Reptile Food Guide

Reptiles can eat a variety of things. They’ll often need a source of protein to help with muscle development and it’s usually their main energy source. Where that protein comes from will depend on what is available in their natural habitat but it can include fish, meat insects and sometimes even other reptiles. In captivity, we tend to offer meat as a protein source or insects because it’s easy to source.

Some species will need fresh veggies or extra vitamins and minerals and if you really don’t want to feed meat, some reptiles even have entirely vegetarian diets. Species like the green iguana don’t need any insects or animals in their diet so they would be a good option for vegetarian owners but they do tend to be more specialised species. A lot of beginner friendly lizards and snakes will need some animal protein.

Every species of reptile has a slightly different diet. They may need different food types altogether or different amounts of protein and vegetables. There can be big differences between lizards, snakes and tortoises but not only that, species that fall within the same classification can even have vastly different diets. Luckily there is plenty of species and subspecies specific research to make sure you can take the best care of your scaly friend.

Once you’re aware of the basics you can learn what their personal preferences are and find out what treats they most look forward to. Every animal’s preferences can be different just like a lightly different feeding routine can suit two snakes of the same species!

Lizards can be omnivores, carnivores, herbivores and insectivores so you really do need to know what your individual species requires when you’re bringing them home. Some of the most common lizard pets include geckos and bearded dragons. The most common lizard species we keep as pets will need a mixture of vegetables with insect protein.

A bearded dragon needs a diet that consists of 80% vegetables and fresh greens along with 20% insect protein. While they do enjoy carrots and many coloured vegetables, most the the veggies you’re going to be feeding your bearded dragon should be made up from dark green, leafy vegetables. Vegetables like dandelion greens and collared greens are great to feed every day while you mix in some carrots or bell peppers occasionally.

Once you know what vegetables to prioritise, the other food source you need to provide is going to be insects. Insects should be bought and fed live. The movement triggers their instinct to chase and eat their prey and you know they’re only eating healthy insects when they’re fed alive. Common live food includes crickets, roaches and mealworms and which you choose will often be dictated by the size of your lizard. Getting a smaller lizard a great big cricket might be too much of a challenge to eat but smaller mealworms may go down a treat. Insects range from the smaller Peregrine Mealworms Reptile Live Food to larger species like the Peregrine Silent Brown Crickets that will be more appetising to larger species.

Snakes are all carnivores so you don’t have to worry about keeping a stock of fresh greens for these slithery fellas. The most common diet for a pet snake is rodents that are bought frozen and defrosted before they’re fed. Feeding an entire mouse or rat means your snake gets all the benefits of the nutrients they need which will even include whatever their food has in their stomach! Feeder rodents are fed a nutritionally balanced diet and it’s important they’re well looked after because healthy food means a healthy snake! Some species of snake eat insects, birds and even bird eggs but predominantly, most pet snakes are fed on rodents.

Choosing what type of rodent will usually just represent how large your snake is which differs with their species and age. A very young snake may need to feed from pinkies like PLT Small Frozen Mice Pinkies Reptile Food. Pinkies are very young mice who have not yet grown any fur which is how they get their name. They’re a great food source for smaller snakes and you can get very small pinkies or slightly bigger ones. The next size up are fuzzies which also come in different sizes. Fuzzies get their name because they’re old enough to have grown in their fur. Snakes will eat everything, fur included and regurgitate anything they can’t digest like the bones.

PLT Frozen S/M Mice Fuzzies Reptile Food are good for smaller snake species that are fully grown and can handle slightly larger food or young snakes who still have a lot of growing to do and need plenty of protein. PLT Frozen Rat Medium-Large Reptile Food are a good choice for larger snakes like boa species or you would be there all day trying to feed them enough mice to satisfy their hunger! All quality frozen rodents should have plenty of nutrients to offer your scaly friend, it’s all about matching them to the right size meal.

The most common natural diet for most species of tortoise includes mostly fresh herbs and weeds they graze on. As pets, they need an abundance of leafy greens which you could feed them for their whole diet however to make sure their nutritional needs are met, most tortoise parents will partner fresh greens with a convenient tortoise diet like Komodo Tortoise Diet Dandelion Food. It’s the ideal high fibre and low protein diet that you can add extra fresh food and know they’re getting everything they need. Different commercial foods may be better to suited to different species of tortoise. The dandelion food is great for European and Russian tortoise species of tortoise.

Calcium is an important part of any reptile’s diet. It helps to maintain bone health and prevents both bone and shell deformations. For lizards and tortoise species especially, their diets in captivity can lack the calcium and vitamin D3 they need to stay healthy. A supplement like Vetark Nutrobal Calcium and Vitamin Supplement can be sprinkled on their food to keep them fit and strong in your care.

For a wide selection of dry, frozen and live reptile food to satisfy for your scaly companion, visit us in store and online.