Bearded dragons are becoming one of the most popular pet reptiles many enthusiasts and new owners want. So it is natural that there are many questions out there regarding what these little guys can and cannot eat. Today we will go over “carrots” and whether beardies can or should have them or not. Let’s go over in detail if carrots are good or not for your bearded dragon. We also have a full bearded dragon care guide where we go over diets and enclosures.
Table of Contents
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Carrots?
Yes, Bearded dragons can eat carrots in moderation, they are a nutritious vegetable that has vitamin A, beta carotene, and a good amount of dietary fiber which is important for your beardie’s diet. Remember, bearded dragons are essentially omnivores which means they should regularly receive a variety of insects, some fruit along with greens and vegetables in their diet.
What Are The Benefits Of Adding Carrots To A Bearded Dragon’s Diet?
So now that we answer Can bearded dragons eat carrots, let’s go over what the benefits of adding them to your lizard’s diet are.
Carrots have Vitamin A and beta-carotene which help to boost a healthy immune system as well as promote healthy skin and eye health in your bearded dragon. Carrots also have a good amount of fiber which will help your dragons’ digest food. Remember that dragons will eat insects with exoskeletons and fiber will be a key in maintaining their bowel movements.
Remember that carrots have several benefits for your bearded dragon but they should be used once in a while and not really form part of a daily diet.
How Often Can Bearded Dragons Eat Carrots?
Carrots are a delicious treat for your bearded dragon, but how often can they actually eat them? As I mentioned, carrots are full of Vitamin A and that is a good thing in small amounts. Too much vitamin A in their diet will lead to a number of issues related to vitamin A toxicity. This can cause a number of problems for your beardie including weight loss from lack of appetite, low energy, and dehydration.
The reason why I recommend carrots to be used as a treat is that the accumulation of vitamin A in their system will lead to health issues. It is best to keep carrots as a once-a-week treat and not a daily occurrence in the bearded dragon diet.
Carrots can also be just a little bit too filling for your bearded dragon, overfeeding them with carrots might make them not want to eat essential foods which contain calcium.
Can Bearded Dragon Eat Carrot Tops?
Making sure your bearded dragon gets plenty of greens into its diet is essential for good health. The green tops on the carrot can actually be a very nutritious meal. They have plenty of Vitamin C, potassium, Vitamin B6, Calcium, and even a bit of Vitamin A.
Greens are a vital part of a bearded dragon’s diet. This includes the lovely, green carrot tops that can be a delicious and nutritious addition to your beardie’s meal. Carrot tops can be administered to your dragon on a regular basis so you won’t have to worry about them being strictly a treat.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Different Types of Carrots?
Bearded dragons can eat pretty much any type of carrot, it doesn’t matter whether they are orange, yellow, purple, or white carrots. They basically all have the same macro and micronutrient breakdown with a few small differences.
You can also feed your bearded dragon carrots raw or cooked if you prefer. Just remember that if you decide to cook the carrot first, it will lose some of its nutrients in the process. If you do decide to feed them cooked carrots (they might actually prefer them over raw) make sure to keep an eye out for differences in their stool.
Make sure to wash the carrots well before giving them to your bearded dragon. You will want to wash out any chemical residues from your lizard’s food supply. Some pet owners prefer to give the beardie peeled carrots.
How To Serve Carrots To Bearded Dragons?
There are a few steps to take before feeding your bearded dragon carrots. These include washing, chopping, checking, and preparing it in a way that makes it easy for your Bearded Dragon to consume. This will ensure there are no complications from actually eating the vegetable.
Inspect The Carrot
Make pretend you are checking on carrots as if they were for your personal consumption. They should look like healthy carrots, bring color, carrot tops should look crisp. If at all possible, try getting organic carrots for your dragon. There are several owners that like to grow their own vegetables and greens to give to their pets. If this was an option I would opt for it, there is nothing like feeding your own vegetables to your little friends.
Make Sure to Wash The Carrots For Your Dragon
Now that you have your carrots the next step is to wash them well. Carrots can have leftover traces of herbicides and pesticides on the skin so it is important that you wash them thoroughly before giving them to your pets.
These chemicals can wreak havoc on your bearded dragons’ health so it is best to take a few seconds to clean them. Put the carrots under cold water and start scrubbing away, if you see any dirt on them make sure you scrub some more.
Should You Grate Carrots For Your Bearded Dragon?
Raw carrots should be grated for your bearded dragon. Try using a cheese grater to get this done or if you don’t have one, try slicing them very finely and then chopping them up. This should make the carrots small and thin enough for your bearded dragons to consume.
If you feed them booked carrots then chopping them up into smaller pieces and even crushing them a bit will be more than enough. Remember, in general, the smaller the pieces the better. The point is to make them easy to handle and digest for your dragon. This also assists in avoiding any type of impaction in your dragon.
Feed The Carrots to Your Dragon
Ok so now that we washed and grate the carrots, it is time to feed them to your dragon. I like to use the same method I would normally apply with feeding fruit to my dragon. Try applying the grated carrot into the greens it has to eat.
This makes sure that the lizard goes for everything in the bowl and not just the sweet carrots. Spread the carrots onto anything that you think your bearded dragon has to eat but normally wouldn’t or just doesn’t like to.
In Conclusion
Carrots are a great treat for your bearded dragon, they provide some nutrients that are helpful for your lizard. They should always be given in moderation, maybe once a week, and the carrots should be greeted or smashed before putting them on their plate. Remember carrots should be a treat and not a daily occurrence.
