7-month-old bearded dragon

The amount of food you should feed your bearded dragon depends on their size and appetite. A good rule of thumb is to offer them as many insects as they can eat in 10-15 minutes. You can use a small bowl or dish to contain the insects and prevent them from escaping or hiding in the substrate.

For vegetables, you should offer them a fresh salad every day. The salad should consist of leafy greens and other veggies that are chopped into bite-sized pieces. You can also add some fruits as treats, but only occasionally and in small amounts. The salad should fill about half of their enclosure floor.

You should remove any uneaten food after each feeding session to prevent spoilage and bacterial growth.

Ideal feeding schedule for a 7-month-old bearded dragon

The best time to feed your bearded dragon is after they have basked for an hour or two in the morning and before they go to sleep in the evening. This will ensure that they have enough time to digest their food properly and absorb the nutrients.

A sample feeding schedule for a 7-month-old bearded dragon could look something like this:

• 8:00 am: Turn on the lights and heat sources in the enclosure
• 9:00 am: Offer fresh salad
• 10:00 am: Offer insects
• 6:00 pm: Offer fresh salad
• 7:00 pm: Offer insects
• 8:00 pm: Turn off the lights and heat sources in the enclosure

Of course, you can adjust this schedule according to your own routine and preferences. The important thing is to maintain a consistent feeding routine for your bearded dragon.

Best food choices for a 7-month-old bearded dragon

Now that you know how much and when to feed your 7-month-old bearded dragon, let’s talk about what to feed them. As we mentioned earlier, not all insects, fruits, and vegetables are suitable for bearded dragons. Some can cause health problems or even death.

Here are some examples of safe and unsafe foods for bearded dragons:

Safe insects for bearded dragons

Bearded dragons love eating live insects, and they are an excellent source of protein, calcium, and other nutrients. However, not all insects are created equal. Some insects have more nutritional value than others, while some insects can carry parasites or toxins that can harm your bearded dragon.

The best insects to feed your bearded dragon are:

• Crickets
• Dubia roaches
• Black soldier fly larvae
• Locusts
• Earthworms
• Butterworms

These insects are high in protein and calcium, easy to digest, and widely available at pet stores or online. You can also raise them yourself if you want to save money and ensure their quality.

You should avoid feeding your bearded dragon:

• Fireflies
• Wild-caught insects
• Mealworms
• Superworms
• Waxworms

These insects are either poisonous (fireflies), potentially contaminated (wild-caught insects), or too hard to digest (mealworms, superworms, waxworms) for your bearded dragon. They can cause serious health issues or even death if ingested by your bearded dragon.

Safe vegetables and fruits for bearded dragons

Vegetables and fruits are an important part of your bearded dragon’s diet. They provide vitamins, minerals, fiber, and water that help keep your bearded dragon healthy and hydrated. However, not all vegetables and fruits are suitable for bearded dragons. Some can cause digestive problems, nutritional imbalances, or even poisoning.

The best vegetables and fruits to feed your bearded dragon are:

• Leafy greens (e.g., collard greens, dandelion greens, mustard greens)
• Squash (e.g., butternut squash, acorn squash)
• Carrots
• Bell peppers
• Green beans
• Snap peas
• Cucumber
• Apples
• Bananas
• Blueberries
• Strawberries

These vegetables and fruits are high in vitamins, minerals, fiber, and water, and low in oxalates, goitrogens, and sugar.
They are also easy to digest and widely available at grocery stores or farmers’ markets.
You can chop them into bite-sized pieces and mix them together to create a colorful salad for your bearded dragon.

You should avoid feeding your bearded dragon:

• Lettuce
• Spinach
• Kale
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Avocado
• Citrus fruits (e.g., oranges, lemons, grapefruits)
• Grapes
• Raisins

These vegetables and fruits are either too low in nutritional value (lettuce), too high in oxalates (spinach, kale), too high in goitrogens (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower), or too high in sugar (grapes, raisins) for your bearded dragon. They can cause digestive problems, nutritional imbalances, or even poisoning. They should never be fed to your bearded dragon.

Safe and Unsafe Foods for Bearded Dragons

In addition to insects, vegetables, and fruits, there are some other foods that you may wonder if you can feed your bearded dragon. Some of these foods are safe, while others are unsafe.
Here is a list of some common foods that people ask about:

Safe foods for bearded dragons

These foods are safe to feed your bearded dragon occasionally as treats or supplements:

• Eggs (boiled or scrambled)
• Chicken (cooked)
• Turkey (cooked)
• Beef (cooked)
• Fish (cooked)
• Shrimp (cooked)
• Cottage cheese
• Yogurt

These foods are high in protein, calcium, and other nutrients that can benefit your bearded dragon. However, they should not make up more than 10% of their diet, as they can also cause obesity or kidney problems if fed too often or too much.

Unsafe foods for bearded dragons

These foods are unsafe to feed your bearded dragon at any time:

• Chocolate
• Dairy products (except cottage cheese and yogurt)
• Bread
• Pasta
• Rice
• Cereal
• Nuts
• Seeds
• Beans
• Onions
• Garlic

These foods are either toxic (chocolate), too high in fat (dairy products), too high in carbohydrates (bread, pasta, rice, cereal), too hard to digest (nuts, seeds, beans),
or too irritating (onions, garlic) for your bearded dragon. They can cause serious health issues or even death if ingested by your bearded dragon.

Importance of Vitamins and Minerals in a Bearded Dragon’s Diet

Bearded dragons need a balanced diet that provides them with all the essential vitamins and minerals they need to grow and thrive. Some of the most important vitamins and minerals for bearded dragons are:

• Calcium: This mineral is crucial for building strong bones and teeth, as well as regulating muscle and nerve function. Calcium deficiency can lead to metabolic bone disease (MBD), a serious condition that causes deformities, fractures, and paralysis in bearded dragons.
• Vitamin D3: This vitamin helps the body absorb calcium and maintain healthy bones. Bearded dragons can produce vitamin D3 from exposure to UVB light, but they may also need a supplement if they are kept indoors or have inadequate lighting.
• Vitamin A: This vitamin is important for maintaining healthy skin, eyes, and immune system. Vitamin A deficiency can cause eye infections, skin problems, and respiratory issues in bearded dragons.
• Other vitamins and minerals: Bearded dragons also need small amounts of other vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin B complex, vitamin C, vitamin E, iron, zinc, copper, magnesium, phosphorus, and iodine.

To ensure your bearded dragon is getting enough vitamins and minerals, you should:

• Offer a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables that are high in nutrients and low in oxalates and goitrogens. Oxalates and goitrogens are substances that can interfere with calcium absorption and thyroid function. Some examples of safe fruits and vegetables for bearded dragons are squash, carrots, green beans, bell peppers, mangoes, papayas, figs, and dandelion greens.
• Dust your bearded dragon’s food with a calcium supplement every other day and a multivitamin supplement once a week. You can use a fine powder that sticks to the food or a liquid that you can drop on the food or in the water bowl.
• Provide adequate UVB lighting for your bearded dragon. UVB rays are essential for vitamin D3 synthesis and calcium metabolism. You should use a high-quality UVB bulb that covers at least two-thirds of the enclosure and replace it every six months or as recommended by the manufacturer. The bulb should be placed 10 to 12 inches above the basking spot and not blocked by glass or plastic.
• Monitor your bearded dragon’s health regularly. You should check your bearded dragon’s weight, appetite, activity level, stool quality, skin condition, eye clarity, and behavior for any signs of illness or deficiency. If you notice any abnormal symptoms or changes in your bearded dragon’s health, you should consult a reptile veterinarian as soon as possible.

Conclusion

Feeding your 7-month-old bearded dragon properly is essential for its health and happiness. You should provide a balanced diet that includes fresh fruits and vegetables, live insects, calcium supplements, multivitamin supplements, and UVB lighting. You should also monitor your bearded dragon’s health regularly and consult a reptile veterinarian if you have any concerns.

FAQs about Feeding a 7-Month-Old Bearded Dragon

Here are some of the most common questions that owners have about feeding their 7-month-old bearded dragons: