Reptile Feeding Guide: Diets by Species

Reptiles have vastly different dietary needs depending on their species. Carnivorous, herbivorous, omnivorous, and insectivorous—providing the right diet for each feeding type is fundamental to their health.

Reptile Dietary Classifications

• Strictly carnivorous: Snakes (mice/rats), monitor lizards
• Primarily insectivorous: Leopard geckos, juvenile bearded dragons, chameleons
• Omnivorous (insects + vegetables): Adult bearded dragons, some green iguanas
• Strictly herbivorous: Adult green iguanas, tortoises
• Piscivorous: Some garter snakes

Main Food Types and Characteristics

Frozen Mice/Rats (for snakes) - Nutritionally balanced and easy to manage - Thaw completely in warm water (40-45°C) before feeding - Juveniles: pinky mice / Adults: hopper to adult size

Crickets/Dubia Roaches (for insectivorous species) - Both live and frozen options available - Gut-loading (feeding nutritious food to feeder insects) is important - Choose insects smaller than the animal's head width

Vegetables/Greens (for herbivorous/omnivorous species) - High-calcium vegetables like bok choy, komatsuna, and daikon greens are recommended - Avoid spinach and kale due to high oxalic acid content - Keep fruit intake minimal due to high sugar content

Feeding Frequency Guidelines

• Juveniles: Daily to every other day
• Adults (insectivorous): Every 2-3 days
• Adults (mouse-fed snakes): Every 7-14 days
• Adults (herbivorous): Daily

Nutritional Supplementation

Calcium + Vitamin D3 Supplementation - Essential for insectivorous and herbivorous reptiles - Dust insects with calcium powder at each feeding - Add vitamin supplement 1-2 times per week

Dealing with Food Refusal - Check temperature and humidity (environmental factors are often the cause) - Try changing the food size or type - Temporary fasting before shedding, during breeding season, or seasonal changes is normal

Find Reptiles on Bri-Choku

When purchasing from a breeder, confirm what food the animal has been eating. The reptile category lets you select animals with good feeding responses directly.