Bearded dragons eat many different foods, including oats, apples, bananas, carrots, lettuce, peas, potatoes, rice, spinach, tomatoes, yogurt, and watermelon.
However, there are some things that should be avoided. For example, bearded dragons shouldn’t be fed oatmeal because it contains too much starch and protein. In addition, it doesn’t contain enough calcium and phosphorous. These nutrients are essential for healthy growth and development.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Oatmeal?
Bearded dragons are reptiles that belong to the dragon family. These lizards are native to Australia and New Guinea. They grow to be between 2 and 4 feet long and weigh anywhere from 5 to 20 pounds. Their diet consists mainly of insects, small mammals, birds, eggs, and plants.
Oatmeal is made from ground oats. It’s a great source of fiber and protein. However, it doesn’t have any calcium or phosphorous. Those two minerals are important for healthy bones and teeth.
There are plenty of other nutritious alternatives available for bearded dragons. You should consider feeding them a balanced diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and grains.
They may eat oats, but it’s not a good idea to feed them oatmeal. It has limited nutritional benefits and has a bad calcium to phosphorus ratio.
Also, there are many other nutritious alternatives available for them. Don’t worry about giving them oatmeal; instead, give them a well-balanced diet.
What Is Oatmeal?
Oats are a grain that comes from the grass plant called Avena sativa. Oats are used as food for humans and animals alike. But before you start feeding your bearded dragon oatmeal, let me tell you why it isn’t ideal for him.
According to Wikipedia, oat groats are a type of grain that comes from the outer husk of the oat seed. They are usually sold whole, but they may be ground into flours for baking purposes. Oats are available in various forms including rolled oats, steel cut oats, instant oats, quick cooking oats, old fashioned oats, and regular oats.
For example, if the oats were grown using a dry process, then they would be dried and ground into flour. On the other hand, if the oats were harvested using a wet process, then they would still be whole and unprocessed.
So, if you feed your bearded dragon oatmeal that was produced using a dry process, he may experience digestive issues. And if you feed him oatmeal that was produced through a wet process, then he might develop skin problems.
Nutritional Facts About Oatmeal
To understand whether it’s a good or bad thing for your beardie, it’s important to first learn about its nutritional values.
| Name | Amount | Unit |
| Calories | 71 | Kcal |
| Protein | 2.5 | g |
| Carbs | 12 | g |
| Fat | 1.5 | g |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.005 | mg |
| Vitamin C | 0 | mg |
| Vitamin E | 0.08 | mg |
| Calcium | 9 | mg |
| Phosphorous | 77 | mg |
| Iron | 0.9 | mg |
Source: Wikipedia– Based on 100g.
Are There Any Health Benefits Of Oatmeal?
If you feed your bearded dragon a diet containing gluten, he may become ill. You should avoid feeding your bearded dragon gluten until further research confirms its safety for bearded dragons.
Are There Any Health Risks With Oatmeal?
Are there any associated with it? Should you be worried about your beardie? Let me explain to you…
Low In Calcium
Calcium is essential for healthy bones and teeth. Without adequate amounts of calcium, reptiles can develop diseases such as metabolic bone disorder (MBD), which causes severe skeletal problems.
Therefore, it is important to supplement your bearded dragon’s diet with calcium supplements. You can find calcium supplements in reptile stores, pet shops, online retailers, and even in grocery stores.
Be mindful that calcium supplements may cause diarrhea in reptiles. Always consult your veterinarian before adding calcium supplements to your bearded dragon’s diet.
Bad Calcium To Phosphorous Ratio
Oats are great for your lizard, but if you feed him oatmeal instead of his regular diet, he may end up getting sick. Phosphorus is needed to build strong bones, but too much phosphorus can cause problems. Too much phosphorus can bind to calcium and stop your lizard from absorbing the calcium that it needs.
This means that if you give your lizard oatmeal instead of his usual diet, he might end up getting sick. You can avoid this problem by feeding your lizard a diet rich in calcium.
So make sure that you keep your lizard’s diet balanced, and include foods that are high in calcium, like milk, cheese, eggs, and yogurt.
Cross-contamination
Oats are a great food for bearded dragons. But if you feed them oatmeal, they may become sick.
Bearded dragons are omnivores, meaning they eat both plants and animals. And they can easily get sick from eating certain types of food.
For example, they can get sick from eating foods that contain gluten. Gluten is found in grains such as wheat, barley, and rye.
But they can also get sick from eating foods containing soybeans. Soybeans are part of the legume family, along with peas, beans, lentils, and peanuts.
So if you give your bearded dragon oatmeal, they might get sick.
Should Bearded Dragons Eat Oatmeal?
Oats are high in fiber, which makes them great for digestion. But, they also contain gluten, which can cause digestive issues for bearded dragons.
So, if you feed your beardies oats, you may end up with gastrointestinal problems. You can avoid this issue by choosing a food that doesn’t contain gluten. Some options include rice, millet, quinoa, buckwheat, or corn.
Another option is to feed your beardies insects instead of oats. Insects are low in fiber, but they still provide essential nutrients for your beardies. Plus, they won’t give your beardies any kind of digestive issues.
Insects are also a great source of protein, vitamins, minerals, and fats. So, you can feed your beardies insects without worrying about giving them any kind of health problem.
Can Baby Beardies Eat Oatmeal?
Beardies grow fast, and they require lots of protein, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. And since they’re still growing, they need a lot of calcium and iron. Oatmeal isn’t high in those nutrients, so it wouldn’t be a good choice for them.
However, if you’ve got a baby beardie, you might want to give him/her some oats once he/she reaches adulthood. At that point, they’ll start eating more fruit and veggies, and they won’t need as much protein, calcium, and iron.
So, if you’re thinking about getting a baby beardie, make sure you feed him/her plenty of insects and veg before you introduce oats. Otherwise, you might end up with a hungry little dragon instead of a happy one!
Can You Feed Oatmeal To A Bearded Indirectly?
Oatmeal is a grain made from ground oats. It’s usually eaten as breakfast cereal, but it can also be used as a pet treat. Some people think that it’s a great alternative to dog treats because it’s nutritious and doesn’t cause digestive problems.
But before you start giving your bearded dragon oatmeal, you should know that it isn’t recommended. There are several reasons why you shouldn’t feed your bearded dragon oatmeal.
First, it’s not healthy for your bearded dragon. Oatmeal is high in carbohydrates, which means that it’s a lot easier for your lizard to digest. And since your bearded dragon needs to eat every day, he won’t be able to properly process the carbs in oatmeal.
Second, it’s not safe for your bearded dragon. Because oatmeal is high in carbohydrates and fiber, it can cause diarrhea. Diarrhea is bad news for your bearded dragon because it can lead to dehydration.
So don’t try to feed your bearded dragon oatmeal. Instead, you should focus on finding him a diet that’s high in protein and low in fat.
Conclusion:
Oatmeal is an excellent food for bearded dragons because it provides them with lots of nutrients. However, oatmeal isn’t exactly the easiest thing to feed to a reptile.
It has a high fiber content, which makes it hard to digest. That said, if you feed your bearded dragon oatmeal regularly, he’ll grow strong and healthy.
