Food lists & related topics
A Note About Food Charts
One of our facebook group admins is in the process of compiling a food chart (updated above). Once its completed, I will upload it to this site. You can find the group at Bearded Dragons and Common Sense Care on facebook.
In the meantime, here's a quick list of foods good for daily use
Live: dubia, crickets, super worms, meal worms, phoenix worms, silk worms, butter worms, which are low in fat and high in calcium
Use as treats: Wax worms (because of how fatty they are) and horn worms (they're low in fat, high in water and high in calcium. Don't overfeed or your dragon may have diarrhea due to the water content in them.)
Vegetables good for daily use:
Greens - collard, mustard, turnip, dandelion, endive, escarole, kale, squash
Good for variety:
Bell peppers, cucumbers, carrots, watercress, zucchini
A note about kale
If I hear one more person say that its bad to feed a dragon kale, I'm gonna develop a nervous condition. No dragon should be eating "only" collard greens and dubia every single day. Every dragon thrives on variety. In the meantime, here's a post I wrote in regards to the whole kale fiasco in the dragon community.
Here's the issue ... there is no real issue with kale, but let me explain a little. Years ago, it was thought that the oxalate level in kale was too high for dragons, making it a food that wasn't safe for everyday use. As research developed, it was then found that the levels in kale were comparable (in reality) to certain other greens we feed, that were "proclaimed by the dragon Gods above" as safe for daily use.
Technically you don't want to feed food high in oxalates every single day, as it can have a binding effect on calcium. However for this to occur, the amount of high oxalate food (as found through later research) has to be extensive.
Essentially after more research was completed, it was determined that kale is fine to feed as part of a well-balanced diet. You really don't want to use just "one" green or source of veggies, whether its kale or another green.
Variation is always the key to optimal dragon health. In actuality, no, there's nothing wrong with feeding kale but offering it mixed with other greens is always best for a more well-rounded, balanced, nutritional approach, which I would say about the use of any single green or vegetable.
I'd rather see someone feed kale mixed into their greens on occasion, as opposed to feeding one specific green every single day, for years on end.
Dragons thrive on variety, whether its with vegetables or live foods, and regardless of the dragon's age.
My dragon won't eat their greens ...
I hear so many people say that their dragon won't eat greens or other veggies and the owners start to panic. I wanted to address this topic since its such a concern.
First of all, babies and young juveniles (technically dragons under "adult" age but this varies somewhat) should be on mostly protein (live foods) and a smaller portion of greens and veggies, as compared to live foods. The real concern for people comes in, when adults don't eat their greens and veggies.
Honestly, with all age groups, I don't worry about dragons not eating greens. I also don't feed a dragon solely super worms, which have the highest fat content for the usual staple foods, for months on end. So what can you do if your dragon's not eating their greens?
Relax. As long as your dragon's getting a balanced diet, its generally not a huge problem. The problem comes in when the dragon is overweight, especially, which shows that balanced nutrition hasn't really been offered up to this point.
I make sure that all feeders are properly gutloaded and are fed fresh greens each day. I also offer fresh greens and veggies to my dragons every day, even if they don't eat them right away. You can also try adding bee pollen to their greens. The pleasant smell and good taste often encourages dragons to eat their greens.
live feeder nutrition info
I have no idea who first compiled this chart but its used constantly as a source of information in the dragon community for the breakdown of live feeders. If anyone knows who first compiled it, feel free to shout at me through our group and I'd be happy to give them full credit for it.
One of the live foods that's not on here that people often ask about is hornworms, and the breakdown is as follows for them:
Protein 9%
Fat 3.07%
Calcium 46.4 mg/100 gr
Moisture 85%
(Info from Rainbow Mealworms)