Can Bearded Dragons Eat Grass? Risks and Treatment
Bearded dragons evolved in a specific environment with specific food items. Although they are omnivores, 80% diet depends upon animals and the rest on plants.
Bearded dragons eat veggies more than meat, which is not the case with every beardie; some are born differently. The most essential thing to point out is what type of foods you should to these bearded dragons such that the food will be beneficial for them.
If somebody has a bearded dragon as a pet, they must know what is suitable for their beardies to eat and what not! Usually, beardies love to eat whatever you offer them. Repetition of any food makes them bored as such foods will fail to please their appetite. Trying out new varieties of food comprising various fruits like bananas, watermelon, and apples with some veggies can be a staple diet. A diet that complements every required nutrient is perfect for the beardies’ health. The question that hurts every beardie owner is, can bearded dragons eat grass? Will the grass be suitable food for them? Let’s find an answer to this query.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Grass?
The grass is rich in roughage which is difficult for beardies to digest. Rather than eating grass, beardies can also eat cilantro, green beans, and parsley. All these grasses are healthy for them to eat. Although eating grass will not have any means of side effects, it will not be treated as a treat or a healthy meal for them because it has no nutritional value.
Though, it can never cause any casualties to beardies until grasses have some hazardous elements which are not suitable for the health of bearded dragons.
Beardies are likely to munch on grass, yet their chances of staying on it are relatively low. Beardies are cheerful, so if the pet owner frees them in the playground, they will likely pluck the grass. Though it is not harmful, the owners should keep an eye on those areas where pesticides and chemicals are sprinkled on the grass. It will be toxic to beardies to get in contact with pesticides as they can destroy the internal organs of the dragons.
3 Risks of Feeding Bearded Dragons Grass
The grass is not harmful to beardies to eat, but they will have difficulty digesting it. It is okay if the beardie eats some grass while playing in the grass. However, it is advised to refrain from feeding beardies grass as a part of the meal. Several risks include:
1: Grass Can Choke
The diet of beardies is diverse. Feeding them different meals will be healthy, increasing their appetite and taste buds.
If somehow they eat grass, the feeder must not panic because it will not cause any harm. However, we should keep beardies away from the grass as the texture of grass is tough, so it will cause difficulty in digesting it. Due to this reason, there are high chances of getting choked.
2: Bugs Entry
Though consuming a small amount of grass will not be harmful. However, if beardies eat grass with bugs, then the chances of bug introduction into the body will increase, making it harder for them to remain healthy.
Entry of any foreign element can cause casualties like bacterial growth, damage to internal organs, and poor health.
3: No Nutritional Value
Grasses are rich in roughage, and it is the reason making it harder for beardies to digest them. It disturbs the metabolism and reduces their motion count. All this hampers the mood of beardies, so better avoiding feeding it to your beardie.
Though grass will not be poisonous for them to eat, hey can’t enjoy it and can’t digest it!
What to Do If Your Bearded Dragon Ate Grass
If the feeder has encountered beardies eating grass, then there is no need to worry because a small amount of grass will never harm them. It is advised to keep in mind that beardies do not eat grass more often.
Pet owners must keep an eye on the activities of beardies. If they are not doing good, it is better to visit a doctor.
Don’t worry because the grass is not poisonous for beardies to eat. Just make sure that the grass was not containing any foreign elements and animals while the beardies were munching on it. Feed whatever the doctor prescribes and take care of your beardies.
Try to avoid contact if beardies with the area having pesticides and chemicals count as it can be harmful to them to smell. Bearded dragons are little animals whose metabolism is not strong enough to handle the reaction of chemicals in their body.
Conclusion
After going through the detailed information about can bearded dragons eat grass, we can conclude that eating grass only for fun is harmless until the grass is contaminated. It is advised to keep the beardies away from grasses because grasses have many foreign animals and elements intact.
It can cause fatal health issues to beardies. Bearded dragons are also not fond of eating grass. So the owner should not worry much but keep an eye on it every time.
Other Preferred Foods for Bearded Dragon Diet
- Turnip Greens
- Zucchini
- Sweet Potatoes
- Squash
- Radishes
- Pumpkin
- Pears
- Plums
- Peas
- Peaches
- Papaya
- Mint
- Kiwi
- Silkworms
- Basil
- Bok Choy
- Alfalfa Sprouts
- Applesauce
- Arugula
- Slugs
- Asparagus
- Darkling Beetles
- Hornworms
- Crickets
- Calci Worms
- Nightcrawler
- Wax Worms
- Rolly Pollies
- Mealworm Beetles
- Roaches
- Mealworms
- Ants
- Superworms
- Grasshoppers
- Dandelions
- Flowers
- Beetles
- Spiders
- Cherries
- Potatoes
- Dragon Fruit
- Eggs
- Parsley
- Green Beans
- Celery
- Blueberries
- Earthworms
- Cantaloupe
- Broccoli
- Kale
- Cucumbers
- Strawberries
- Cilantro
- Cabbage
- Tomatoes
- Raspberries
- Pineapple
- BlackBerries
- Mango
- Carrots
- Apples
- Spinach
- Watermelon
- Grapes
- Bananas
FAQs
What if a bearded dragon eats grass?
If somehow bearded dragons eat grass, the pet owner must monitor their activities of bearded dragons. If the beardie is not reacting and eating suitably. Make an appointment with a doctor to ensure the safety of the pet. Eating grass is not harmful. Nevertheless, it has the potential to kill the pet.
Can a bearded dragon eat grass?
Yes, bearded dragons can eat grass as they have no side effects. The thing that matters is the amount of grass they are eating. If the beardies eat a high amount of grass, feed them a bowl full of water to digest it appropriately—contrarily, there is no need to worry.
Do bearded dragons eat grass in the wild?
Bearded dragons are playful and cheerful animals. They love to analyze their surroundings and munch on whatever exists within their reach. If they are present in the wild, they will pluck and eat it too.
Can bearded dragons eat leaves?
Yes, bearded dragons can eat leaves as well. Bearded dragons are omnivore animals and can eat veggies, fruits, and meat. However, their diet is mostly veggie, so even if they eat leaves, it suits them.