Can Bearded Dragons Eat Eggs?

Eggs are one of the most popular breakfast choices for us humans to eat here in the U.S. Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to share our tasty morning meal with your pet? You are likely here because you are aware that not all foods that are safe for humans to eat are safe for your pet bearded dragon to eat. Can bearded dragons eat eggs?

Dr. Jess explains it all below:

Let’s Talk Bearded Dragons!

Bearded dragons are laid-back reptiles that are categorized as a type of desert lizard – they prefer a warm, dry environment.

They are grouped into the genus Pogona with eight other species falling under this grouping.

The eight species of bearded dragons are distinguished from one another and named for the differences in their spines on their chins and necks.

Bearded dragons get their name from their armor made up of spiny scales, which include a “beard” of spikes under their chins, and a neck that puffs up depending on their mood- this is most commonly seen puffed out when they are upset.

Bearded dragons do this to seem larger to whatever is upsetting or intimidating them.

This may be paired with a erry ‘hiss’ when really upset.

They can live up to 10 years and can reach up to 24 inches long and weigh up to 18 ounces once full grown.

They range in colors from brown, to orange, to yellow, to cream.

Beardies have a precise eye and good sense of smell.

Bearded dragons are often referred to as “beardies”, are one of the more popular reptilian pets because of their cool, interesting exterior and their popularity being of low maintenance pets.

They are pretty easy to care for, as long as you know what you can and what you can not feed them. Hence the whole point of this article!

What Do Bearded Dragons Typically Eat?

What do bearded dragons eat? How do they eat it? Do bearded dragons have teeth?

So many great questions!

Beardies commonly consume vegetables, fruits, and insects.

Bearded dragons are considered omnivorous, meaning they eat what both herbivores (plant-eaters) and carnivores (meat-eaters).

Young, immature, growing bearded dragons tend to be mostly carnivores, and eat more meat, at most 80% animal and 20% plant material

Adult bearded dragons are usually the exact opposite when it comes to diet, they tend to eat more plants and be more on the herbivorous side of things.

Some adult beardies can be more along the lines of 80% plant and 20% animal foods.

As a basic rule of thumb, a bearded dragon’s diet should be comprised of foods that are around the basic ballpark of 50% animal-based and 50% plant-based.

As mentioned above, the age and maturity of each and every dragon should also come into play here, so it is a very good idea to discuss your dragon’s specific diet with your veterinarian.

If your bearded dragon stops eating – check out this article on how long bearded dragons can go without eating food and contact your local veterinarian.

Common Store-Bought Fruits and Vegetables for Beardies:

• Apples
• Apricots
• Bananas
• Blueberries
• Cabbage
• Dates
• Figs
• Grapes
• Guava
• Kiwi
• Mango
• Melon
• Papaya
• Peaches
• Pears
• Plums
• Raisins
• Raspberries
• Strawberries
• Watermelon
• and a multitude of other fruits

Medical Concerns Regarding Many Fruits:

Many fruits can be fed to bearded dragons every now and then in very small amounts.

However, many fruits are extremely acidic or high in sugar and can be difficult on bearded dragon digestive systems.

This is why only a very small amount every blue moon (like once a month!) should be the norm with most fruits for beardies.

This goes for many fruits and vegetables.

Egg Nutrition:

Eggs have many nutritional benefits as well as tasty benefits.

WebMD explains the nutrition in one egg as:

One egg has only 75 calories but 7 grams of high-quality protein, 5 grams of fat, and 1.6 grams of saturated fat, along with iron, vitamins, minerals, and carotenoids.”

https://www.webmd.com/diet/features/good-eggs-for-nutrition-theyre-hard-to-beat#1

I’ll breakdown some of these attributes of egg nutrition down below.

1. Antioxidants:

Eggs do contain antioxidants that may help to prevent cell damage that harmful free radicals can cause.

Antioxidants can help with things like preventing certain cancers and diseases.

Lutein and zeaxanthin are the two antioxidants found in the largest amounts in eggs [source].

2. Low Calorie:

With how tasty eggs taste, it may come as any surprise that eggs are quite low in calories.

3. Packed with Vitamins and Minerals!

Eggs contain vitamins A B2, B5, B6, B12, D, E, and K [source], which aid in maintaining the bearded dragon’s immune system, eye sight, reproductive system, body growth patterns while they are growing, and many other essential body functions.

Eggs also come packed with essential minerals such as calcium, zinc, folate, phosphorus, and selenium [source].

These minerals help keep your bearded dragon’s body systems functioning properly for a healthy body and sound mind.

4. Egg-cellent Source of Protein:

That’s right! Eggs are a great source of high-quality protein.

How To Feed Eggs To Your Bearded Dragon?

First off, you should always purchase high-quality eggs for your lizard from a reputable food source.

All eggs will need to have a visual inspection done to make sure that you are giving your pet fresh, healthy food to eat.

Next, you will need to prepare the egg in such a way that your dragon can safely eat it. This means … Cook your egg thoroughly to kill any potential bacteria!

The cooked egg will need to be in bite-sized pieces.

You may need to consider mixing the chopped egg with fruits and vegetables, up together to help discourage picking through their food bowl and eating only the preferred items in their dish.

Food should be presented in a shallow clean dish that is not easily tipped over.

Fresh water should always be available in a shallow dish that can’t be easily tipped over. This water dish should be washed and cleaned daily.

Any food left in your bearded dragon’s enclosure that is not eaten up will start to get old and become unsafe for your dragon to eat, if they will even touch it at all.

This could lead to some major health issues, as well as a smelly enclosure and a bug problem – things you definitely do not want to deal with.

So, it is very important to clean out any foods that your bearded dragon leaves behind in a timely manner.

How Much Egg Should I Give My Bearded Dragon?

Contact with your local veterinarian for expert advice about your pet’s diet.

They will be able to help you decide how much egg to give your bearded dragon.

The amount of food you should give them will definitely depend on what foods you and your vet have decided are going to be a part of the pet’s diet.

As a rule of thumb, if your dragon is leaving food behind – then it may be that too much food is being offered to them.

Eggs should be given to your beardie in small bite-sized pieces.

Start with just piece.

After 24 hours without any adverse side effects observed, then you are likely safe to feed your dragon a few bite-sized pieces of egg the next time to serve them up eggs as a treat.

The most egg you should offer your adult bearded dragon at one time is about 1/4 to 1/3 of a cooked egg.

This is only after you have worked up to this amount and only after your vet has approved this amount for your pet.

How Often To Feed Bearded Dragons Eggs?

Most young bearded dragons eat once or twice daily, while older lizards can be fed once daily, depending upon each pet’s individual appetite.

Some bearded dragons will not eat for a period of time.

Read this article on why bearded dragons may not be eating daily. Because of its high phosphorus amount, eggs should not be given regularly.

At most, a small amount once weekly or once every other week is more than enough if you want to stay on the safe side – which I highly recommend that you do!

Can Eggs Be Harmful to Bearded Dragons?

There are always risk involved when your pet consumes anything, whether it is a new food in their diet or not.

I have listed a few of the hazards that come with feeding your pet beardie eggs:

Choking Hazard:

Eggs can be quite chunky and slippery and may become a choking hazard in smaller, younger dragons.

Give consideration to cutting them into a smaller, more manageable size before feeding them to your bearded dragon so that they are less likely to choke.

Balanced Calcium to Phosphorus Ratio:

It is commonly known in the bearded dragon world, that bearded dragons need to consume more calcium than phosphorus in their daily diet even though they must have phosphorus in their diet.  

Phosphorus is an essential mineral that helps build healthy strong bones.  Phosphorus also binds with calcium, making it unavailable for the bearded dragon to use!

Any failure to achieve this balanced ratio over a long period of time can result in the bearded dragon suffering from illnesses like metabolic bone disease.

Because this ratio is so incredibly important to your beardie’s health, it is also important to provide your beardie with calcium supplementation to ensure that your beardie is getting enough calcium that it needs daily to support proper body functions.

Can They Eat Egg Shells?

Great question! Bearded dragons should not eat egg shells.

Not only can egg shells be hard and sharp, leading to a choking hazard, but they contain an unbalanced amount of minerals, that may lead to harmful health effects to your pet lizard.

Egg shells also may contain a large number of harmful bacteria, leading to digestive upset and other detrimental health concerns.

Can They Eat Artificial Egg Substitute?

I do not recommend feeding your pet bearded dragon any artificial egg products at all.

The ingredients in the artificial egg could cause a multitude of issues to your beardie. Simply do not do it!

Do not feed your bearded dragon any artificial egg products, stick with the fresh fruit.

Can They Eat Raw Eggs?

I do not recommend offering your pet raw eggs, even if it seems like they could handle it.

Raw eggs can greatly upset your lizard’s stomach and can come at a cost if too upsetting.

Do Bearded Dragons Eat their Own Eggs?

Female bearded dragons may eat their own eggs when they are left alone to eat them. It is not uncommon in the wild even though it may be quite disturbing for us to think about. Read more about bearded dragon eggs here.

Bearded Dragon Diet Supplements:

Bearded dragons have an increased need for calcium versus phosphorus in their diet.

This is especially true when they are young and their bones are growing.

Most veterinarians will likely recommend to sprinkle bearded dragon calcium powder over the food that you are offering your dragon.

This is usually done 2-3 times per week.

Contact your veterinarian for specific recommendations about supplementing your dragon’s diet.

Summary:

Bearded dragons can be fed quite a plethora of commercial food, fruits, vegetables, and protein sources such as insects.

Eggs are another protein source that can be healthy for your bearded dragon as long as it is done in moderation.

However, it is important to know how much, how often, and how to properly serve cooked eggs and every other food we give our little dragons before we allow them to consume it.

For individual questions regarding your pet and their diet, contact your vet for specific dietary plans.