Are Bearded Dragons Omnivores? | Bearded Dragon Nutrition

Bearded dragons are desert reptilians and recently we all have started seeing them as good pets. These reptilians have needs different from mammalian pets, which means they have to be fed differently. Are bearded dragons omnivores? You will have to know this basic characteristic so that you can feed them appropriately and see them grow into complete, and healthy adults.

It is not a very difficult thing to understand what these dragons need every day. When you know what these dragons need, everything will become easy. Here is a detailed note of all that they eat and whether you can feed them certain food groups or not. Soon you will be seeing your dragon become happier and it will make your home complete too.

Are Bearded Dragons Omnivores

Bearded dragons are omnivores who can eat vegetables, fruits, and insects so they are omnivores. Most reptilians are omnivores and they absorb all kinds of nutrients from these foods. The good thing is that the omnivore diet is economical, and there is not much prep that you will need to carry out each day. Bearded dragons need calcium and protein more than anything else. Like humans, they need a strong muscular structure and strong bones. However, vitamins and minerals are also essential and all kinds of vegetables, fruits, and insects fulfill these requirements.

Vegetables That Bearded Dragons Eat

Vegetables fulfill much of the calcium and vitamins part, but they also provide fiber and vitamins. Bearded dragons can have all kinds of vegetables except spinach, and broccoli. Even romaine will be off the list for these reptilians! When you design their diet, be sure to add some suitable vegetables such as collard, turnip greens, and beetroot. Sweet potatoes and potatoes are also good choices.

When feeding, you will have to ensure that you chop the vegetables into very small pieces. This way the bearded dragon will be able to swallow the vegetable finely. If you cut up big pieces of vegetables, they will not be able to swallow them after chewing them into small pieces so the chunks can get stuck in the intestines.

When this happens for a few days, the bearded dragons can get impaction in the intestine. This means that the stuck food obstructs their intestines and they get chronic constipation. Gradually this becomes more intense and the lower body of these creatures becomes immobile due to the pain in the abdomen. Also, find out Can Bearded Dragons Eat Carrots.

The Fruits That Bearded Dragons Eat

There are many fruits that add color to the palate of bearded dragons. Moreover, they fulfill the vitamin requirement very well. You can feed all fruits except kiwi, raspberry, and avocados. Fruits are sweet and you cannot feed them a lot of these natural desserts. The metabolism of bearded dragons is slow and that means they cannot consume fruits that are too high in sugars, and fats.

Avocados have high fat so they are off the table. Similarly, fruits that are too tangy or too hard will also be inappropriate. Like vegetables, fruits need to be cut up into smaller pieces and you need to choose the ones that have more calcium such as apples.

Calcium is an integral part of the bearded dragon diet. However, since these reptilians cannot consume dairy, you will have to ensure that they get enough of this mineral from the fruits and vegetables they eat. If there is less calcium in a bearded dragon’s diet, they can get Metabolic Bone Disease, which makes bones too soft and bendable. Once this disease sets in, the bearded dragons cannot move because of soft bones, and standing in one place makes them gain weight, which only makes matters worse. In the later stages of the disease, dragons stop eating and become weak. This leads to anxiety and eventually they die. Moreover, you can read Can Bearded Dragons Eat Cherries.

The Insect That Bearded Dragons Eat

Insects are by far the most sought-after meal for bearded dragons as they love to eat pests! Bearded dragons become happy when they eat insects. They can have Dubia roaches, worms, and even bugs. These pests fulfill their protein requirements, and they love eating them so it’s double important! When you feed these dragon insects, ensure that they are not caught from the garden and added to their plate! You can breed them on your own or buy a can from the pet shop, or tackle shop.

Another caution for pet owners is that they should not feed big insects like cockroaches in one piece. This is because cockroaches have tough skin, and they can be too big for bearded dragons to swallow. Again, this can cause impaction and you would not want to see your pet going through such a horrible experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I feed bearded dragons any other kind of meat?

Other than insects, you can feed small rodents and amphibians to your bearded dragon. However, it is best to keep in mind that the more you feed these animals, the more they become vulnerable to impaction and different kinds of health issues, so keep it all in moderation.

Will bearded dragons eat cooked vegetables and meat?

Bearded dragons can have cooked food but it is better to feed it raw so that the nutrition is not lost! Bearded dragons need all the nutrition because their metabolism is slow and it takes a long time to process food, and they need to absorb these essentials fast, which is possible with raw foods only.

Conclusion

Bearded dragons are omnivores and you can feed them vegetables, fruits, and insects in all kinds of ways! However, there are some precautions that owners need to exercise to see that their pets thrive and remain happy.