Yes! If you’re wondering “Can bearded dragons eat bean sprouts?,” the answer is a qualified yes! Bearded dragons can eat bean sprouts, although it shouldn’t be a staple in their daily vegetable diet.
In this article, we’ll explore the nutritional value of bean spouts for bearded dragons and how to feed them properly. As well, see our full guide to What greens can bearded dragons eat?
Can bearded dragons eat bean sprouts?
- Can bearded dragons eat bean sprouts?
- Bean Sprouts Nutritional Value for Bearded Dragons:
- How often should you give bean sprouts to your beardie?
- Potential risks of feeding bean sprouts to your bearded dragon:
- How do I prepare bean sprouts for my bearded dragon?
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): Can bearded dragons eat bean sprouts?
- Foods bearded dragons can eat:
- Getting your bearded dragon calcium:
- Vegetables to feed your bearded dragon:
- Insects to feed your bearded dragon:
- How often should you feed a bearded dragon?
- What should a bearded dragon not eat?
- Recap: Can bearded dragons have bean sprouts?
Bean Sprouts Nutritional Value for Bearded Dragons:
Bean Sprouts are a wonderful source of nutrients including:
- Fiber (great for bearded dragon’s digestion)
- Calcium (vital for beardie’s growth and bone health)
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin V6
- Phosphorus
- Iron
- Antioxidants
Source: Web MD
How often should you give bean sprouts to your beardie?
You can safely give your beardie bean sprouts every other week or so. Each time, measure out about five to eight bean sprouts, or an amount about the size of your index finger.
Note: because bean sprouts have a suboptimal calcium to phosphorus ratio, it’s important to feed them other leafy greens that have more calcium. To be safe, you can also sprinkle calcium powder on your squash to ensure your bearded dragon is getting enough calcium. More on this below.
Potential risks of feeding bean sprouts to your bearded dragon:
In bearded dragons, it’s important to be aware of the phosphorus and calcium content in food you feed them. Why? Bearded dragons need a good amount of calcium to grow and to maintain bone and muscle health in adulthood. However, phosphorus inhibits the absorption of calcium if there’s too much of it, relative to the calcium amount.
You should aim for a 2:1 ratio of 2 parts calcium to 1 part phosphorus. We’ve outlined ways to increase your beardie’s calcium intake below as well.
Bean sprouts do not hit the 2:1 ratio of calcium to phosphorus. That’s why we recommend you feed your beardie this vegetable a few times a month, and to always mix it in with other greens.
If you were to only feed your beardie bean sprouts daily with no other vegetables, they would suffer from a calcium deficiency and over time, it would harm their bone and muscle health.
How do I prepare bean sprouts for my bearded dragon?
You can feed your bean sprouts to your dragon, cooked or raw. Feeding your beardie raw bean sprouts is likely better as cooking them causes some of the nutrients to be lost. Clean off and cut off the stems, and wash them thoroughly.
Cut your bean sprouts into smaller pieces. Sprinkle the smaller chunks into your bearded dragon’s food bowl. If they have leftovers, remove them after 24 hours or when it starts to go off.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): Can bearded dragons eat bean sprouts?
Can bearded dragons eat sprouts?
Yes, bearded dragons can eat sprouts. They actually love the taste of sprouts and they are highly nutritious for them.
Can bearded dragons have sprout leaves?
Yes, bearded dragons can have sprout leaves. The leaves should be cleaned and cut up so they don’t choke on them.
Can my bearded dragon eat pea shoots?
Yes, bearded dragons can eat pea shoots. However, pea shoots have a large amount of phosphorus, so should not be a staple in their diet. Rather, they should be fed pea shoots every other week or so.
Can my bearded dragon eat alfalfa sprouts?
Yes, bearded dragons can eat alfalfa sprouts on occasion. They can eat the entirety of the alfalfa sprout plant.
Can my bearded dragon eat clover sprouts?
Bearded dragons can eat clover sprouts. You can mix in a small amount of clover sprouts into their vegetable mix a few times a week.
Can my bearded dragon eat broccoli sprouts?
Bearded dragons can eat broccoli sprouts, in moderation. However, because of the high amount of oxalic acid in broccoli and broccoli sprouts, it shouldn’t be given to them daily.
What fruit is toxic to bearded dragons?
High acid fruit like citrus should never be fed to your bearded dragons. This includes lemons, limes, oranges, grapefruits, and kumquats. As well, avoid feeding them avocados!
Foods bearded dragons can eat:
If you’re wondering what you should feed a bearded dragon, read our guidelines below. Bearded dragons are insectivores, which just means they thrive on insects as well as plant materials.
If you have a juvenile bearded dragon (between six and eighteen months old), give them about 80% vegetables and 20% live insects.
As your bearded dragon transitions into adulthood, give them the inverse, so 20% plant materials and 80% insects.
Getting your bearded dragon calcium:
Calcium is especially vital to a bearded dragon, especially a young one that is still growing. There are several ways to introduce more calcium into your beardie’s diet:
- Add in more high calcium vegetables like dandelions, bok choy, and collard greens.
- Dust calcium powder over their insects and vegetables to increase calcium levels.
- Make sure they’re getting their 12 hours of UVB exposure as they need this light to be able to properly absorb nutrients.
Vegetables to feed your bearded dragon:
- Peas
- Dandelion
- Green beans
- Cabbage
- Zucchini
- Pumpkin
- See our full list of vegetables to feed your bearded dragon
Note: Bearded dragons can also eat fruit in moderation. See here for a complete list of fruits bearded dragons can eat.
Insects to feed your bearded dragon:
- Crickets
- Kingworms
- Waxworms
- See our full guides to insects you can feed your bearded dragon and worms to feed your bearded dragon
Quick note: Live insects raised by you or bought from the pet store are best because they’re definitely pesticide free.
How often should you feed a bearded dragon?
During the first 3-6 months of your beardie’s life, try to feed them four to five times a day by giving them as many insects as they’d like in 10 minutes. They’re growing and need lots of protein during this stage.
Reduce the number of feedings to about two to three times a day when they’re growing into their juvenile years (between six and eighteen months).
As they become an adult, you can feed them once daily.
What should a bearded dragon not eat?
Avoid feeding your bearded dragon:
- Onions
- Leeks
- Chives
- Mushrooms
- Garlic
- Acidic fruit like oranges, lemons
- Rhubarb (can be toxic to them)
- Avocados (surprisingly, these make them ill)
- Eggplant
- Insects caught in the wild (there may be pesticides covering them)
- Venomous insects
- Dairy of any kind
- Rice and grains of any kind
- Frogs or toads
- Ham or other processed meats
Recap: Can bearded dragons have bean sprouts?
- Yes, bearded dragons can eat bean sprouts, cooked or raw. Raw bean sprouts are more nutritious for them than cooked bean sprouts.
- Feed them this vegetable about twice a month, mixed in with leafy greens.
- You can sprinkle calcium powder on top of your bean sprouts to boost your dragon’s calcium intake.
For our full list of food to feed a bearded dragon, see our guide here.
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