Can bearded dragons eat bread?

If you’re wondering “can bearded dragons eat bread?” the answer is no, beardies can not and should not eat bread. While it’s tempting to feed bread to a bearded dragon, because it’s readily available and tasty for them, you should avoid doing so. 

We’ll outline why bread is bad for bearded dragons, and healthy diet alternatives to keep your bearded dragon happy and living a long life. 

Can bearded dragons eat bread?

Why can’t bearded dragons eat bread?

There are quite a few reasons why you shouldn’t feed bread to a bearded dragon. As a general rule, you shouldn’t feed them anything they couldn’t find in the wild. They thrive off small insects and plants. Because of their diets in the wild, beardies have not adapted to eating processed foods like bread, pizza, or baked goods of any kind. 

Other reasons not to feed your bearded dragon bread include: 

• Starch – Bearded dragons can not process starch properly. Their digestive tracts are too short to break down the starch found in bread, and it’ll likely upset their stomachs. 
• Choking hazard – if your beardie is eating dry bread or crust, it’s possible they choke on the hard substance. 
• Low nutritional value – bread is very low in calcium and other nutrients that beardies need to thrive. 
• Gluten – many humans can’t even properly digest gluten, and all bearded dragons have not adapted to break down gluten. This is just another reason to avoid giving them bread products. 

What should you do if your beardie eats bread? 

If your beardie eats a small amount of bread, don’t panic. They’ll likely be just fine. However, if they consume a large quantity of bread, monitor them closely for symptoms of a strong reaction. This could include: 

• Bloating
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Abnormal behaviors 

Give them water to flush out the bread as well as a warm bath to calm them and encourage a bowel movement. If all else fails, call your vet for an expert opinion. 

What else 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 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): 

Can Beardies eat scrambled eggs? 

Yes, beardies can safely eat scrambled eggs. Remember not to mix in any additional ingredients that they can’t eat, and not to feed them more than roughly half an egg at a time. 

Can a bearded dragon eat cheese? 

No – do not feed beardies cheese or any type of dairy. It isn’t good for them. 

Can bearded dragons eat wheat? 

Bearded dragons can eat wheat itself, otherwise known as wheatgrass or sprouts of the wheat plant. However, they can’t eat bread made of wheat because of the starch, gluten, and other ingredients found in wheat bread. 

What foods do bearded dragons love most? 

Bearded dragon’s favorite food would have to be live bugs, which is typically crickets or roaches.

Can bearded dragons eat corn? 

Yes, bearded dragons eat corn, but there’s really very little nutritional value for them to eat corn. It’s best to only feed them corn sparingly, and not to make it a staple in their diet. 

Can Beardies eat potatoes?

Yes, beardies can eat potatoes, although it’s recommended to only feed them potatoes sparingly as there could be nutritional issues if you make it a part of their regular diet. 

Do Beardies eat raw carrots?

Yes! Beardies can eat both raw and cooked carrots. Raw carrots are actually better as they lose some of their nutritional value when cooked. However, they should be fed in moderation as carrots aren’t the best vegetable for bearded dragons – they contain too much vitamin A, which can be toxic to them in large quantities. 

Can Beardies eat bananas? 

Yes, beardies can eat bananas. However, they should only eat bananas sparingly, every two to three weeks at most. 

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. 

Recap: Can bearded dragons eat bread? 

• No, bearded dragons should not eat bread. They can’t properly digest it and it’ll likely give them a stomach ache. 
• Feed them insects and plants as part of a healthy diet. 

For our full list of food to feed a bearded dragon, see our guide here. 

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