We have done extensive research on safe vegetables to feed bearded dragons. Vegetables should form a considerably high percentage for the adult bearded dragons compared to juvenile bearded dragons.
Can bearded dragons eat carrots?
Bearded dragons can eat carrots and carrots tops. Carrots are a good source of vitamin A for bearded dragons. However, dragons should have carrot tops sparingly due to high oxalic acid and potassium levels. Oxalates inhibit calcium absorption that is needed by bearded dragons for the growth of the bones.
While carrot tops are high in protein that can be beneficial to juvenile bearded dragons, feeding carrot tops excessively will lead to calcium deficiencies that will in turn cause metabolic bone disease and overall poor growth rate due to high levels of oxalic acid.
Can Bearded dragons eat carrots everyday?
Bearded dragons should not eat carrots every day, carrots should be fed about once or twice a week together with other safe vegetables.
Feeding carrots to bearded dragons on a daily basis will affect the absorption of calcium due to oxalic acid that have been proven to inhibit calcium absorption by reacting with calcium.
Nutritional value of carrots
The table below shows the nutritional value or profile of about 100 grams of carrots. source
Nutrients
Amount in 1 medium, raw carrot
Water
64.65 g
Energy (calories)
208 kcal
Carbohydrate (g)
17.17 g
sugar
11.23 g
Fiber (g)
2.3 g
Protein
1.22 g
Calcium (millgrams [mg])
30 mg
Phosphorus (mg)
40 mg
Potassium (mg)
309 mg
Sodium,
176 mg
Zinc
0.21 mg
copper
0.076 mg
Thiamin
0.059 mg
Niacin
0.72 mg
selenium
0.6 µg
Vitamin C
6.1 mg
Folate
14 µg
Vitamin A
521 µg
Beta carotene
5141 µg
Vitamin E
1.11 mg
Vitamin B 6
0.114 mg
Vitamin K
42.4 µg
Benefits of Feeding Carrots to Bearded Dragon
Vitamins
Bearded dragons needs vitamins to maintain a healthy life. It is therefore recommended that you feed vitamins to your dragons.
Carrots are some of the veggies loaded with vitamin A and beta-carotene. It is usually recommended that you feed dragons beta-carotene as they can convert it into the vitamin A they need.
However, carrots have both vitamin A and beta-carotene in high amounts meaning if you overfeed carrots to your dragon they will suffer from vitamin A toxicity.
Low sugar
High sugars are dangerous towards the health of the dragon, high sugars can destroy the teeth of the bearded dragon and even more dangerous high sugars can make adult dragons obese.
Calcium is one of the most important supplement that should always be in your bearded dragon diet. Calcium promotes the growth and development of bones.
Therefore young bearded dragons should have a strong source of calcium supplement. However, there are other minerals when present can prevent calcium from being absorbed in the body of bearded dragon.
These minerals are oxalates and phosphorus when calcium reacts with oxalate it ends up forming calcium oxalate and calcium-phosphorus when it reacts with phosphorus.
The recommended ratio of calcium to phosphorus ratio is either 1:1 or 2:1 in favor of calcium. The carrots Ca: P ratio is 1:1making them okay to feed to your bearded dragon.
For foods with slightly higher levels of oxalates and phosphorus but has other beneficial nutrients for bearded dragons, they can be fed but only occasionally.
Therefore carrots are safe to offer to your bearded dragon occasionaly.
Fiber
Fiber is important in the diet of bearded dragon as it helps in improving digestion and preventing constipation.
Constipation can lead to impaction which can put the life of your beardie in danger. While exercises such as swimming can help prevent impaction, offering foods rich in fiber such as carrots and kale is good enough to prevent such health issues.
Is Carrot Toxic to Bearded Dragons?
If fed excessively carrots can be toxic to bearded dragons, the best way to feed carrots to dragon is to feed it once or twice a week. Some of the effects of feeding carrots daily include
Tannins
Carrots like other fruits and vegetables such as grape seeds, tea, coffee, chocolate, bananas, grapes, raisins, lettuce, spinach, rhubarb, and onions contain tannins.
High levels of tannings can bind into proteins and prevent proteins from being absorbed. Tannins can also inhibit the action of enzymes in the bearded dragon gut hence interfering with the absorption of iron and Vitamin B12.
Oxalic Acids
Oxalic acids found in most vegetables such as kale, Good King Henry, chard, beetroots, dandelions, rhubarb, parsley or spinach inhibits the absorption of calcium in all reptiles.
Oxali acid inhibits the absorption of calcium which is a much needed mineral for bearded dragons proper growth. Calcium deficiency leads to Metabollic bone disease which is very life threatening.
However, when offered sparingly, vegetables that have oxalic acid such as carrots can be safe and healthy for bearded dragons.
Older carrot tops or greens have a high oxalic acid levels compared to young carrot tops or greens and should therefore be offered to bearded dragons compared to the former.
Can you feed carrot greens to bearded dragons
You can definetly feed carrot tops to bearded dragons, carrot tops have six times more vitamin C compared to the root carrot. They are also loaded with potassium and calcium and vitamin A.
You should treat carrot greens/tops as you would do carrots, they are not to be fed on daily basis.
Can you feed baby carrots to bearded dragons
Baby carrots like all greens are washed with chlorine to kill E.coli and Salmonella.
They are later washed using non-chlorine water which makes them safe. According to this article, baby carrots are safe for human consumption.
You can also safely feed baby carrots to your bearded dragon without fear of poisoning. You might have come across several articles online that claim that baby carrots are not safe to feed bearded dragons.
The article above explains the process that the baby carrots go through before being packed and why they go through the process.
The chlorine which is the major concern when consumed by bearded dragons especially baby dragons as it can mess with reproductivity is later washed off with non-chlorine water.
How do I feed my bearded dragon carrots?
The first step is to buy fresh organic carrots
Thoroughly clean your carrots
You can either cook them or offer them Raw, i prefer Raw
Grate carrots to make it easy for your dragon
Offer the grated carrots in a bowl
If your bearded dragon is having problems eating veggies or fruits add some carrot toppings bearded dragons like color. This will make it easy for them to eat. For instance, if you are feeding kale or spinach add some carrot topping.
Related Questions
Can you feed carrots daily to your bearded dragon? You should not feed carrots daily to your bearded dragon, with high levels of vitamin A and beta carotene, overfeeding carrots can cause vitamin A toxicity especially because bearded dragons are offered multivitamins. Once or twice a month carrot feeding is enough.
Do Beardies like carrots? Bearded dragons like carrots to a point that you can use carrots to encourage your bearded dragon to eat other veggies by adding carrot topings. This due to the fact that beardies love color.
Can carrot be a staple veggie? Carrots cannot be a staple veggie for you dragon. With high Vitamin A and Beta carotene, making carrots a staple veggie will make your beardie suffer from Vitamin A toxicity.
can bearded dragons eat carrot greens? Bearded dragons can eat carrot greens as well as they can eat the carrot itself. However, if you give them both they will prefer the carrot itself since they are attracted to color. Carrot greens have six times more vitamin C compared to the orange carrot.
Conclusion
While bearded dragon can eat carrots we highly advice against feeding bearded dragons carrots everyday.
You can mix carrots with other veggies that are nutritious like kales but your bearded dragon does not like them so as to encourage your bearded dragon to eat, they like color.
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Bearded dragons can eat carrots once or twice a week, but not every day. Carrots aren't on the menu in bearded dragons' natural habitat (Australian deserts), but they do offer some great nutritional benefits: Vitamin A and beta carotene, which promote healthy skin, a healthy immune system, and good vision.
A bearded dragon can eat a sprinkling or about half a handful of carrots as an occasional treat. They should only get carrots once or twice a week or three times a month and this is because carrots themselves are not a natural food for them, as this is not something they will come across in the wilds of Australia.
The fiber in carrots can help keep blood sugar levels under control. And they're loaded with vitamin A and beta-carotene, which there's evidence to suggest can lower your diabetes risk. They can strengthen your bones. Carrots have calcium and vitamin K, both of which are important for bone health.
Acceptable vegetables that should represent a high percentage of the diet include 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, ...
75-80% of an adult dragon's diet should be vegetables. If you're feeding a juvenile, a daily salad will suffice. Since bearded dragons are omnivores like humans, they need a variety.
Avoid vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, and romaine as too much can be harmful, or they offer limited nutritional value. Bearded dragons will also eat fruits like apples, strawberries, watermelon, and peaches. Aside from delicious fruits and vegetables, dragons will eat just about any insect that moves.
Carrots contain a type of carotenoid called beta-carotene that the body can convert into vitamin A. Consuming large amounts of carotenoids from foods has no links with harmful effects. However, the skin can turn yellow or orange if a person consumes large amounts of beta-carotene over a long period of time.
Carrots improve brain health & memory- Carrots reduce oxidative stress in the brain that helps prevent Alzheimer's disease, improve memory and fight cognitive decline.
Since they are omnivores, they eat both plants and animals and can dine on a wide range of food, from live mealworms, kingworms and crickets to greens such as parsley and kale and vegetables like pepper and sweet potato. You can even give them limited amounts of fruit.
They can also eat hard boiled eggs. Just remember these pointers: Adult bearded dragons should eat no more than half an egg at a time, max. If you're scrambling the egg, don't mix any additional ingredients with it.
So you may be wondering if you can share this veggie-like fruit with your reptile friend. Can bearded dragons eat tomatoes? As is the case for many fruits, the answer is qualified. Yes, bearded dragons can safely eat tomatoes...but only a small amount served once a month.
Brown crickets are the staple of many insectivorous and omnivorous reptile diets. Not only are they very nutritious and easy to digest they are also quite cheap and easy to find. This is the bread and butter live food and should be present in all reptile or exotic pet shops you might visit.
Bearded Dragon Food. The following list of insects, vegetables and fruits are good choices to include in your bearded dragon's diet: Dubia roaches, earthworms, crickets and superworms. Apples, blueberries, peaches, strawberries and watermelon.
Adult bearded dragons, or those older than 18 months, will need to be fed just once a day every day. Now, if you miss a day here and there it will by no means be the end of the world. But, you really should strive to feed your bearded dragon once daily.
Bearded dragons can have cucumbers every other week or so.
96% water, making it a great source of hydration especially if your bearded dragon is dehydrated. Fiber, which prevents constipation. Vitamin C, which fortifies your dragon's immune system, vision, reproduction, and growth.
Bearded dragons can eat potatoes, but only rarely.
While it's technically safe to give your dragon a bit of potato once a month or so, it's not necessary to their wellbeing and there are several nutritional issues you should be aware of before you decide whether to let your bearded dragon eat potatoes.
Broccoli contains oxalic acid, which can be deadly for bearded dragons since it essentially has the same effect as too much phosphorus: it binds with calcium and prevents that vital mineral from being absorbed into the body, resulting in MBD. Oxalic acid can also cause your bearded dragon to suffer from kidney stones.
Crickets are a very popular feeder insect for Bearded Dragons, nutritionally they offer a good amount of protein and calcium, and they are widely available at pet stores and online retailers.
Insects - Feed gut-loaded insects (crickets or dubia roaches) 1x daily. Mealworms, superworms and waxworms should be offered in only small amounts. Young bearded dragons need a diet that's more insects than vegetables because they need the added protein to grow and develop.
Both raw and cooked carrots are fine for your beardie, but cooked carrots tend to lose nutrients during the cooking process (you might also notice a difference in their poop).
If you are going to make your dragon a salad, you could opt for arugula, kale, and collard greens instead of a romaine lettuce spring mix. Your beardie will enjoy more nutrients in the same amount of food. The other reason that romaine is not a great staple green for bearded dragons—it's not rich in calcium.
Can bearded dragons eat apples? Good news: bearded dragons can eat apples weekly! In fact, apples are one of the safer fruits for dragons to eat on a regular basis. It's important to note, though, that beardies don't need fruit every day.
Can bearded dragons eat cheese? The answer is a resounding NO. Bearded dragons cannot have cheese or any dairy, for that matter. Sure, it's a great source of calcium for people who don't have an allergy or lactose intolerance.
Bearded Dragons should be fed three times per day and given as many insects as they will consume in 10 to 15 mins. After the feeding time is done it is best to remove as many remaining insects as possible.
So can bearded dragons eat chicken? The short answer is no. Chicken is not exactly a safe food for your beardie. A very small piece or two might be fine every few months, but if your bearded dragon eats a lot of chicken, he may become ill or die.
According to a Cleveland Clinic article, dermatologist Melissa Piliang says that regularly eating between 20 to 50 milligrams of beta-carotene per day for several weeks could be enough to turn you orange. This is equivalent to between three and ten carrots a day.
Carrots are bright orange because of an antioxidant called beta-carotene, which the body readily converts to vitamin A. According to research, vitamin A can aid in weight loss. It assists in reducing belly fat, particularly visceral fat.
Tomatoes contain a great deal of Vitamin A and Vitamin C. This is primarily because these vitamins and beta-carotene work as antioxidants to neutralize harmful free radicals in the blood.
Carrots go soft and floppy when they start going bad. However, this doesn't mean they're unusable (see below). However, if they feel slimy, then they have gone off and should be placed in the garbage.
Carrot contains a chemical called beta-carotene. Beta-carotene might act as an antioxidant and help to prevent cancer. Carrot also contains dietary fiber, which might improve stomach and intestine conditions such as diarrhea or constipation.
1. Spinach. This leafy green tops the chart as one of the most nutrient-dense vegetables. That's because 1 cup (30 grams) of raw spinach provides 16% of the Daily Value (DV) for vitamin A plus 120% of the DV for vitamin K — all for just 7 calories ( 1 ).
11. Carrots. These roots are rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, and lycopene, all antioxidants that affect lung health and lower the chances of developing lung disease. Researchers found that drinking carrot juice may help to prevent a type of damage that leads to lung cancer in smokers.
Carrots are rich sources of potassium, which is a vasodilator and can relax the tension in your blood vessels and arteries, thereby increasing blood flow and circulation, boosting organ function throughout the body and reducing the stress on the cardiovascular system.
Carrots offer many plant compounds, including carotenoids. These are substances with powerful antioxidant activity that have been linked to improved immune function and reduced risk of many illnesses, including heart disease, various degenerative ailments, and certain types of cancer ( 1 ).
Avoid vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, and romaine as too much can be harmful, or they offer limited nutritional value. Bearded dragons will also eat fruits like apples, strawberries, watermelon, and peaches. Aside from delicious fruits and vegetables, dragons will eat just about any insect that moves.
Since they are omnivores, they eat both plants and animals and can dine on a wide range of food, from live mealworms, kingworms and crickets to greens such as parsley and kale and vegetables like pepper and sweet potato. You can even give them limited amounts of fruit.
Bearded dragons can have cucumbers every other week or so.
But there are several nutritional benefits from the right amount of cucumber: 96% water, making it a great source of hydration especially if your bearded dragon is dehydrated. Fiber, which prevents constipation.
Apples, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, papaya, mango, and pear are among the most beneficial fruits for Bearded Dragons and contain a good balance of nutrients and vitamins. These make a great treat roughly once each week.
So you may be wondering if you can share this veggie-like fruit with your reptile friend. Can bearded dragons eat tomatoes? As is the case for many fruits, the answer is qualified. Yes, bearded dragons can safely eat tomatoes...but only a small amount served once a month.
Don't feed your bearded dragon mangos; they have too much Phosphorus for your pet to get any nutritional value from the Calcium. They also have a moderate amount of oxalates, which can lead to kidney trouble, so it's better to avoid feeding them any mangos at all!
As soon as you get your bearded dragon, no matter their age, their first feeding of the day must always be 2 hours after their lights first are turned on. Similarly, their last feeding needs to come at least two hours before the lights are turned off for the day.
75-80% of an adult dragon's diet should be vegetables. If you're feeding a juvenile, a daily salad will suffice. Since bearded dragons are omnivores like humans, they need a variety.
As a general rule, bath time three times a week should be sufficient to keep your dragon clean and hydrated. If your dragon absolutely hates baths, then once a week may be a reasonable goal. If your dragon can't get enough bath time, you may want to do it more frequently, maybe even once a day.
They can also eat hard boiled eggs. Just remember these pointers: Adult bearded dragons should eat no more than half an egg at a time, max. If you're scrambling the egg, don't mix any additional ingredients with it.
Can bearded dragons eat apples? Good news: bearded dragons can eat apples weekly! In fact, apples are one of the safer fruits for dragons to eat on a regular basis. It's important to note, though, that beardies don't need fruit every day.
If you are going to make your dragon a salad, you could opt for arugula, kale, and collard greens instead of a romaine lettuce spring mix. Your beardie will enjoy more nutrients in the same amount of food. The other reason that romaine is not a great staple green for bearded dragons—it's not rich in calcium.
Bearded Dragon Food. The following list of insects, vegetables and fruits are good choices to include in your bearded dragon's diet: Dubia roaches, earthworms, crickets and superworms. Apples, blueberries, peaches, strawberries and watermelon.
Introduction: My name is Jonah Leffler, I am a determined, faithful, outstanding, inexpensive, cheerful, determined, smiling person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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