Introduction to Bearded Dragon Vitamins and Supplements
If you’re a new bearded dragon owner, you’ve probably already heard about how important bearded dragon vitamins and supplements are for your reptile. Bearded dragons need supplements to keep them healthy and to prevent nutritional deficiencies or imbalances. However, you might be wondering which types of vitamin and mineral supplements are suitable and whether they are even necessary if your bearded dragon is fed an appropriate diet.
This article will help you understand the importance of bearded dragon vitamins and supplements and how you can incorporate them into your beardie’s diet.
The Importance of Bearded Dragon Vitamins and Supplements
Like humans, bearded dragons need vitamins and minerals to be healthy, to support vital bodily functions, and to prevent certain health issues. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies can lead to serious health issues that can seriously impact your beardie’s quality of life.
Metabolic bone disease (MBD) is the most common yet severe health issue linked to a vitamin D3 deficiency or an imbalanced calcium-to-phosphorus ratio. This condition causes weakened bones and muscles, swollen jaw, and skeletal deformities. You can help prevent your bearded dragon from developing MBD by feeding them a balanced diet and vitamin and mineral supplements.
What Vitamins and Minerals Do Bearded Dragons Need?
Bearded dragons need similar vitamins and minerals as humans do, but we’ll discuss the most important ones more in-depth below.
Vitamin D3 for Bearded Dragons
Vitamin D3 is one of the most important vitamins for bearded dragons. They require vitamin D3 to absorb calcium and phosphorus from their diet to maintain strong, healthy bones. Without enough vitamin D3, bearded dragons are at risk of developing metabolic bone disease. They also get vitamin D3 through UVB lighting, which is essential for them and helps with proper calcium absorption.
Vitamin A for Bearded Dragons
According to experts at the Veterinary Vision Center, reptiles need vitamin A for normal cell development. A deficiency of vitamin A in the diet can cause health issues like eye inflammation, difficulty shedding, infections, and potentially organ failure. Bearded dragons should get most of their vitamin A from a balanced omnivorous diet, but you should still offer a reptile multivitamin to help prevent any deficiencies.
Calcium for Bearded Dragons
Just like us, beardies need calcium to keep their bones strong and healthy. Calcium deficiencies or imbalances can lead to metabolic bone disorder, resulting in weakened bones and deformities. Vitamin D3 and calcium work together in the body and rely on each other to metabolize properly. VCA Hospitals advises that young bearded dragons need more dietary calcium because their bones are growing and developing. However, calcium is important for beardies at any life stage and should be offered as a dietary supplement a few times a week. Bearded dragons need vitamin D3 to absorb calcium effectively, so make sure you choose a supplement that offers both.
Phosphorus for Bearded Dragons
Phosphorus is an important mineral for bearded dragons that works alongside calcium to support bone development and skeletal health. Bearded dragons need twice as much calcium as phosphorus in their diet with a ratio of 2:1. Too much phosphorus can bind to calcium and interfere with proper absorption, which could lead to an imbalance in these minerals.
Iron for Bearded Dragons
Bearded dragons need iron for proper growth and development and to help transport oxygen in their bodies. Iron is naturally found in dark leafy vegetables like collard greens and kale, and it is often included in reptile multivitamins to prevent deficiencies.
Foods Rich in Essential Vitamins and Minerals for Bearded Dragons
Bearded dragons should get most of their vitamin and mineral intake from a balanced, species-appropriate diet. Their dietary needs vary depending on their age. Hatchlings and juveniles lean more towards an insectivorous diet, meaning they eat more live feeder insects than vegetables. Adult bearded dragons are primarily omnivores and eat an equal amount of vegetation and insects. Offering your bearded dragon foods rich in essential vitamins and minerals is a great way to ensure they are getting all the nutrients they need to be healthy.
Dark leafy green veggies like kale, mustard greens, and collard greens are rich in iron and calcium, which support development and bone health. Bell peppers are high in vitamins A and C, making them an excellent tasty snack with immune-boosting and eye health benefits. Foods like carrots, sweet potato, and squash are also rich in essential nutrients that support a bearded dragon’s digestive health. Fruits such as apples and melons are rich in antioxidants and essential vitamins and are great for hydration.
Feeding a selection of different fruits and vegetables during each meal ensures your bearded dragon’s diet is varied and nutritious.
Different Types of Bearded Dragon Vitamins and Supplements
Bearded dragons can benefit from nutritional supplements and multivitamins even if they are fed a healthy diet. A good supplement helps to keep them healthy and to prevent nutritional deficiencies that could lead to serious health issues.
There are two main supplements your bearded dragon needs: a calcium and vitamin D3 supplement and a reptile multivitamin. These can be found at most reptile pet stores or online retailers in various forms, flavors, and dosages. Veterinarians may prescribe a mineral supplement and multivitamin if your bearded dragon is being treated for a nutritional deficiency or imbalance.
Rep-Cal Herptivite is one of the best-bearded dragon multivitamins and a rich source of essential vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. It’s easy to dust on feeder insects or leafy greens during mealtimes. If you are just looking for a calcium and vitamin D3 supplement, then the one from Exo Terra is a great choice and is highly recommended by reptile experts.
How Often Should You Give Bearded Dragon Vitamins and Supplements?
Multivitamins should be given between 2 and 5 times a week, depending on your bearded dragon’s age. Young beardies benefit from multivitamins up to three times a week, and juveniles twice a week. Adults only need multivitamins once a week or as directed by a veterinarian to correct any deficiencies.
Calcium and vitamin D3 supplements should be given more often than multivitamins. Hatchlings need these supplements 4-5 times per week, and juveniles 3-4 times a week. Young bearded dragons require more frequent supplementation to support healthy growth and development. Adult beardies need supplements 2-3 times a week to maintain healthy bones and to prevent metabolic bone disease.
Always offer supplements in addition to a healthy, balanced diet, and make sure your bearded dragon has access to UVB lighting to absorb calcium supplements properly.
How to Give Your Bearded Dragon Vitamins and Supplements
You can give your bearded dragon supplements in four main ways:
Dusting Food with Bearded Dragon Vitamins
Most supplements come in a powder form that can easily be dusted over your beardies, feeder insects, or leafy greens. Some powdered supplements include a small spoon that you use to accurately measure and dust the food with. You could also place the insects or leafy greens into a small container and gently shake them to cover them evenly.
Gut-Loading Insects
Commercial insect gut-loading diets are enriched with essential vitamins and minerals. These nutrients are passed to the feeder insect after ingestion and help to increase the nutritional value. Feeder insects should be gut-loaded at least 6 hours prior to being offered to your bearded dragon.
Liquid Bearded Dragon Supplements
Some supplements come in a liquid form that can be added directly to your beardies water dish. These supplements come with a dropper and measurements so that you can easily add it to the water and to top it up when necessary. This is a great way to give bearded dragons supplements if they refuse to eat insects or leafy greens dusted with powder.
Spraying Food With Supplements
Calcium supplements or vitamin food sprays are another alternative to standard powder supplements. These supplements are readily absorbed into a reptile’s bloodstream, making them effective at preventing and correcting calcium deficiencies. You can either spray the supplement directly onto your bearded dragon’s food or into their mouth.
Signs of Vitamin and Mineral Toxicity in Bearded Dragons
Although vitamin and mineral supplements are essential for bearded dragons, too much can be harmful to them.
Bearded dragons can suffer from vitamin A toxicity (hypervitaminosis A) if they are given supplements that contain too much vitamin A. Signs of toxicity typically include skin ulcers, lethargy, weight loss, dry skin, and kidney failure. It’s better to give multivitamins that only contain beta-carotene, which is a safer alternative to vitamin A. Beta-carotene is found in many fruits and vegetables and is naturally converted into vitamin A by bearded dragons.
Calcium, although essential for bone health, can be harmful to bearded dragons if overdosed. A high calcium intake could lead to hypercalcemia, which causes lethargy, muscle weakness, constipation, and eventually kidney failure.
Prolonged vitamin or mineral toxicity can be fatal to bearded dragons. Avoid giving your beardie more supplements than necessary or too frequently. If you are unsure about the frequency or dosages of supplements your bearded dragon needs, it’s best to consult with an exotic veterinarian who specializes in reptiles.
In Conclusion
Bearded dragons can benefit from vitamin and mineral supplements in addition to a healthy, balanced diet. Bearded dragon vitamins and supplements are great for keeping your beardie healthy and for preventing any nutritional deficiencies or imbalances that could lead to metabolic bone disease.
They mainly need a calcium and vitamin D3 supplement along with a multivitamin that contains beta-carotene instead of vitamin A. Supplements should be offered a few times a week at the correct dosages to avoid accidental overdoses, which can be fatal.
It’s a good idea to consult with a reptile-savvy veterinarian before giving your bearded dragon supplements, especially if you’re unsure about the correct dosages or frequency.
