Can bearded dragons eat mushrooms?

If you’re wondering “Can bearded dragons eat bean sprouts?” the answer is no. Bearded dragons can not and should not eat mushrooms, as they are potentially extremely toxic for them. If they eat a small quantity, don’t panic, but do not continue feeding them mushrooms if you catch them eating it. 

In this article, we’ll explore the nutritional value of mushrooms 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 mushrooms?

Mushroom Nutritional Value for Bearded Dragons: 

Mushrooms are a wonderful source of nutrients including: 

• Fiber (great for bearded dragon’s digestion) 
• Calcium (vital for beardie’s growth and bone health) 
• Phosphorus 
• Copper 
• Magnesium 
• Carbohydrates 
• Vitamin C 
• Iron 
• Vitamin B6
• Vitamin D 
• Vitamin A

Source: Web MD

Mushrooms have a huge amount of phosphorus. 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. Mushrooms have far more phosphorus than calcium, so feeding them this vegetable regularly will seriously inhibit their calcium absorption. We’ve outlined ways to increase your beardie’s calcium intake below. 

How often should you give mushrooms to your beardie? 

Ideally, you should never give mushrooms to your bearded dragon. There is just too much phosphorus and too little other valuable nutrients for bearded dragons to safely consume them. However, if you do feed them mushrooms, make sure it’s in tiny portions and only on the rarest of occasions, if you are in a food emergency. 

Potential risks of feeding acorn squash to your bearded dragon: 

Mushrooms don’t have the ideal ratio of calcium to phosphorus. If you were to only feed your beardie mushrooms daily with no other vegetables, they would suffer from a calcium deficiency and over time, it would harm their bone and muscle health. 

Long term calcium deficiency will cause your dragon to develop brittle bones, causing them pain in their joints and bones. If this condition continues, they could even become paralyzed. 

As well, if you’re thinking of feeding your beardie mushrooms from the wild, please avoid doing this. You might accidentally feed them a toxic or poisonous mushroom that could severely hurt their sensitive digestive systems. 

What to do if your bearded dragon ingests mushrooms accidentally?

Don’t panic. They’ll likely be just fine. However, if they consume a large quantity of mushrooms, monitor them closely for symptoms of a strong reaction. This could include: 

• Bloating
• Diarrhea
• Spitting up 
• Vomiting
• Abnormal behaviors 

Give them water to flush out the mushrooms 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. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): Can bearded dragons eat mushrooms?

Can bearded dragons eat onions? 

No, bearded dragons can not eat onions as they are too acidic and will harm their stomachs. 

Can bearded dragons eat zucchini?

Yes, bearded dragons can eat zucchini on occasion. It’s best to serve them sliced up raw zucchini. 

Can bearded dragons eat peppers?

Yes, bearded dragons can eat peppers of all colors. 

Can bearded dragons eat strawberries?

Bearded dragons can eat strawberries every week or two. Strawberries are considered one of the safer fruits for your beardie to eat regularly. 

Can bearded dragons eat spinach?

While bearded dragons can eat spinach, it shouldn’t be a vegetable that’s a daily staple for them. There are much better vegetables for bearded dragons to eat regularly. 

Can bearded dragons 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. 

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 mushrooms? 

• No, bearded dragons should not eat mushrooms. There is too much phosphorus for them to regularly eat mushrooms safely. 
• Do not feed your bearded dragon mushrooms from the wild. 
• If your beardie eats mushrooms accidentally, don’t panic. Monitor them closely for signs of a reaction and call your vet if you notice anything abnormal. 

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

Related articles: 

• Can bearded dragons eat tomatoes?
• Can bearded dragons eat avocados?
• Can bearded dragons eat acorn squash?
• Can bearded dragons eat olives?