may be important for captive reptiles . A simple and effective way to increase small dragon enrichment is the use of puzzle feeders or slow-release feeders . Set-ups that require animals to ‘ work ’ to obtain a food item , or that slowly release feeder insects , have been shown to reduce repetitive behaviours and increase the captive wellbeing of lizards . Similarly , regular variation in the captive set-up , via substitution or rearrangement of furnishings , will create stimulation for the lizards and allow them to explore a new environment .
Feeding and Hydration .
Small dragons love to eat ! When kept correctly they are very active and have a large appetite for their size . Hatchlings through to sub-adults should be fed daily ; as the animals approach adult size this should be cut back to 4-5 times a week depending on the food items offered . Most dragons are primarily insectivores and as a result insects should form the bulk of their diet . Small dragons will readily consume crickets , wood roaches , silkworms , bush fly ( larvae , pupae and adults ), black soldier fly ( larvae and adults ) and termites . Some species will also take isopods and earwigs . Appropriately-sized mealworms can also be offered sparingly as a treat ( particularly for the larger species , such as those from
Amphibolurus , Lophosaurus and larger Ctenophorus ). Mealworms are commercially bred in large numbers and offer variation in the diet , however care must be taken due to their poor nutritional content and indigestible exoskeleton .
Dietary niche breadth in small dragon species is hugely variable , with some species naturally being specialists ( most notably Moloch horridus , which only eats ants ) while others are omnivorious . Ctenophorus reticulatus and C . nuchalis have been found to consume more than 25 % vegetable matter in their total natural diet . Some Diporiphora dragons ( specifically D . winneckei and D . paraconvergens ) are known to consume a similar amount of plant material , however smaller Ctenophorus species have been shown to eat far less vegetation ; so much so that it is possible to construe that this is accidentally consumed when predating insects .
It is up to each keeper to research and decide whether they think it is appropriate to supply vegetation to their dragon . Many Ctenophorus will readily consume vegetable matter in captivity , however the bulk of their diet and nutrition should still be provided through a diversity of gut-loaded feeder insects . For those wishing to offer vegetable matter in the captive diet , kale , endive and bok choy are nutritious options to include . Larger species such as those from Amphibolurus , Lophognathus and Lophosaurus will consume pinky mice when offered as a treat . I have had limited success with small dragons taking premanufactured foods such as commercial pellets or gel mixes , and if these are offered , it should only be as a minor component of the diet , and in order to introduce added variation .
When deciding on a feeding regime for your dragons it is important to investigate the nutritional composition of your feeder insects . Look at gut-loading options for commercially available feeders like crickets and woodies , and utilise feeders such as black soldier fly larvae , which are easy to feed , easy to produce , and highly nutritious insects . Dusting of feeders with a high quality calcium and mineral supplement is essential and should occur for 80 % of feeds . Failure to provide adequate amounts of dietary calcium can and does contribute to a number of nutritional diseases including the condition commonly known in the hobby as Metabolic Bone Disease ( more appropriately referred to as Nutritional Secondary Hyperparathyroidism ). In the wild these lizards eat a wide variety of different invertebrates and as captive keepers we should try to replicate this as much as we can ! The age-old guide of ‘ no bigger
Left : although predominantly terrestrial , species such as the Central Netted Dragon will regularly use perches when provided . Image by Michael Cermak . Above right : examples of the author ’ s enclosures for :
1 . Mountain
Dragons , and ;
2 . Southern Angleheaded Dragons . Images by Mitchell Hodgson .