Bearded dragons are known for being friendly and peaceful pets. As a pet owner, your main goal is to provide healthy food and ensure they stay happy and healthy. One common question many pet owners have is whether bearded dragons can eat mice and whether it is safe. Let’s address these concerns and provide answers regarding feeding mice to bearded dragons.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Mice?
Bearded dragons can eat mice, but they are not a safe or healthy option. Pet owners should avoid feeding mice to their bearded dragons. Bearded dragons may eat various things in the wild, including mice, but this isn’t a nutritious choice.
Pet owners can offer baby mice, or “pinkies,” to their bearded dragons if necessary. However, there are better food options available. Nutritious alternatives include silkworms, roaches, crickets, peas, mealworms, and dandelions. These choices help maintain your bearded dragon’s health while reducing potential risks.
4 Risks of Feeding Mice to Bearded Dragons
Excessive Fat Cause Obesity
Mice are high in fat, which isn’t a healthy option for bearded dragons. Feeding mice to your bearded dragon can lead to obesity and heart problems. Obesity in bearded dragons can cause several serious health issues.
If you care for a healthy bearded dragon and feed it nutritious food, mice should not be considered a suitable meal. Instead, provide healthy vegetables, fruits, and insects for a balanced diet.
Risk of Impaction
Another reason you should never serve mice to your bearded dragon is the risk of impaction. Impaction occurs when a blockage forms in the digestive tract, typically caused by solid objects obstructing the pathway. If your bearded dragon experiences impaction, it can severely affect its ability to move and may lead to paralysis, one of their most serious health issues. If left untreated, impaction can be fatal.
Hair is an Issue
Everyone knows the furs on mice’s bodies, which can be problematic for bearded dragons if they consume them! Due to hair, mice are hard to swallow and digest for bearded dragons. This is one of the reasons pet owners are suggested to serve mice pinkies to their bearded dragons instead of adult mice!
Large Size a Problem
Bearded dragons are often called “silly eaters” because they will eat almost anything they catch. They don’t always know what’s healthy for them. For example, they may even try to eat mice despite their size.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Mice Pinkies?
Yes, bearded dragons can eat mice pinkies. Pet owners can buy frozen mice pinkies to serve as a treat. These pinkies are high in protein, supporting the health and growth of even baby bearded dragons. In the wild, bearded dragons consume a wide variety of foods.
When offering mice pinkies, consider your bearded dragon’s age and size. Pinkies should be about three days old and boiled in lukewarm water before serving. For bearded dragons dealing with malnutrition or pregnancy, mice pinkies provide essential nutrition and can help improve their health.
Mice pinkies are a healthier option compared to adult mice. They lack body hair, and their bones are not fully developed, making them easier to digest than adult mice.
Conclusion
If you’re considering feeding mice to your bearded dragon for health benefits, knowing this is not a good choice is essential. The answer to whether bearded dragons can eat mice is no. Mice are unhealthy and can be harmful to your pet.
While mice are high in protein, which may seem beneficial, they are unsuitable for healthy bearded dragons. Mice can be appropriate for sick or pregnant bearded dragons in specific circumstances, but this should be a rare exception. The hair on mice presents a significant risk as it can lead to impaction, which can be fatal if untreated.
FAQs
Can baby bearded dragons eat mice?
If your baby bearded dragon is older than six months, it can eat baby mice, also known as pinkies.
Are mice bad for bearded dragons?
Bearded dragons can eat mice’s pinkies, which are not harmful to them when fed in moderation.
Can bearded dragons eat mice sometimes?
Bearded dragons cannot eat mice. However, they can eat mice pinkies.