You should be alright if you stick to the food on the lists above, but there are a few foods you should make careful not to give your bearded dragon.
It is your job to prevent giving harmful items to dragons in the first place because they will eat them even if they are toxic.
When your pet becomes ill, consult a veterinarian for advice. Numerous issues that may affect bearded dragons are covered by insurance.
- Onion
- Chives
- Celery
- Mushrooms
- Lemon: Your dragon’s stomach will be upset by this citrus fruit.
- Another citrus fruit that will upset your dragon’s stomach is orange.
- Crisp lettuce Don’t let your bearded dragon consume it because it is largely water and has poor nutritional value.
- Leafy greens and beet tops Some guidelines will claim that these are okay for your Beardie and that you can consume them in moderation. But both of these contain substances that might deplete calcium levels, which in turn can result in metabolic bone disease. A Bearded Dragon shouldn’t be harmed by the occasional taste, but with so many other choices available, it could be preferable to select alternate greens.
- wild insects that have been caught Wild insects might have parasites that are harmful to reptiles. For your Bearded Dragon, exotic pet stores ought to have a variety of live and dead insects. Additionally, it would be difficult to find enough natural insects in the UK.
- Fireflies Never give firefly to bearded dragons or any other type of reptile. Any glowing insects are toxic and can be lethal to reptiles.
- Avocados Avocados contain harmful chemicals for bears. A little will make your reptile sick, and a lot can be lethal.
- Rhubarb Rhubarb has high concentrations of oxalic acid, which is extremely harmful to bearded dragons.
Wild plants that are harmful to bearded dragons are numerous. Several that are more typical in the UK are listed below: ivy, oak, poppy, holly, horse chestnut, crocus, daffodil, and bracken fern.
In general, if you’re not absolutely certain that something is safe for your pet, don’t offer it to them.
Sand is one more thing to consider. Sand is not something you would typically offer a bearded dragon to eat, but many keepers use it as a substrate because it is loose and is simple for the bearded dragon to eat.
If swallowed, it may result in impaction, which is the accumulation of material within an animal that cannot be digested and leads to a blockage that may be fatal. Impaction can be caused by even calcium sand.
What kinds of flora enjoy bearded dragons?
The inland or central bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps), which is found in the arid to semi-arid southeast of Australia, is the most well-known of the eight bearded dragon species. The species addressed in this handout is Pogona vitticeps.
What do bearded dragons eat?
Because their native habitats may be food-scarce, bearded dragons are willing to eat a wide range of various foods. As omnivores, bearded dragons consume both plant- and animal-based diets, including insects.
They have an acute sense of smell and a sharp eye. Adult bearded dragons tend to be more herbivorous whereas young, growing ones tend to be mostly carnivores. According to its age, a bearded dragon’s diet should generally consist of roughly 50% plant-based and 50% animal-based foods. Consult your veterinarian before choosing a food for your pet lizard.
How often should I feed my bearded dragon?
Depending on each pet’s specific appetite, juvenile bearded dragons typically eat once or twice day whereas adult lizards can be fed once daily.
What are some types of plant material I can feed my bearded dragon?
Only 10–20 percent of the plant material should be fruit, with the majority (80–90%) being vegetables and flowers. Typically, a substantial portion of the diet can be made up of anything leafy and dark green. Vegetables in the colors of yellow, red, and orange may also be used. Avoid light green vegetables that are high in fiber, low in nutrients and vitamins, such as iceberg or head lettuce and celery, as they are mostly made of fiber and water and have little nutritional value. Some veggies’ interior, lighter-colored portions are less nutrient-dense than their outside, darker-green leaves.
Collard greens, beet greens, mustard greens, broccoli, turnip greens, alfalfa hay or chow, bok choy, kale, parsley, Swiss chard, watercress, clover, red or green cabbage, savory, cilantro, kohlrabi, bell peppers, green beans, escarole, and dandelion are acceptable vegetables that should make up a significant portion of the diet. Cacti, several types of squash, sprouts, roasted sweet potatoes, parsnips, okra, cucumber, asparagus, mushrooms, carrots, peas, and corn can all be eaten in smaller amounts. Apples, pears, bananas (with skin), grapes, star fruit, raisins, peaches, tomatoes, guava, kiwis, and melons are examples of fruit. Figs (which are rich in calcium), apricots, dates, raspberries, and strawberries are some fruits that are particularly beneficial. Fruits can be consumed in preference, but because they are typically low in minerals, they should only be used as a top dressing. Geraniums, carnations, dandelions, hibiscus, nasturtiums, and roses may also be provided as a treat.
Since fruits typically lack minerals, they should only be used as a top dressing.
Although raw vegetables are more wholesome and retain more nutrients, both cooked and raw vegetables can be served. Wash all produce items thoroughly. You can either grow flowers yourself or buy them from flower shops. Older, withered flowers are frequently discarded by floral retailers. Bearded dragon owners frequently receive these for free, despite the fact that they might not be suitable for general sale. Make sure the flowers and water haven’t been treated with chemicals before giving them to your dragon.
Because they contain oxalates, which can bind calcium and other trace minerals and limit their absorption, Swiss chard, spinach, and beet greens should only be consumed in moderation. Nutritional deficits can result from diets heavy in these. Feeding cabbage, kale, and mustard greens should also be done with caution since they contain goitrogens, which interfere with iodine uptake and inhibit thyroid gland activity. Excessive consumption of these vegetables can cause hypothyroidism.
The oxalates in spinach, beet greens, and Swiss chard can bind calcium and other trace minerals, so they should only be consumed in moderation.
Food should be served in a clean, shallow dish that can’t be easily knocked over. To guarantee your bearded dragon eats a range of foods and to prevent selection of a single favored food item, vegetables should be finely diced and mixed together.
What types of animal-based proteins can I offer my bearded dragon?
Suitable sources of animal protein include grasshoppers, gut-loaded or calcium-dusted crickets and mealworms, spiders, wax worms (rarely because of their high fat content), silk worms (rarely), tofu, moths, snails, and earthworms.
Owners can cultivate live prey like crickets and other worms or buy them from pet shops, bait shops, or reptile breeders. As fertilizers and insecticides may be present in or on these insects and may be hazardous if served to bearded dragons, collecting insects from outdoors or from the home garden is not advised. Bearded dragons should never be given fireflies because they are typically poisonous to reptiles. Pinkie or young “fuzzy” mice can be sparingly fed to larger bearded dragons.
For balanced nutrition, don’t forget to serve your family a wide variety of healthful foods from all of the food groups listed above.
Do I need to give my bearded dragons vitamins and minerals?
In particular while they are young and their bones are forming, bearded dragons have a higher requirement for calcium in their diets than phosphorus. In general, veterinarians advise that you LIGHTLY sprinkle food supplied to bearded dragons 2-3 times per week with a calcium powder (calcium gluconate, lactate, or carbonate) that does not contain vitamin D3, and another 2-3 times per week with a calcium powder that does. Additionally, you should sprinkle a GENERAL reptile mineral supplement on the meal ONCE A WEEK. To make sure the bearded dragon eats supplements, sprinkle a tiny amount of them on moist meals or salads before feeding the rest of the meal.
Inappropriate calcium, vitamin, and mineral supplementation is a problem that frequently affects bearded dragon pets. For detailed advice on enhancing your pet’s diet, speak with your veterinarian.
What about water?
There should always be access to fresh water in a sturdy container. Daily fresh water should be provided, and the water bowl should be cleaned and sanitized.
The majority of the water required by bearded dragons in the wild comes from rain or morning dew on plants and other food sources; some do not appear to recognize a dish of water. Another method to keep pet bearded dragons hydrated is to mist the vegetable matter offered to them. Additionally, to keep pet bearded dragons hydrated, they can be directly misted with water from a plant mister or bathed a few times each week.
The dietary requirements of various bearded dragon species may range slightly. The ideal food for bearded dragons kept in captivity is a contentious issue, and our knowledge and comprehension of it are constantly expanding. Please talk to a vet who is knowledgeable about reptiles and is familiar with your lizard about the precise food requirements for your bearded dragon (depending on his age, weight, and health state).
Bearded dragons can carry bacteria and parasites that may not be dangerous to them but that may affect us, so always WASH YOUR HANDS THOROUGHLY after handling, feeding, and cleaning one.
What plants outside do bearded dragons eat?
Among the best lizard pets ever are bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps).
This Australian native lizard is skilled at climbing and dwells in rocky, dry areas of the continent. They can be observed in the wild resting on trees, tanning themselves on rocks, and keeping cool in bushes and other shaded spots.
Dragons have flat bodies with pointy ridges along the sides and big triangular heads. Although their spiky, dangerous-looking scales are actually soft, flexible, and not particularly sharp.
Bearded dragons often consume 80% bugs and 20% plants when they are very young.
The diet of adult bearded dragons is almost entirely the opposite, consisting of 80% plants and 20% insects and other vermin.
What Vegetables Do Bearded Dragons Eat
There are numerous veggies that bearded dragons can consume without becoming sick. The most popular types of veggies you can feed your bearded dragon are listed below:
- Squash, acorn
- Heart of Artichoke
- Asparagus (Raw)
- Peppers, bell (Raw)
- Choi bok (Limit due to blocking calcium absorption)
- Squash, butternut
- Cabbage (Limit due to blocking calcium absorption)
- Carrots
- Chicory
- greens for a salad
- Cucumber (Peeled)
- Lentils (Cooked)
- Endive
- Kale
- Kohlrabi
- mustard leaves
- Okra (Raw)
- Parsnips
- Pumpkins
- Radicchio
- spiralized squash
- radishes greens
- Yams (Raw)
- Zucchini
- orange squash
What Fruits Do Bearded Dragons Eat
Bearded dragons will consume fruit in addition to vegetation and insects. You can safely give the fruits on the list below to your bearded dragon: It is recommended to remove fruit seeds before feeding because many of them are poisonous.
- Apples
- Apricot
- Blackberries
- Blueberries
- Chayote
- Cherries
- Cranberries
- Figs
- Grapes (Peeled)
- Grapefruit
- Guava
- Mangos
- Melons
- Nectarine
- Papayas
- Peaches
- Pears
- Pineapple
- Plum
- Prunes
- Strawberries
- Watermelon
Safe Plants for Bearded Dragons
Additionally, you can give your bearded dragon some plants to eat. Since they originated in the wild, it’s likely that they didn’t always have access to veggies, hence certain plants entered their diet:
- Basil
- Carnations
- Clover
- Green dandelion
- Daylilies
- Impatiens
- Leafy Maple
- Leaf Mint
- Oregano
- Flower Petals
- Rosemary (Fresh)
- Sage
- Thyme (Fresh)
Poisonous Foods And Plants for Bearded Dragons
Due to their toxicity, the plants on this list are not to be fed to any pets, according to vets.
- Boxwood
- Buttercup
- Daffy daffodil
- Elderberry
- Holly
- Hydrangea
- Iris
- Ivy
- Jack-in-the-Pulpit
- Juniper
- Mistletoe
- Oak
- Venomous Ivy
- Toxic Oak
- Toxic Sumac
- Poinsettia
- Rhododendron
- Tobacco
- Tulip
- Hemlock Water
Vitamins And Minerals Your Bearded Dragon Needs
Bearded dragons require vitamins and minerals to keep healthy, much like people do. The supplements that bearded dragons require are listed below:
Iron
For young bearded dragons, iron is particularly crucial. If you have a young bearded dragon, be sure to offer it to them in small doses because an excess of iron can lead to health issues. Vegetables and plants can usually provide your bearded dragon with enough iron.
Vitamin A
Bearded dragons require vitamin A as well, but they typically consume enough of it from their diet of plants and vegetables.
Vitamin A toxicity can result from giving your dragon too much of the vitamin, so you should be cautious. As previously said, a multivitamin for reptiles is highly recommended because it will give your bearded dragon vitamin A without running the risk of overdosing or making your beardie ill.
Vitamin D3 & Calcium
Two of the most crucial vitamins and minerals your bearded dragon needs are vitamin D3 and calcium.
It is crucial for pregnant female dragons since it aids in the formation of their bones (carrying eggs).
Given that bearded dragons cannot absorb calcium without vitamin D3, you must give your pet both vitamin D3 and calcium at the same time.
The amount of vitamin D3 you feed your bearded dragon depends on how much exposure he or she receives to natural sunlight, as bearded dragons in the wild obtain the majority of the vitamin D3 they require from sunlight (or full-spectrum lighting).
You can cut the dosage in half if your bearded dragon spends a lot of time outdoors in the sun or if its enclosure has full-spectrum illumination.
- Baby dragons require a daily dose of calcium and vitamin D3 to remain healthy (since they are still developing and need bone support).
- Three to four times per week, juvenile dragons require a calcium and vitamin D3 supplement with a diet.
- Once a week, adult dragons need to eat a meal with a calcium and vitamin D3 supplement.
Make sure the calcium to phosphorus ratio in the vitamin D3 and calcium supplement you choose is 2:1 or 3:1. You don’t want your dragon to have too much phosphorous, thus the higher the better.
Rep-Cal Reptile Calcium Powder with D3 is now the best-rated calcium and vitamin D3 supplement on the market and a favorite among reptile breeders and enthusiasts.
Bearded Dragons can be found at just every pet store and animal expo.
Interesting behaviors are also displayed by bearded dragons, such as “waving,” in which females (and rarely males) may elevate their front legs into the air and wave them in a submissive manner.
Although it’s unusual for tame captives to do so, dragons frequently do this when disturbed. The spiky “beard” from which the lizard derives its popular name may also be stretched.
Interesting Notes:
- Newly hatched bearded dragons are roughly 4 inches long, while huge adults can reach lengths of nearly 2 feet.
- Although there have been tales of animals lasting twice that long, the average captivity lifespan is between six and ten years.