Zoo database

Komodo Dragon

Varanus komodoensis

Natural diet Komodo Dragon

Komodo dragons are carnivorous and have a variety of prey ranging from small to large vertebrates. Some of these species include rodents and birds, but also large carcasses are consumed. Besides this, insects and reptiles are occasionally eaten. Naturally, they may consume up to 80% of their BW in one meal. In captivity, this amount is often divided over multiple days.

Vertebrates
Vertebrates

Feeding advice Komodo Dragon

Feed quantity per day

5-10%

Sample percentage calculation

If an animal weighs 80 kg and eats 8% of its body weight, it will get
 
80 x 0.08 = 6.4 kg feed in total per day

Feed composition

99% Meat and whole prey
1% Supplements

Proportions (fresh product)

0.99 x 6.4 kg = 6,336 g meat and whole prey
0.01 x 6.4 kg = 64 g supplements

Diet Suggestions

Recommended

Variety of prey

Whole prey

Supplements

Not recommended

Common diseases

An unbalanced diet may result in one of these more commonly occurring diseases/conditions:

  • Obesity
  • Metabolic bone disease

Additional advice

  • Divide the “Feed quantity per day” over at least one feeding moment per day.
  • The supplements should be given according to the appropriate dosage that is mentioned on the labelling.
  • Foraging behaviour can be stimulated by dispersing the food throughout the enclosure (read more about feed enrichment and foraging behaviour).