Carrots are excellent for boosting your immune system and supporting clear vision. You may wonder if they are suitable for your bearded dragon. So, can bearded dragons eat carrots?
Bearded dragons are known to be picky eaters, particularly with vegetables. Carrots, a healthy human food, can also be part of your bearded dragon’s diet. Adult bearded dragons should generally have 20% insects and 80% vegetation, making carrots a safe addition to their diet.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Carrots?
Carrots are an excellent source of Vitamin A and Beta-Carotene for bearded dragons. However, they shouldn’t be a regular part of their diet, as too much Vitamin A can be harmful. While carrots are commonly known for their health benefits for humans, they can also be a tasty and nutritious addition to your bearded dragon’s meals. Carrots are a convenient choice since many owners already have them at home or can easily pick some up at the store
How Often Can Bearded Dragons Eat Carrots?
Bearded dragons can eat carrots occasionally. Carrots offer various benefits but shouldn’t be central to your beardie’s diet. Serve your bearded dragon a small portion, just enough to finish with its salad. This approach is more straightforward than selecting specific vegetables and greens daily while ensuring your dragon gets all the essential nutrients.
4 Benefits of Carrots for Bearded Dragons
Beta Carotene Aids in Enhancing Skin Color
Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, a significant benefit for your bearded dragon. When your beardie moults, its skin doesn’t stretch much. Carrots’ carotenoids help improve the skin’s colour as it sheds.
Vitamin A Works for Health
Carrots are rich in Vitamin A, alongside beta-carotene. This nutrient provides several benefits, supporting skin health and the immune system and promoting good vision.
Fewer Sugar Amounts Prevent Tooth Decay
Carrots have minimal sugar, essential for your bearded dragon’s health. A sugar-rich diet can lead to obesity and other health issues. Excess sugar can also damage your dragon’s teeth, causing decay, rot, or tooth loss.
Appropriate Calcium and Phosphorus Ratio Prevents MBD
When feeding your bearded dragon, keeping the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio in mind is essential. The foods you provide should have more calcium than phosphorus. Consistently feeding your beardie items higher in phosphorus can lead to serious health problems, such as metabolic bone disease (MBD). While carrots aren’t high in calcium, their calcium-to-phosphorus ratio is safe, so that you can include them in your beardie’s diet.
2 Risks of Feeding Carrots to Bearded Dragons
Vitamin A Toxicity Can Lead to Significant Health Problems
Be mindful of other high-vitamin A foods you offer to prevent your bearded dragon from consuming too much Vitamin A. Avoid giving carrots daily, as this can lead to an excess of Vitamin A. Multivitamin supplements also contain Vitamin A, and adding vegetables rich in this vitamin—even in small amounts—can cause toxicity if fed too often. In conclusion, while giving your bearded dragon carrots is fine, offering them too frequently, along with other Vitamin A-rich foods and supplements, can harm their health.
Excess Amount of Oxalates Prevent Calcium Absorption
Calcium becomes unavailable to bearded dragons when oxalic acid binds to it. Since calcium is essential for their health, it should not be bonded to oxalates and should be absorbed. Therefore, avoid feeding your beardie foods high in oxalates.
What about carrots? It’s OK to give your beardie a small amount of carrots. The oxalate level in carrots won’t be harmful if your beardie follows a balanced diet and supplement routine.
Do Carrots Cause Vitamin A Toxicity in Bearded Dragons?
Carrots are rich in Vitamin A, which promotes healthy skin, a strong immune system, and good vision for your bearded dragon. However, before feeding your bearded dragon carrots, consult your vet, especially if it’s already taking Vitamin A, beta carotene supplements, or a multivitamin containing these nutrients. Combining supplements with high-vitamin A foods may lead to toxicity. While carrots themselves pose little risk of Vitamin A toxicity, excessive amounts from supplements can cause problems.
Signs of hypervitaminosis A (Vitamin A overdose) include swelling, fatigue, dehydration, and weight loss. If you notice these symptoms, contact your vet immediately.
How to Prepare Carrots for Your Bearded Dragons?
Before feeding carrots to your bearded dragon, follow these simple steps, whether you serve them raw or cooked.
Look for Good Carrots for Your Beardies
When picking carrots for your bearded dragon, choose healthy and even in appearance. Look for fresh tops, vibrant colours, and smooth skin. Avoid carrots with strange markings or areas showing signs of decay. Opt for organic or locally grown carrots whenever possible.
Wash the Carrots Properly
It’s essential to wash carrots thoroughly. They are often treated with chlorine and may have pesticide or herbicide residue. Feeding your beardie too much of this could lead to health problems.
Rinse the carrot under cold running water and quickly check for any debris. Taking a few extra seconds to ensure the carrot is clean will help provide your bearded dragon with healthier, more nutritious food.
Cut or Grate the Carrots
Since cooked carrots are softer than raw ones, chopping them into small pieces is generally safe for your bearded dragon. Raw carrots, however, need a different approach.
To prepare raw carrots, grate them with a cheese or fine grater. You can slice the carrot into small pieces if you don’t have a grater.
Watch Your Beardie Eat
Feeding prepared carrots to your bearded dragon is simple, with a few options to consider. The best method is to mix grated or cooked carrots with other greens you’re offering. This ensures your beardie eats a balanced diet, not just the carrots, promoting moderation in their intake.
Conclusion
Bearded dragons can safely eat carrots but should not be a primary food source. While carrots are acceptable as an occasional treat, they have low calcium content, so feeding them too often isn’t ideal. Aim to offer carrots once or twice a week to provide variety without compromising their nutritional balance. There’s no requirement to feed them carrots, but adding a bit of variety to their diet can be beneficial.
FAQs
Can bearded dragons eat carrots every day?
You can feed carrots to your bearded dragon once or twice a week.
Can bearded dragons eat carrot tops?
Carrot tops are a nutritious and tasty addition to your beardie’s diet.
How many carrots should I feed my bearded dragon?
A bearded dragon can eat a dusting of carrots or about half a handful.
What part of the carrot can bearded dragons eat?
Carrot tops are rich in vitamins C, B6, and A, potassium, and calcium. You can offer them to your bearded dragon for better skin and overall health.