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 and phosphorous
| Mineral | value |
|---|---|
| Calcium | 20.1 |
| Phosphorus | 21.4 |
| Calculation | 20.1 devide by 21.4 |
| Ratio | 1:1 |
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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