Oh Boy, the Internet Tackles How Many Calories HOTD Dragons Eat
The Dragons of House of the Dragon: A Calculated Appetite
There are dragons in House of the Dragon, and while we've seen them gobble down the occasional sheep or person in the Game of Thrones spinoff, the show hasn't delved too deeply into their eating habits. However, as Season 3 continues its run through the 2026 TV schedule, a Reddit user has done the math and thinks they have a solid idea of how much these gargantuan beasts eat.
As we wait for the next episode to arrive on HBO (or streaming via HBO Max subscription), the internet is buzzing with theories about the dragons' dietary needs. One particularly detailed calculation has sparked a lot of discussion, leading many to question whether the Game of Thrones universe will have to address this at some point.
The Caloric Requirements of a Dragon
According to a post by Reddit user /u/SupSeal, a dragon in House of the Dragon would need approximately 23,333,333 calories daily to survive. This estimate was based on the caloric intake of blue whales, the largest creatures on Earth, which require between 20-50 million calories a day. The user used the average length of a blue whale (27 meters) and scaled it up to the estimated size of a dragon (90 meters) to calculate the dragon's caloric needs.
The calculation went like this: - 27 meters (blue whale) / 90 meters (dragon) = 1/3 - 35 million calories (average for a blue whale) divided by 3 equals roughly 116,666,667 calories per day for a dragon. - Since dragons are reptiles, they likely consume 5 to 10 times fewer calories than mammals. - Using the lower end of 5, the final number becomes 23,333,333 calories per day.
This staggering number has led to further speculation about how dragons could sustain themselves in the world of House of the Dragon.
How Do Dragons Survive on Such a Massive Diet?
The numbers vary depending on who you ask, but it's clear that dragons would require a significant amount of food to survive. On average, they might need a few hundred sheep a day, and they could also supplement their diet with humans, as we know dragons eat them too. It's no wonder the character "Sheepstealer" got that name if he was picking off that many people's livestock on a daily basis!
However, the show may not focus too much on this aspect. With the crown already short on funds, the Green faction burning through royal resources, and Rhaenyra inheriting a throne that's both chaotic and heavily in debt, it's unlikely that the series will delve into the practicalities of feeding the dragons.
Why Focus Less on Dragon Eating Habits?
The kingdom is struggling to pay its soldiers and is in a vulnerable position as Lord Ormund Hightower gains ground with his forces. While Rhaenyra still has her dragons and plot armor, it's possible that the dragons of this universe have incredibly slow metabolisms, allowing them to thrive on just a few sheep a day.
Of course, this raises questions about how the dragons actually survive in the world of House of the Dragon. If they truly require tens of millions of calories a day, where do they get all that food? And how does the kingdom manage to support them?
George R.R. Martin’s Perspective
Now that people are making theories, it would be interesting to hear George R.R. Martin's take on the matter. For someone so critical of the size of dragon wings and how they're portrayed in the spinoff, you'd think he'd have a lot to say about this as well.
What’s Next for House of the Dragon?
House of the Dragon continues on HBO on Sundays at 9:00 p.m. ET. This season is getting so tense with a stomach-churning ending to the latest episode, it's hard to wait to see where it all ends up!
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