A lot of newbies in keeping reptiles ask us can bearded dragons eat peas?.
So we decided to put all the information you need to know about feeding this green to your pet in this article.
It is very important to consider the nutrients he requires from the daily diets, for his long term wellbeing.
To answer your question, yes, they love eating peas.
But what they love sometimes is not the things that are good for them.
We have provided the good and the bad of this plant, and how to feed them in the right way so that your pet can still enjoy their favorite food while remaining healthy.
Do not hesitate anymore, let’s jump right into the guide!
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How Often Can Bearded Dragons Eat Peas?
1. Nutrition Value
Peas contain a decent amount of nutrients and antioxidants.
Researches also suggest that they can help protect against such chronic health illness for bearded dragons, such as heart diseases or metabolic disorders.
On the other hand, some experts argue that some of the green peas are unhealthy and should not be fed too frequently since it can cause bloating.
There is a lot of peas, including yellow, black-eyed, purple peas, etc.
However, most widely-eaten is the green kind.
Beardies can also eat snaps and snow peas.
They are other common varieties which due to their similar appearance are sometimes mistaken for green ones.
Their taste and nutrient value, though, are somewhat different.
A majority of the nutrition is made of carbohydrates and the remaining are fat and protein.
In addition to a large amount of fiber, peas contain any vitamin and mineral your dragon need for healthy growth.
Furthermore, they also have a high content of polyphenol antioxidants, which are responsible for a lot of health benefits.
One significant note that pea is one of the richest sources of plant-based protein, thanks to its high fiber filling.
Make sure your pet’s diet combines various types of peas with other protein sources in order to guarantee that he gets plenty of the necessary acids.
Nutrition Facts (Credit: Verywell Fit)
Some minerals and their benefits are listed in the below table:
| Minerals | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Vitamin A | Essentials to the development, healthy immune, vision, breeding, sustaining and restoring organs and tissues |
| Vitamin C | Essentials to the development, healthy immune, vision, breeding, sustaining and restoring organs and tissues |
| Vitamin K | Helps control blood clotting and bone’s wellbeing |
| Thiamine | Helps retain healthy nerve tissue |
| Manganese | Contributes to metabolism |
| Iron | Most important to the babies |
| Phosphorus | Supports bone development. |
Related: https://thepettime.com/signs-of-mbd-in-bearded-dragons/
Like other vegetables, all kinds of peas contain both phosphorus and calcium.
However, compared to the level of calcium, this plant has an extremely higher content of phosphorus, which means it will prevent calcium absorption into the dragon’s bloodstream.
Therefore, the bearded dragon can eats peas, but in long term, this will lead to metabolic bone disease, a common issue that happened to this lizard species.
Solemnly saying, this weakens your pet’s skeletal system and can even kill him if left untreated.
2. Feeding frequency: Moderate
Although bearded dragons can eat peas in general, you should not feed it too much.
Since it is very high in phosphorus content but very low in calcium, overeating phosphorus will cause serious metabolic bone disease, softening of the jaw and facial bones.
Reptile experts recommend that it should be used as an occasional treat or mixed with other greens in beardies’ daily meals to not causing bad effects.
You can let your beardies eat raw or cooked beans without worrying. Or you can try to make a gourmet dish for them as what they showed in this video: 5 ways to make the BEST Dragon Salad – YouTube
Read more:
Feeding Bearded Dragons: The Basic Guideline
1. Diet By Age
The biggest difference between a young and adult bearded dragon’s diet is: A slightly greater amount of protein should be served to the younger ones while the older or adult ones should be mostly vegetables and greens.
Young dragons require a high protein amount in order to better evolve and grow strong.
On the other hand, older dragons who eat so much protein are easy to be fat and may also develop issues with wellbeing.
Adult animals just do not need the protein as much as their younger ones.
Therefore, 80% of greens and veggies and just 20% protein constitute an acceptable diet for adult dragons.
2. Feeding Schedule
The first thing you should remember is turning on the heating lights from 30 to 60 minutes before and let it last for as long after feeding.
The beardies will not want to eat if they do not warm up themself enough.
Once again, how often and how much you should feed depends on the age of your pet.
The nutrients their body requires, especially vitamin D3 in calcium, cannot be properly absorbed.
In this case, everything you feed would essentially be just a waste.
In addition, ensure that all the food that is not consumed within 30 minutes is removed from the tank.
Bearded dragons do not like ripe food since it can be sour and grow bacteria.
For adult ones:
We suggest feeding them in the morning and the evening. If you are too busy, one meal a day is still good.
But when you do this way, you can take out the food slower because it takes a whole 24 hours for the beardies to take another meal.
For newborn babies:
Give them from 4 to 5 meals a day, 5 to 10 minutes each as many crickets as possible. The kids should eat 30 to 60 crickets every day.
For 3 – 4 months babies:
Go for 3 or 4 meals daily so that they can always eat as much as they want in 5 to 10 minutes.
Feeding Peas To The Beardies: Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can Bearded Dragons Eat Peas In A Pod?
Of course yes. They can eat entirely both cooked and raw pea pods.
Nevertheless, it is advisable to give it as an occasional veggie since it is high in phosphorus, making it is not the best choice of lizard food.
2. Can I Feed My Dragon Sweet Pea Leaves?
Pea leaves are fine, but sweet peas are not recommended for bearded dragons.
You need to limit the intake because it is not good to feed, even in small quantities. Sweet peas are reported to be poisonous to most kinds of reptiles.
3. How many veggies should I Give To My Beardy?
You may face a few difficulties while this animal seems always to be hungry.
A simple rule is 70:30, 70% of green and 30% of insects. When your dragons reach their maturity, the appetite will change also.
But in general, this ratio is healthy and balanced for beardies of all ages.
4. How Long Can My Bearded Dragon Live In Captivity?
Source: Beardies World
Their longevity depends 90% on their quality of life.
They can live up to an average of 10 years if you provide them with a balanced diet, a decent cage setup with sufficient UVB exposure and temperature, and a lot of enrichment to keep them comfortable.
Some can live up to more than 12 years, but this case is quite rare.
5. Can I Overfeed My Animal?
Yes, if you are talking about protein. And no, for greens. Sadly, lots of owners are giving too much protein (mostly from insects).
This refers to a weight gain and also to certain diseases.
Averagely, it takes 5 to 8 minutes for each feeding. Some dragons can stop when they have got enough.
Therefore, you can feed them until they are full and do not want to eat anymore.
Conclusion
Can bearded dragons eat peas? Yes, they can be fed peas. However, we suggest letting them eat it as unusual treats or just a very small amount every week although some dragons enjoy them much.
Peas have a high content of phosphorus that can lead to serious metabolic diseases.
After all, a healthy diet makes things easier.
Always pay attention to the amount, how often, and how to serve properly for the best feeding.
Further Reading:
- Carolina Custom Cages Terrarium Review | What Are Pros And Cons?
- 8 Best Basking Rock For Beardie: What Is The Best Choice?
- 10 Best Thermometer For Beardie: How To Choose The Best One?
- 5 Best Beardie Lighting Setup for Beardie Lovers
- 9 Best Heat Lamp For Beardie: Natural Habitat Provided
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