Pet bearded dragons should be provided the proper amount of nutrients for overall growth and to develop at all stages of life. So the pet owners need to have a good understanding of their diet what to give and what is right for their health.
Bearded dragons are omnivores in nature, therefore, can eat both types of grass and also hunt small insects as their prey. Talking about grass, you can feed grass to your bearded dragon but you shouldn’t. Some bearded dragons may be keen to eat grass when you both are outdoors.
But you have to understand grass is not that good for their health as grass does not provide the vitamins and minerals that bearded dragons need in their diet. The grass is hard to digest for a bearded dragon and it can lead to some kind of digestive problem. It would be best to feed other greens that will contribute to some benefits and leaving out grass entirely is better.
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Do Bearded Dragons Like Grass?
The grass is something which is not their favorite treat but they usually eat grass for their survival only. They usually eat wild grass while they are hunting for any insect that is laying on it. Sometimes they eat grass due to the lack and unavailability of insects. Therefore eating grass is their compulsion, not a choice and it is not sufficient to satisfy their cravings.
Should Bearded Dragon Eat Grass?
A young bearded dragon needs around 20% of plants for their diet and in this age duration, they should eat grass plants. If you have a young bearded dragon you should provide them leaflets of grass and you should make a change in their diet as they grow up. Also, an adult bearded dragon requires an 80% of greens and vegetable diet for their body organs and good health.
Should Bearded Dragon Not Eat Grass at All?
It is not recommended to not feed grass at all to the bearded dragon and it also does not mean that reptiles cannot eat grass at all. A small amount of grass is not harmful at all to your pet. As grass is not a new thing to the bearded dragon and wild dragons have already tasted it as dragons are omnivores and can eat grass and insects. But if you want to feed grass then it should be in small quantities and on an occasional basis.
Should I Feed Grass to Bearded Dragons?
Green grass is necessary for a bearded dragon but only grass is not a perfect snack you can feed grass in moderation. Anything which is not ideal for the bearded dragon may become harmful for him and frequently feeding grass may create constipation and other digestive issues. So if you are willing to feed grass you should be aware of all those circumstances that can affect your bearded dragon’s health.
Things to Know while Feeding Grass to Bearded Dragon
A pet bearded dragon eats wild grass and they become used to that wild grass but if you feed grass from your lawn to the pet dragon then you should keep following things in your mind.
- Grass should be adequately washed and dried
- It should be free from any kind of toxics
- No bacteria or any kind of fungus should be on the grass
- Grass should be free from pesticides and insecticides
Fungus, bacteria, and other pesticides can affect a bearded dragon’s digestive system very badly as its organs are susceptible.
Can Bearded Dragon Eat Too Much Grass?
The grass is not toxic at all for the bearded dragons as long as they are not sprayed which means they can occasionally eat grass if the owner wants to feed them. The grass which is on your lawn is not easy for them to digest making dragons prone to impactions. But too much grass is not good for bearded dragons. So it is not recommended to feed an excess grass to them.
Reasons Why Bearded Dragon Shouldn’t Eat Grass?
Here are some of the reasons why the grass is not good for bearded dragons and they shouldn’t eat grass at all.
1. Leads to digestive complications:
Bearded dragons do not have the system that a cow, goat, sheep, and other ruminant animals have to digest the grass easily. Whenever a bearded dragon eats grass, their incompatible digestive system puts them at risk of constipation, impaction, and other nasty digestive issues. Feeding grass can put your dragon in considerable discomfort.
2. Nutrient deficit:
Once a bearded dragon gets used to eating grass then they will not eat other healthy things that are important to them. Due to this, a bearded dragon can be at the risk of massive nutrient deficit and malnutrition is one of the early signs of nutrient deficiency. Deficiency in the nutrients causes difficulty to grow and may suffer serious lethargy.
3. Poor nutritional intake:
Grass couldn’t provide sufficient minerals and vitamins to the bearded dragon-like other animals for which grass is a staple food. Bearded dragons cannot get as many nutrients as they can get from eating healthy greens, fruits, and insects. So there is no point feeding grass to your bearded dragon. It won’t provide any benefit so it doesn’t make any sense to feed grass to your lovely pet.
4. Pesticides:
Feeding grass to the bearded dragon does not need to go outside and pick grass from the lawn and feed them. Lawn grass may be dangerous to serve to the bearded dragon as it can contain pesticides and many other harmful chemicals that can be poisonous to your bearded dragon. If you are sure about the lawn grass is free from pesticides then it is also not good to feed it to them.
What Food is good for Bearded Dragon?
Bearded dragons should be given a balanced diet that includes green veggies, fruits, and insects. Young and baby dragons should be provided more animal protein and the number of plants and greens should be increased as they grow up.
Plant vs Food ratio
There are two options for the bearded dragon which change according to their age. So you have to be careful about their diet and change what you should do as they grow up.
The most common advice that you may find about their diet is:
- Small and baby bearded dragons should be given about 80% of insects and 20% of greens and fruits.
- For a young bearded dragon, you should shift to a 50-50% diet of both insects and greens.
- An adult bearded dragon should eat more greens and reduce the consumption of insects. It is recommended to feed an adult bearded dragon with 70-80% of plant matter and 20-30% of insects.
This recommendation about a food diet is quite logical as an adult bearded dragon is not that active and should eat less fatty acid to avoid getting overweight and obesity is something bearded dragons are prone to. Therefore consumption of insects is reduced for an adult dragon and greens are feeding more.
Final Thoughts
The grass is hard for bearded dragons to digest and bearded dragons are prone to constipation, impaction, and digestive issues. Another reason that grass should not be fed to dragons is that it doesn’t provide any nutritional value and eating too much grass can lead to a nutritional deficit in them as they will not have other important components which are essential for their growth. If you are willing then you should be very aware of all the facts.
