Bearded dragons are reptiles that live in Australia. They’re also known as monitor lizards because they resemble large monitors.
Calcium is essential for healthy bones and teeth. Unfortunately, most reptile owners add calcium supplements to their bearded dragon’s food. This is dangerous because calcium is toxic to reptiles.
If you’re wondering whether you should add calcium to your bearded dragon’s diet, here’s everything you need to know.
Can I Put Calcium in My Bearded Dragons Water
Calcium is essential for maintaining healthy bones and teeth in reptiles. You can add calcium to your bearded dragon’s water by adding crushed eggshells to the tank. Crushed eggshells provide calcium without any additives or chemicals.
Adding calcium to your beardie’s tank will be important for his health and growth. They must consume calcium every day to grow properly. Without enough calcium, they won’t be able to shed their old skin and develop new scales.
Crush some eggshells and place them in your bearded dragon’s water. Add a pinch of salt to the water if needed. Keep the water clean and change out the water once a week.
This method works great for keeping your bearded dragon’s water balanced and free of contaminants.
Do Bearded Dragons Need Calcium
Bearded dragons are unique animals. Their bodies are completely covered in scales, and they have tiny holes in their shells. These tiny holes allow them to breathe through their skin. Because of this, they need a diet tailored to their specific needs.
They don’t always require calcium supplements or any type of additional treatments for their bones. But if you do give them calcium supplements, it’s important to know that they won’t necessarily need them every day.
Adult bearded dragons will usually get enough calcium from their diets. And since they eat mostly plants, they don’t really need calcium supplements.
But there are times when they might need calcium. One example would be during egg-laying season. During that time, females will need to replenish their body stores of calcium in order to produce healthy eggs.
So if you notice that your bearded dragon isn’t eating well, or seems lethargic, it may be because she’s in egg-laying season. She’ll probably need calcium supplements to keep her strong and healthy.
But remember, calcium supplements shouldn’t be given daily. Only give them once per week, or once every two weeks.
Why Do Bearded Dragons Need Calcium?
Beardies are herbivores, meaning they eat plants. But they do need calcium to stay healthy. Calcium is important for building strong bones, preventing health problems like hypocalcemia or metabolic bone disease, supporting healthy growth and development, and helping regulate your lizard’s metabolism to keep them within healthy weight ranges.
Calcium is also necessary for muscle health and function. Blood clots require calcium to form properly. And it helps control your lizard’s metabolism to maintain a healthy weight.
But there are other reasons why your bearded dragon needs calcium. Calcium is also critical for the heart, nervous system, brain function, and even digestion.
How Much Calcium Do Bearded Dragons Need?
Calcium is essential for growth and development in reptiles. Without enough calcium, your reptile may grow slowly, become weak and develop skeletal problems. Reptiles’ bodies store calcium in their bones, so they must consume plenty of calcium every day to stay healthy.
Bearded dragons need about 1200mg of calcium daily. On average, they will weigh 3 pounds (1.5 kg) at the age of two to four months. By six months, they will be 20 pounds (9 kg), and in three years they will weigh 80 pounds (36 kg). They can live up to 100 years old with a proper diet.
In the wild, bearded dragons may be preyed upon by various predators, so they need strong bones to avoid breaking. If their bone wasn’t strong enough, they would break if they fell down or got hurt.
The Benefits of Calcium
Bearded dragons need calcium in their diet because they’re essential for a healthy skeletal system, nervous system, and good muscular development. Calcium is also important for the internal functioning of the body.
Calcium helps regulate the function of nerves, muscles, bones, and teeth. It also plays a role in helping the heart beat properly and regulating the digestive process.
A lack of calcium can lead to problems with bone formation and mineralization. These issues include osteoporosis, brittle bones, and kidney stones.
So if you’re feeding your bearded dragon a high-calcium diet, you’ll be giving him or her the nutrients he or she needs to stay strong and healthy.
How Much Calcium Should You Feed a Juvenile Beardie?
Juvenile bearded dragons should be fed a diet consisting of 50% protein and 25% fat. They should also receive vitamin D3 supplements once per week. Adult bearded dragons should consume a diet containing 60% protein and 30% fat.
To give your juvenile beardie enough calcium, feed him/her a diet containing 1.5% calcium. This amount is sufficient for growth and development. However, if your bearded dragon is older than six months, he/she may need a diet containing 2% calcium.
How Much Calcium Do Adult Bearded Dragons Need?
Adult bearded dragon owners should be aware that adult bearded dragon size increases quickly, so they require a lot of calcium. You should feed them a diet that contains between 1/2 – 2% calcium. Calcium is important for healthy bone growth and development. Without enough calcium, your bearded dragon may develop weak bones and brittle teeth.
To give your bearded dragon plenty of calcium, you can add calcium supplements to their food. Or you can mix ground eggshells into their food. Eggshells are rich in calcium.
Your bearded dragon needs a minimum of 1200 mg of calcium per day. That’s about 3 tablespoons of crushed eggshells mixed into their food every day. So don’t forget to include calcium supplements in your bearded dragon’s diet.
What are the Side Effects of Calcium Overload?
Calcium overload is a common problem among bearded dragons. Adding calcium to the water causes the calcium levels to rise quickly, resulting in a calcium overdose.
Overdosing calcium can lead to long-term health issues, including constipation, diarrhea, respiratory distress, difficulty swallowing, and even death.
Bearded dragons that consume too much calcium may experience symptoms such as panting or gasping for breath, difficulty swallowing, and constipation. These symptoms should be taken seriously and require immediate veterinary care.
FAQs
What happens if you give your bearded dragon too much calcium?
If your bearded dragon has been eating too much calcium, he may show general weakness, lethargy, and constipation. He may also become immobile because his muscles and soft tissues will start to stiffen.
Is liquid calcium better than powder for bearded dragons?
To make sure that bearded dragons get enough calcium, they need to be fed a powder form of calcium.
Can a bearded dragon recover from calcium deficiency?
It’s not impossible to recover from moderate to severe cases of MBD, though it might take a long time and cause permanent damage.
What insects are high in calcium for bearded dragons?
Crickets are a very common feeder insect for bearded dragons. They provide a lot of nutrition and are readily available at pet stores and websites.
How much liquid calcium should I give my bearded dragon?
For use with reptiles and amphibians. Shake well before use; mix 1/2 teaspoon into their drinking water once daily for 3 consecutive weeks.
Conclusion
Calcium is an essential nutrient for reptiles, including bearded dragons. It helps build strong bones and teeth and promotes proper growth. Calcium is also necessary for eggshell formation, and therefore, it is recommended that you add calcium to your bearded dragon’s water.
However, you must be careful when adding calcium supplements to your reptile’s tank because excess amounts can cause kidney damage. Therefore, it is always best to consult with your veterinarian first before adding calcium to your bearded dragon.
