What Can Bearded Dragons Not Eat? 10 Foods To Avoid

Bearded dragons aren’t very picky eaters, but they still need a balanced diet to live happy and healthy lives. Some foods are too high in sugar or water and can cause stomach issues like diarrhea and nutritional deficiencies. Other live foods are dangerous and can scratch or hurt your beard. These funny little reptiles depend on their owners/family members to get food. Follow along to discover the answer to what bearded dragons cannot eat and a few foods they can safely consume.

Bearded Dragon Diet

Before we dive into what bearded dragons cannot eat, let’s discuss their general diets. The overall diet of a bearded dragon changes depending on their age. Still, the majority of a bearded dragon’s diet, about 80%, should be of plant material. Only about 20 to 30% of an adult bearded dragon’s diet should consist of insects. Interestingly, you should feed your adult bearded dragon every 2 to 3 days, while young bearded dragons may need to eat up to twice a day as they grow.

10 Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Bearded Dragon

So, now, onto the arguably most important part of this article: what can beardie dragons not eat? Many things can hurt your beardie’s stomach, although not always right away. It’s always best, though, to avoid giving your bearded dragon human processed foods like cooked meat, cheese, and bread. Some food, though, can be given to your pet in moderation. These include fruits high in water or sugar. The problem with overfeeding your beardie snacks is they can gain weight, develop diarrhea, which is dehydrating and dangerous, and feel too full, which forces them to miss out on much-needed nutrients. Listed below are 10 foods to avoid feeding your bearded dragon.

• Wild caught bugs
• Fireflies
• Iceberg lettuce
• Raw beans
• Ladybugs
• Limes
• Mushrooms
• Garlic
• Onions
• Tomatoes

Foods Safe For Bearded Dragons

Last but not least are some foods you can feed your bearded dragon. Remember, though, when feeding your pet delicious vegetables and fruits, it’s best to cut them into small enough pieces they can eat. Most of the fruits on this list should be treated as snacks or treats, so only give them to your pet in moderation.

• Strawberries
• Cockroaches
• Grapes
• Peas
• Bell peppers
• Zucchinis 
• Squashes
• Worms
• Carrots
• Kale
• Crickets
• Collared greens

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Claudia Nass/ via Getty Images