In the wild, bearded dragons have been observed consuming a variety of foods, including mushrooms, but this does not mean you should be feeding them to your pet beardie.
Technically, bearded dragons can eat mushrooms, but it’s a bit complicated than that.
While some species of mushrooms are safe for bearded dragons to consume, many others are toxic and can cause serious health problems.
Things to Consider
Mushrooms are high in phosphorus, which can disrupt the delicate balance of calcium and phosphorus in a bearded dragon’s diet.
Excessive phosphorus interferes with calcium absorption, a nutrient vital for a bearded dragon’s health.
Safe Mushroom Varities for Bearded Dragons
Some safe mushroom varieties for bearded dragons include button mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, and portobello mushrooms.
These mushrooms are low in fat and high in protein, making them a nutritious addition to your bearded dragon’s diet.
Keep in mind that mushrooms should only be fed to your bearded dragon in moderation and they cannot substitute dark leafy greens and insects as a staple in their diet.
Toxic Mushrooms for Bearded Dragons
On the other hand, there are many types of mushrooms that are toxic to bearded dragons, and you should never feed wild mushrooms found in the wild or in your backyard.
These mushrooms can cause a range of symptoms, including vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, and even death.
It’s important to always do your research before feeding your bearded dragon any new foods, including mushrooms.
If you’re unsure about whether a particular mushroom is safe for your bearded dragon to eat, it’s best to err on the side of caution and avoid feeding it to them altogether.
Better Alternatives
The main staple of a bearded dragon’s diet consists of insects such as crickets, mealworms, waxworms, and roaches.
They also eat dark leafy greens like collard greens, turnip greens, and mustard greens. You can also offer occasional fruits like apples or pears in small amounts as treats.
The specific vegetation that bearded dragons eat in the wild includes dandelions, clover, flowers, grasses, and Perennial Soybean.
They also consume vegetables like sweet potatoes, broccoli, cabbage, beans, peas, bell peppers, and kale.
There are no known health benefits associated with feeding them mushrooms.
Moreover, the risks associated with feeding them the wrong type of mushroom, which could potentially be toxic, far outweigh any potential benefits.
It’s always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to the health of your pet.
If you’re unsure about whether a particular mushroom is safe for your bearded dragon to eat, it’s best to err on the side of caution and avoid feeding it to them altogether.
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PetsWithScales.com is an informational website about big lizard pet care. We collect and provide information from different sources across the web on how to keep and care for reptiles as pets. The species we mainly deal with are tegus, monitor lizards, skinks and geckos. Our aim is to provide high quality information to help pet owners make better, more informed decisions about their animal’s diets, health and life.
PetsWithScales.com is an informational website about big lizard pet care. We collect and provide information from different sources across the web on how to keep and care for reptiles as pets. The species we mainly deal with are tegus, monitor lizards, skinks and geckos. Our aim is to provide high quality information to help pet owners make better, more informed decisions about their animal’s diets, health and life.