Can bearded dragons eat cheese?

If you’re wondering “Can bearded dragons eat cheese?” the answer is no, bearded dragons can not and should not eat cheese. Although it’s vital that beardies get calcium in their diet, they need to get it from sources other than cheese or any type of dairy for that matter. 

Read on to learn why bearded dragons can’t eat cheese and how to get a healthy amount of calcium in their diets, safely. 

Can bearded dragons eat cheese?

Why can’t bearded dragons have cheese or dairy?

There are several reasons why bearded dragons shouldn’t eat cheese, but the main ones are: 

• Indigestion – bearded dragons, like all reptiles, are not able to process dairy like most humans can. They simply don’t have the enzymes needed for the job. If they ingest dairy, it can give them diarrhea, bloating, and other harmful digestive issues. Just think of people in your life who are lactose intolerant and what happens to them when they have dairy. 
• Protein content – Because cheese is high in protein, it can cause obesity and liver problems in bearded dragons if they eat it regularly. 
• Fat content – Similarly, cheese has a lot of fat, which can cause obesity in bearded dragons and result in a shorter lifespan. 

What should you do if your beardie eats cheese? 

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

• Bloating
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Choking
• Abnormal behaviors 

Give them water to flush out the cheese 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. 

How to get your bearded dragon calcium without feeding them dairy: 

A normal balanced diet of insects and plants will likely give your beardie all the calcium they need. In addition, you can: 

• 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.  

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 bearded dragons eat dairy? 

No. Bearded dragons are lactose intolerant, like all reptiles and do not react well to eating dairy. 

Can bearded dragons eat mozzarella cheese?

Again, no. Bearded dragons should not eat cheese or dairy of any type. 

Can bearded dragons eat Cheetos?

No, Cheetos aren’t even healthy for humans, much less a reptile that thrives on insects and plants. While they technically can eat a Cheeto, it isn’t good for them and you shouldn’t feed them Cheetos. 

Can bearded dragons eat popcorn?

While it’s tempting to share popcorn with them, they could choke on the kernels. Even if they didn’t, popcorn has no nutritional value for bearded dragons, and they won’t be able to digest any butter that’s on the popcorn. All around, it is a bad idea to feed bearded dragons popcorn. 

Can bearded dragons eat pizza?

No, unless it’s a specially created pizza with foods they can digest. For starters, cheese is really bad for bearded dragons as they’re lactose intolerant, much less the other ingredients that make up a pizza. Avoid feeding bearded dragons pizza. 

What foods do bearded dragons love most? 

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

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. 

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 cheese? 

• No, bearded dragons should not eat cheese, or any type of dairy. It will upset their stomachs and isn’t good for them. 
• 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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