Are you interested in learning more about what foods your bearded dragon should be eating?
Have you worried about making sure your bearded dragons are getting the nutrients they need?
When you start looking at what to feed your bearded dragon, you will likely find they can eat various foods, including insects, fruits, and vegetables.
This might have you asking:
Can bearded dragons eat squash?
Bearded dragons enjoy many different kinds of squash, including butternut squash, acorn squash, spaghetti squash, and summer squash to name a few. The squash you feed your bearded dragon will need to be raw and finely cut or grated into tiny and thin bite-sized pieces. If the pieces are too large, your pet could choke.
Keep reading this article to learn even more about bearded dragons eating squash.
Table of Contents
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Squash?
A bearded dragon needs a varied diet full of insects and plants to get what they need to live a long and happy life.
Butternut squash, acorn squash, and spaghetti squash are among the varieties of squash your bearded dragon can eat.
These animals also may enjoy sampling summer squash and yellow squash.
Squash is a great addition to a bearded dragon diet because it is full of vital nutrients.
Squash, depending on the variety, will give your bearded dragon different levels of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, calcium, and low amounts of phosphorus.
Butternut squash, for example, has a higher level of calcium than acorn squash and has more Vitamin A and Vitamin C, making it a great addition to the menu.
While this type of squash is a great source of nutrients, other squash varieties are just as beneficial.
People who own bearded dragons will need to cut these squash into very tiny pieces by either chopping or grating the raw squash.
With such tiny, thin pieces, the squash will be less likely to become lodged in your bearded dragon’s throat.
Raw squash has far more benefits than when it is cooked.
Always feed uncooked squash to your bearded dragon.
Cooking lowers the levels of vitamins in the squash, and some minerals will be lost as well.
What Foods Do Bearded Dragons Eat?
Bearded dragons like a varied diet, but they need it to avoid various health issues.
There are some staples you will want to put into the feeding schedule of bearded dragons.
They should eat staple food items daily.
Some foods will only be added to the menu occasionally, and some act as treats meant for rare occasions.
People often offer their bearded dragons many different kinds of insects, including crickets, cockroaches, locusts, wax worms, butter worms, king worms, dubia roaches, and even black soldier fly larvae, to name a few.
Adult bearded dragons will need fewer insects, or meat, because the meat will lead to obesity.
Baby bearded dragons expend energy much faster than adults and need to eat insects to stay healthy.
When it comes to safe vegetables, the list is long, but there are a few staple vegetables to add to their diet.
Besides acorn and butternut squash, green beans, sugar snap peas, and snap peas are among the list of staple vegetables.
Leafy greens are also a vital part of the bearded dragon diet.
Dandelion leaves, collard greens, turnip greens, and mustard greens are among the list of staple greens people regularly include in the diet of bearded dragons.Ā
We have a post on adding mustard greens to your bearded dragon’s diet if you’re interested in reading more on it.
You might also consider providing flowers and flower petals to bearded dragons during feeding time.
Not all flowers will be good for your pet, but go ahead and add dandelion flowers and rose petals to the menu.
There are many fruits on the good list, but avoid giving your bearded dragon too much fruit.
The sugar content in fruit is too high, and because of this, save them for special treats.
Foods To Avoid For Bearded Dragons
Even though the list of what bearded dragons can eat is long, there are just as many things you need to avoid giving to your pets.
There are some items you must avoid feeding to bearded dragons, including avocados, tomatoes, citrus fruits, rhubarb, and iceberg lettuce.
Tomatoes should be avoided because of their high acidity levels.
Bearded dragons should never be given insects caught in the wild.
Owners cannot guarantee the insects do not have chemicals in their systems, and those chemicals could do serious harm to your bearded dragon.
A flower taken from your garden may have the same problems.
Only give bearded dragons a flower if you are positively sure no insecticide, pesticide, or other chemical has been applied to it or in the area.
Greens aren’t all good for bearded dragons.
Why Do Bearded Dragons Need Vegetables And Insects Both?
Bearded dragons are curious creatures who usually enjoy tasting all kinds of vegetables, greens, fruits, and insects.
But what if you only give them insects or focus on making them vegetarians?
Bearded dragons are omnivores who don’t just want to eat insects and vegetables, but they need to for their health.
The diet you give your pet should be very similar to what their wild cousins are eating.
Staple greens, vegetables, insects and fruits, fed to bearded dragons regularly will keep the animal healthy, providing them with the necessary vitamins and nutrients they need.
With a poor diet, your bearded dragon’s lifespan will decrease and they will be more susceptible to illnesses.
If your beardie isn’t eating and has no appetite, there might already be an underlying health issue.
Don’t be afraid to get veterinary advice from a qualified reptile veterinarian.
They will be able to help you if your bearded dragon isn’t eating, identifying if your pet has parasites or disease.
A veterinarian will also advise if you aren’t sure if bearded dragons should be eating a specific food item.
Remember to supplement your bearded dragon’s food either through dusting the food items with supplements or through gut loading.
Conclusion
Now you know if your bearded dragon can eat squash.
Bearded dragons are curious eaters who benefit from variety.
Squash is just one of the many beneficial vegetables owners offer their bearded dragon, and it is so good for them, it is considered a staple of their diet.
Give your bearded dragon a taste, and they will likely want more.