When it comes to feeding your bearded dragon, you’ll find you have quite a few options available. This is especially so with vegetables. Bearded dragons need to eat a lot of vegetables. This helps them to stay healthy and develop tough bones. However, while they can eat many vegetables, there are a few they can’t. This article will explore more behind why vegetables are an important diet staple and some of the best choices to feed your bearded dragon.
Bearded dragons need to eat a heavy amount of vegetables in order to stay healthy, such as cucumbers and leafy greens. This is especially so as they get older as their body develops meaning it needs more protein and vitamins to stay strong. Vegetables also provide their body with plenty of water so they stay hydrated.
Below you’ll find more about the various types of vegetables bearded dragons need. You’ll also find some tips on how to feed them and some veggies to watch out for.
The Benefits of Vegetables for Bearded Dragons
Vegetables will provide plenty of benefits for your bearded dragon. Below are a few you’ll find.
They are Packed with Vitamins and Minerals
Vegetables are able to provide your bearded dragon with plenty of vitamins and minerals, like Vitamin K and calcium. These help to keep your bearded dragon’s immune system running well. They can also work to ensure they have healthy skin and stay active.
They Help Older Bearded Dragons Live Longer
Older bearded dragons also get incredible benefits from vegetables. Vegetables are able to help keep their body somewhat active and healthy so they don’t become lethargic. This in return can help them to live longer.
They Provide Your Bearded Dragon with Water
Vegetables mainly consist of water. This will help to ensure your pet stays hydrated as bearded dragons need a lot of water in their daily diet.
Things to Keep in Mind Before Feeding Your Bearded Dragon Vegetables
There are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind before giving your bearded dragon any type of vegetable.
Watch the Amount
When giving your bearded dragon vegetables, you want to make sure you only give them certain amounts of specific types. Otherwise, the vegetables might end up being too much for their body. While their diet needs to consist of about 80% of vegetables, make sure to not overdo it.
Use Fresh Vegetables
While it might be cheaper to buy frozen vegetables, it’s important not to. Frozen vegetables lose a lot of their nutritional value once frozen. They can also be a bit crunchy for your pet to eat. This could make it a bit difficult for them to chew or digest the pieces.
Mix Things Up
If you find that your bearded dragon likes a particular vegetable, then by all means feed them that. However, sometimes it’s also good to change things up. This way, your bearded dragon can get a variety of different vitamins and minerals found in different veggies. It’s also been thought that if you change their diet up, it can increase their appetite.
Vegetables to Watch Out For
While these reptiles can eat most vegetables, there are a few types you’ll want to watch out for. These will not only make your bearded dragon sick, but also could be deadly.
Mushrooms
Mushrooms are extremely dangerous to give bearded dragons. They contain certain properties which can interact negatively with a bearded dragon’s body. If given to them, it could be lethal.
Romaine/Iceberg Lettuce
While bearded dragons do need to eat leafy greens, romaine and iceberg lettuce are not good choices. This is because these two varieties contain extremely high levels of water. While they are not necessarily dangerous to give your bearded dragon, the high water content could cause them to have diarrhea. It could also prevent them from getting the necessary vitamins they need to stay healthy.
Avocados
Avocados are a popular vegetable for humans, but for bearded dragons they are deadly. This is due to the high amounts of oxalic acid which can cause gastrointestinal problems. Because of this, it’s best to not give your pet this vegetable.
Rhubarb
Rhubarb is extremely toxic to bearded dragons. This vegetable can wreak havoc on their body and cause to it shut down and lose nutrients. In fact, if your bearded dragon somehow eats even a small piece of it, it could prove fatal.
The Top Vegetables for Bearded Dragons to Eat
Greens
Bearded dragons need to eat heavy amount of greens. This is because they help to provide vitamins and minerals that their body needs to survive. Some of the best leafy greens to give them are arugula, carrot tops, mustard greens, watercress, kale, and swiss chard.
While your pet can eat spinach, you want to be careful with it. Too much of this green can result in diarrhea. So, ideally, only give your bearded dragon this option every so often.
Squash
You can also give your bearded dragon pieces of squash. A popular type that many bearded dragons enjoy is yellow squash. Not only do bearded dragons tend to love its flavor, but it’s packed with nutrients. In fact, there are high levels of magnesium, protein, and Vitamin C in it. You can chop it up into small pieces and give them to your bearded dragon to enjoy.
Carrots
Another vegetable to give your bearded dragon is carrots. These crunchy treats are packed with antioxidants which help your pet to stay healthy. However, be sure to not chop up the carrots you give them as the pieces could be hard for them to digest. Because of this, give them the carrot sticks whole.
Bell Peppers
These colorful vegetables are a delicious treat to give your bearded dragon. They are not only sweet, but have plenty of water and minerals in them. This is especially so with red bell peppers. However, make sure to cut your bell peppers up in small bits before you give it to them.
Cucumbers
A cucumber is a refreshing treat to give your bearded dragon. While they don’t have a lot of minerals that will help your pet health-wise, they are filled with healthy amounts of water. This can help your pet to stay fully hydrated. You want to make sure to peel the cucumber before you give it to them though. The peel can be too hard for them and could make it uncomfortable for your bearded dragon to swallow.
Yams
Yams are a sweet vegetable to feed your bearded dragon. It also has plenty of healthy fat in it to help your bearded dragon stay healthy. Make sure though to peel the yams before you give them to your pet.
Pumpkin
You can cut up or grind fine pieces of raw pumpkin to give your bearded dragon. The pumpkin will give your bearded dragon plenty of calcium and vitamins. Keep in mind though that too much pumpkin can upset your bearded dragon’s stomach. Because of this, only give it to them as a snack every so often.
Radicchio
This crunchy purple vegetable has high levels of Vitamin K in it. This will help provide their body with antioxidants and work to improve their metabolism. However, as with some other vegetables, you should only give your bearded radicchio occasionally.
Bearded dragons are great pets to have. However, they have a very strict diet and need to be fed heavy amounts of certain vegetables. You can keep the information mentioned above in mind to ensure your pet gets fed enough vegetables and prevent them from possible ingesting harmful ones.
