Bearded dragons are omnivores, which means that they eat both plants and animals. In the wild, bearded dragons will eat a wide variety of insects, flowers, and fruit. In captivity, bearded dragons will also eat eggs, mealworms, crickets, and other insects, as well as greens such as dandelion leaves and collard greens. If you have meat for dinner, you may wonder, can bearded dragons eat meat?
Yes, bearded dragons can eat meat, whether it’s cooked or raw. Meat offers a lot of nutrients that your beardie requires to stay healthy. When feeding them meat, only give them a small amount. Too much meat in their diet isn’t good for their overall health. Meat should be cut into small pieces before you feed them. This will prevent your beardie from choking on it.
Is It Safe For Bearded Dragons To Eat Meat?
Meat is safe for your bearded dragons to eat, whether it’s from cows, pigs, or chickens. Meat is a good source of high-quality protein, which bearded dragons need to stay healthy and grow. However, there are some risks associated with feeding your bearded dragon meat.
Risks of Feeding Meat to Bearded Dragons
Meat is not an essential part of a bearded dragon’s diet. It contains no vitamin C and should only be used as an occasional treat or supplement. The risks associated with feeding your bearded dragon too much meat include:
Dehydration – Meat has low water content and can quickly dehydrate your bearded dragon if he eats too much of it at once. You should only feed your bearded dragon meat once or twice per week, and dilute it with other foods when possible so he doesn’t eat too much at once.
Obesity – Because meat doesn’t contain any fiber or carbohydrates, bearded dragons who eat too much of it may become overweight or obese over time. This can cause health problems like heart disease, diabetes, and liver disease in humans and animals alike!
Diarrhea – Some types of animals can develop diarrhea after eating raw meat because the bacteria in their digestive systems are not used to breaking down the proteins found in raw meat.
What Kind Of Meat Should You Feed Your Bearded Dragon?
If you have decided to feed your bearded dragon meat, then it is important to purchase high-quality food that has been raised humanely and naturally. The meat can be from a chicken, cow, pig, or even a deer. Bearded dragons are not picky and will consume all types of meat you give them.
It is also important to avoid processed meats because they may contain preservatives or chemicals that can be harmful to bearded dragons. This can cause serious health problems in your pet.
It is best to avoid feeding red meat as well because it has too much protein for a bearded dragon’s digestive system and could cause health issues such as gout, kidney disease, or heart failure if consumed in excess over time.
Benefits Of Meat For Bearded Dragons
Meat is a great source of protein for bearded dragons. In addition to being high in protein, meat is also a good source of vitamins and minerals. One of the benefits of meat for bearded dragons is that it helps keep their skin healthy.
Bearded dragons are omnivores, meaning they will eat both vegetable and meat items. Meat provides them with amino acids and other nutrients that they need to grow strong and healthy. In addition to the benefits listed below, meat also makes bearded dragons more active.
Helps Maintain Healthy Skin – Meat provides bearded dragons with essential fatty acids that help keep their skin smooth and soft. The omega-3 fatty acid found in fish oil helps reduce inflammation in the body and may prevent dryness of the skin or scales.
Provides Protein – Protein is essential for the growth and repair of tissues in any living creature, including bearded dragons! Protein helps build muscle mass as well as repair damaged muscle fibers from injury or illness. A lack of protein can lead to weakness, weight loss, poor growth rates, and even death if not corrected quickly enough!
Helps Prevent Obesity – If you feed your bearded dragon too much fruit or insects, he may become overweight because these foods are lower in protein than meat. By increasing the amount of protein in his diet by feeding him more meat, you can help prevent obesity in your pet lizard.
Can Baby Bearded Dragons Eat Meat?
Baby bearded dragons can eat meat as part of their diet. You’ll need to feed them insects that are high in protein, like crickets or mealworms. Other options include earthworms, waxworms, silkworms, and roaches. You can also feed your baby bearded dragon insects that have been gut-loaded with vitamins and minerals (which has the added benefit of making them taste better).
The best way to get your baby bearded dragon to eat its meal is to feed live insects rather than dead ones. Live insects move around so they’re more interesting for your pet; they also contain more nutrients than dead insects do because they’re fresher than dead ones. The only downside is that some parents are squeamish about feeding live bugs to their kids or pets; if this sounds like you, then buy canned or frozen varieties instead of living ones!
How To Feed Meat To Bearded Dragons
When it comes time to feed them meat, you can either choose to feed them raw or cooked meat. If you’re planning to feed them raw meat, make sure that it’s fresh. Meat that is spoiled can be contaminated with harmful bacteria which can make your beardie sick.
Feeding meat to your beardie can be done a couple of different ways. Below are some of the ways to feed meat to your beardie:
Handfeeding Meat To Bearded Dragons
Meat can be hand-fed to your bearded dragon in a variety of ways. Some people prefer to use tweezers while others use their fingers or a spoon. Regardless of how you choose to feed meat to your pet, there are some techniques that will help ensure your bearded dragon receives all the nutrients it needs to thrive in captivity:
Use tongs or tweezers to handle food items before placing them in front of your bearded dragon. This ensures that you don’t inadvertently drop any food items on the floor or into their enclosure where they could become contaminated with bacteria and mold spores from fecal matter or urine which could lead to illness in your pet.
Placing Meat In A Dish For Beardie To Eat
If you’ve ever tried to feed your bearded dragon with meat, you know that it can be a bit tricky. Bearded dragons usually eat by biting off small chunks of food and swallowing them whole. This is because their tongues are forked, which makes it easier for them to bite off pieces of food rather than chew on them.
If you want your bearded dragon to eat from a dish, there are a few ways to encourage him:
Put some water in the dish first. The water will make his food easier to pick up and move around, which will encourage him to eat more easily from it. If you don’t have enough room in your tank for another bowl or plate, try using one of those small plastic cups that come with juice boxes or snack packs (the kind kids use). It’s not ideal, but it will work until you’re able to buy something better!
Try putting some treats in the dish along with the meat to encourage him. A few crickets or mealworms can go a long way towards getting him interested in eating out of a bowl!
How Often Can Bearded Dragons Eat Meat?
The answer to this question depends on the type of meat you give your bearded dragon. If you want to give them cooked chicken or beef every day, then this may cause problems for their digestive system. Cooked meat has too much fat compared to raw meat, so it’s best to give them raw meat instead.
However, if you just want to give them some cooked meat occasionally as a treat then this shouldn’t cause any issues (as long as they’re not fed too much).
Conclusion
Bearded dragons can eat meat both that are cooked or raw. However, it’s much better to feed them raw meat as it doesn’t contain too much fat. When feeding them meat, cut the meat into small pieces so it will be easier for them to eat and digest.
