When it comes to the diet of your bearded dragon, nutrition is the key to maintaining a happy and healthy companion. Bearded dragons are the furthest thing being picky eaters and will try to chow down on anything and everything you serve them.
This leaves the question of what would be the most appropriate food items to serve your bearded dragons. Adult bearded dragons require a diet consisting of 70 to 80 percent vegetables and 20 to 30 percent protein.
Considering vegetables make up the majority of their dietary needs, you may be wondering what types of vegetables they will eat and how you need to prepare them, such as carrots. Carrots are a delicious and crunchy snack for all animals but how do you serve them to your bearded dragon and can they eat them cooked?
You can serve your bearded dragon cooked carrots or raw carrots. It is important to note that cooking the carrots before serving them to your bearded dragon may take away some of the nutritional value that carrots offer your bearded dragon.
However, as there is no right or wrong way to serve carrots to your bearded dragon and both cooked and raw offer amazing nutritional benefits, you can try serving them both ways and allowing your bearded dragon to decide on their preference.
Bearded dragons are notorious for their love of food and will happily snack on whatever is served to them. Carrots are no exception and will make a great addition to your bearded dragon’s salad a few days a week.
We will be taking a closer look at the advantages and disadvantages of serving cooked carrots to your bearded dragon and which cooking technique offers the most benefits. Now, let’s get chopping and peel back the outer layer of the wonderfully bright world of your bearded dragon’s love for carrots and the nutritional benefits that go along with cooking their carrots before serving.
Contents
I) Pros and Cons OF Feeding Cooked Carrots To Bearded Dragons
II) How To Cook Carrots For Your Bearded Dragon
Pros and Cons OF Feeding Cooked Carrots To Bearded Dragons
Advantage 1: Softens Texture
If you have ever eaten a carrot before, which the majority of humans have at one point or another, then you understand that carrots are incredibly hard and crunchy and require a certain amount of bite to properly enjoy raw. This concept is no different for your bearded dragon, and although they have powerful jaws, there are still some instances where your bearded dragon may benefit more from having cooked carrots rather than raw, including age and illness.
Baby bearded dragons still have a little ways to go before they gain their powerful jaw strength and they only require around 20 percent of their diet to be made up of vegetables. Serving vegetables to your baby bearded dragon will assist them in gaining a taste for vegetables since adult bearded dragons require a diet consisting mostly of vegetables, around 80 percent of their total diet.
Cooking carrots for your baby bearded dragon will soften them so they are more easily consumed and enjoyed by your baby beardie. Vegetables will become a huge part of your beardie’s overall diet and it is up to you to provide them with the best start to life.
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Illness can also be a huge deciding factor regarding how to serve your bearded dragon their carrots. Metabolic Bone Disease is an extremely common, although preventable, disease in bearded dragons resulting from a lack of calcium absorption causing a weakened and deformed jaw, limbs, or tail, lethargy, and a loss of appetite.
Soft or pureed food items would be best for your bearded dragon if they are experiencing this incredibly painful and awful disease and will allow them the opportunity to attempt to eat on their own, depending on the severity of the disease.
Advantage 2: Increase In Nutritional Value
When carrots are cooked, they experience an increase in beta-carotene which is a vital compound for a bearded dragon’s skin health, immune system, and vision. Beta-carotene is also a crucial component in keeping Vitamin A levels low, as increased Vitamin A levels can be highly toxic to your bearded dragon.
Carrots are often recommended in small amounts for your bearded dragon, not only for their high Vitamin A levels, but for their high oxalate levels, which will deplete the amount of calcium the body has stored. Calcium deficiency can be an awful experience for your bearded dragon, causing a horrible, painful, and potentially deadly disease known as Metabolic Bone Disease.
Cooking carrots lowers the amount of oxalates in carrots, in turn making cooked carrots a more appropriate staple item in your bearded dragon’s diet.
Disadvantage: Decrease In Nutritional Value
While cooking carrots offers a number of increases in nutritional benefits for bearded dragons, it also decreases some key vitamins that bearded dragons need. There are ways to cook carrots that will allow the carrots to maintain the majority of their key nutrients and we will discuss those further down.
Depending on the way you prepare your bearded dragon’s carrots will ultimately determine the amount of nutrition they consume and absorb from the carrots. Cooking carrots can cause a decrease in Vitamin C, a vital component in a bearded dragon’s health.
Vitamin C is responsible for the development and repair of body tissues, the preservation of cartilage, bones, and teeth, and a properly functioning immune system; all of which will ensure your bearded dragon’s health and well-being and allow for your bearded dragon to properly thrive.
How To Cook Carrots For Your Bearded Dragon
Appropriate Methods:
There are so many wonderful ways to cook carrots and each one has its own benefits that it offers.
Boiling and steaming your carrots will allow the oxalate levels to filter out, leaving a much more appropriate and suitable snack behind for your bearded dragon.
High oxalate levels will cause depletion in your bearded dragon’s personal store of calcium, which can cause Metabolic Bone Disease. Although these are both highly appropriate methods for cooking your bearded dragon’s carrots, it is worth noting that both of these methods will still cause a decrease in key nutrients by about 30 percent.
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Recommended Methods:
The most recommended methods for cooking your bearded dragon’s carrots may also prove to be the most simple and quickest methods for preparing the small amount that your bearded dragon will consume, which are microwaving and pressure cooking.
Vegetables that are cooked via the microwave or a pressure cooker retain around 90 percent of their key nutrients and vitamins while still lowering the amount of oxalates and Vitamin A excess.
This is due to the reduced amount of heating time that is needed to properly cook carrots using these methods, less heating time equals more nutrient retention.
The miniscule amount of carrots that will actually be served to your bearded dragon for consumption would make these the quickest and easiest methods for preparation, whether you are preparing for one bearded dragon, several bearded dragons, or for yourself and your bearded dragon.
Do Not Serve Fried Carrots
While you wouldn’t think that there would be a “wrong” way to prepare, cook, and serve carrots considering all of the wonderful health benefits that cooked carrots will offer your bearded dragon, but there is and it is highly inappropriate to cook your bearded dragon’s carrots using this method.
Frying your bearded dragon’s carrots is more than likely extremely obvious when considering the most inappropriate method for cooking your bearded dragon’s carrots but in case it is not, we will discuss it a little.
Not only is the grease and breading required for frying horrible for your bearded dragon’s digestion and health, but the act of frying drains almost all of the nutrients and vitamins out of the carrots as it is cooked at a high temperature and causes some dehydration to occur in the carrot. Fried foods are not healthy for us as humans, and your bearded dragon is no exception to this fact.
Grease and breading of that magnitude can cause a string of health issues, such as impaction, which requires a licensed herp vet to intervene and assist or your bearded dragon could perish. With so many wonderful preparations for carrots, frying them should never be on the list of possibilities.
Final Thoughts:
While bearded dragons will enjoy the crunch and nutritional benefits of a raw carrot; cooked carrots do have their advantages and a delicious taste all their own. Understanding the advantages and disadvantages of cooking carrots, as well as the most suitable methods in cooking them, you will be able to make the most appropriate decision regarding whether or not your bearded dragon will benefit from having cooked carrots.
Regardless, cooked carrots will make an amazingly colorful treat for your bearded dragon, cooked or raw, and will offer a number of benefits to their health. Just remember to always wash any vegetable you serve your bearded dragon, cooked or raw, and to be sure never to serve them any pieces that are larger than the space between their eyes to reduce the risk of impaction and choking.
FAQs
Your bearded dragon can safely eat carrots raw or cooked...just keep in mind that if you cook the carrots, they will lose some of their nutrients. Baby vs large carrots. Large carrots are the preferred kind of carrot for your bearded dragon.
How do you prepare carrots for bearded dragons? ›
When carrots are raw, they maintain all the nutrients that they have and can help maximize the health benefits of bearded dragons. So feeding carrots raw and fresh is the best option for your dragon. Raw carrots can be grated into small pieces or they can be cut into smaller pieces for the pet dragons to enjoy.
Can bearded dragons eat cooked vegetables? ›
Bearded dragons can eat both raw and cooked vegetables. However, raw vegetables are recommended as they contain more nutrients than cooked vegetables. There are many different types of vegetables that beardies can safely eat, such as cabbage, kale, and mustard greens.
What is the healthiest thing for a bearded dragon to eat? ›
Appropriate animal-based protein sources include grasshoppers, gut-loaded (i.e., fed nutritious food that is then passed on to the lizard) or calcium-dusted crickets and mealworms, spiders, wax worms (occasionally, as they are high fat), silk worms (occasionally), tofu, moths, slugs, and earthworms.
Can bearded dragon eat scrambled eggs? ›
Bearded dragons can safely eat scrambled eggs.
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.
What cooked food can bearded dragons eat? ›
Bearded Dragons can eat a wide range of live food such as crickets, mealworms and kingworms; vegetables such as sweet potato and pepper and leafy greens such as kale and parsley . They can also eat limited amounts of fruit.
Can bearded dragons have carrots everyday? ›
Carrots are safe, but not necessarily healthy for bearded dragons. Bearded dragons can eat carrots once or twice each week but not every day. Carrots contain many useful vitamins and minerals which can be beneficial to your bearded dragon and are one of the safer vegetables to feed to your pet.
Does broccoli need to be cooked for bearded dragons? ›
Pro Tip: It's best to feed your bearded dragon raw broccoli. Cooking removes some of the nutrients, and raw veggies are what dragons eat in the wild.
Can bearded dragons eat cooked 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.
Can bearded dragons eat cooked rice? ›
No, they cannot; bearded dragons are unable to digest any of the grains, so none of them would be suitable for the bearded dragon diet. Either raw or cooked, they cannot handle them like humans can, and ingesting rice could make your dragon sick.
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.
What is a bearded dragons favorite live food? ›
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.
What should a bearded dragon never eat? ›
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.
What human snacks can bearded dragons eat? ›
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.
- Cabbage, carrots, collard greens, kale, pumpkin and sweet potato.
Bearded dragons should not eat fish.
That means cooked, raw, feeders, all of it.
Can bearded dragons have milk? ›
Long story short: reptiles are lactose intolerant! Unlike mammals, reptiles are not born with the enzymes necessary to digest dairy products. Bearded dragons do not lactate and their young do not drink milk. Because they simply cannot digest dairy, it can only result in harm, ranging from mild to severe.
Can bearded dragons eat cheese? ›
No. Bearded dragons can't digest cheese, or any kind of dairy product at all. Bearded dragons, along with most other lizards, but not all, are lactose intolerant, just like humans can be, so avoid giving cheese and other dairy products to your bearded dragon.
Can bearded dragons eat cold meat? ›
Yes, they can. Some beardies will eat raw meat such as minced beef, lean turkey, or chicken breast. However, whether they should or not is up for debate; they can eat small amounts of meat in the wild, but they also get more exercise in general in the wild.
Can bearded dragons eat cooked tomatoes? ›
Yes, bearded dragons can safely eat tomatoes...but only a small amount served once a month.
Can bearded dragons eat popcorn? ›
Unfortunately, popcorn is not safe for bearded dragons to eat. It doesn't offer them much nutritional value, and the kernels can cause choking.
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.
Can a bearded dragon go a week without food? ›
Mature dragons with plenty of fat stores and weight to lose, can go up to 2 months without food, although this is NOT encouraged. On the other hand, juveniles who are rapidly growing and stop eating, should be a cause for some concern as they need protein to grow up healthy and strong.
Can Beardies eat celery? ›
Yes, they can! Celery leaves are safe for bearded dragons. You can offer chopped celery leaves along with chopped celery, at the same frequency. Celery leaves contain calcium, fiber, and vitamin E, which promote healthy bones, digestion, and cells, respectively.
What vegetable can bearded dragons eat everyday? ›
If you are looking for a daily staple for your bearded dragon then collard greens are a great option. These greens are full of healthy vitamins, such as Vitamin C, K, and A. Collard greens are also rich in fiber, folate, phosphorus, and calcium. These greens are a great food to give your beloved reptile everyday.
Do bearded dragons need food everyday? ›
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.
What should a bearded dragon eat daily? ›
Bearded Dragon Diet Plan
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.
Do bearded dragons need vegetables daily? ›
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.
How much vegetables does a bearded dragon need a day? ›
Vegetables - Veggies should make up 25% of a young bearded dragon's food and half of an adult's. Favorites include kale, collard greens, mustard greens, zucchini and shredded carrots. Make sure to remove any vegetables that have not been eaten so they do not go bad inside their habitat.
Is cabbage good for bearded dragons? ›
Bearded dragons can eat green cabbage once a week, or every other depending on what other goitrogenic food may be on their feeding schedule. Green cabbage makes a great addition to a salad, maybe topped with some Dubia roaches.
Can bearded dragons eat human baby food? ›
Certain kinds of baby food can be used; not all types are safe or healthy for them. You only want to use one made from a staple that your dragon can have every day since it is more difficult to measure precisely how much of a type of vegetable you are giving to them.
While bearded dragons can eat cooked, lean meat like steak, chicken, and turkey, only feed it to your beardie unseasoned and as an emergency protein source if, for some reason, you are unable to get their live feeders.
Can bearded dragons eat fish? ›
No, they should not eat fish. Although it wouldn't kill them to eat a small amount of it, fish is not found in their natural environment and can carry harmful bacteria, germs, and even parasites that could infect your dragon.
How many eggs can a bearded dragon eat? ›
Start with just piece. After 24 hours without any adverse side effects observed, then you are likely safe to feed your dragon a few bite-sized pieces of egg the next time to serve them up eggs as a treat. The most egg you should offer your adult bearded dragon at one time is about 1/4 to 1/3 of a cooked egg.
Can bearded dragons eat mashed pumpkin? ›
Due to its high water content (94%), pumpkin works well for bearded dragons who are constipated. Offer them a little pureed pumpkin to help get things moving. You can use a jar of baby food or even canned pumpkin, if it has no added ingredients.
Can bearded dragons eat peanut butter? ›
Bearded dragons cannot eat peanut butter as it is too high in protein added sugars and fats. Rather than taking a chance, avoid peanut butter completely to ensure your dragon remains healthy.
Can bearded dragons eat tater tots? ›
Potatoes aren't poisonous for your beardie, but the truth is they have little nutritional values necessary for your pet. They lack vital nutrients and—meaning; they are nearly empty foods and can't help your beardy grow bigger or stronger.
What veggies can Beardies not eat? ›
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.
Can I give my bearded dragon cooked broccoli? ›
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.
What is a bearded dragon's favorite vegetable? ›
There are numerous plants, fruits and vegetables that are safe and healthy for bearded dragons to eat, but some favorites include squash, collard greens, bell peppers, mustard greens and seedless watermelon. Of course, it's best to mix up your bearded dragon's diet every once in a while.
Can bearded dragons eat cooked fish? ›
No, they should not eat fish. Although it wouldn't kill them to eat a small amount of it, fish is not found in their natural environment and can carry harmful bacteria, germs, and even parasites that could infect your dragon.
Bearded dragons should not eat fish.
That means cooked, raw, feeders, all of it.
What meats can bearded dragons eat? ›
Yes, they can. Some beardies will eat raw meat such as minced beef, lean turkey, or chicken breast. However, whether they should or not is up for debate; they can eat small amounts of meat in the wild, but they also get more exercise in general in the wild.
Can Beardies eat beans? ›
So if you're looking for the short answer: Yes! Bearded dragons can eat green beans! Maybe you're looking for a longer explanation, such as how often they can eat green beans, what they offer your dragon, and if canned or frozen beans are okay. As far as nutrients go, green beans hit a home run.
Is popcorn good for bearded dragons? ›
Unfortunately, popcorn is not safe for bearded dragons to eat. It doesn't offer them much nutritional value, and the kernels can cause choking.
