No, bearded dragons cannot eat mushrooms. They should never try them as they are poisonous. Mushrooms are definitely not a favorite food for bearded dragons or any other lizard.
Mushrooms are a fungus and contain toxins. The two main mushrooms poisonous to humans and pets, according to the NIH (National Institute of Health), are Amanita phalloides and Amanita ocreata. They can cause liver failure and death if eaten raw or cooked. These mushrooms grow in wooded areas near trees such as oak, maple, birch and sycamore. They can also grow in the home lawn or garden near these trees. Check out the vegetables for bearded dragons.
What Is The Nutritional Profile in Mushrooms?
Mushrooms provide many vitamins such as niacin (a B vitamin), riboflavin (B2), folic acid (B9) and thiamine (B1). They also contain minerals such as potassium, calcium, phosphorous and selenium. Mushrooms are often recommended to patients who need iron and protein in their diet.
Bearded Dragons and other lizards do not need mushrooms in their diet, especially if they get enough of these same nutrients from other vegetables and fruits. Although meals with veggies should be supplemented with a multivitamin beardie supplement, bearded dragons should never eat mushrooms or foods containing them because the risk is just too great for this type of toxin poisoning. Be sure to tell your vet
What Are The Benefits of Feeding My Bearded Dragon Mushrooms?
None. There are no benefits to bearded dragons eating mushrooms.
What Are The Risks of Feeding My Bearded Dragon Mushrooms?
The risks of feeding your bearded dragon mushrooms are quite serious. The NIH lists the following symptoms of poisoning from eating these types of mushrooms: abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, sweating and watery eyes.
Other side effects may include convulsions, coma or liver failure resulting in death within 4 days. If any of these symptoms occur after eating toxic mushrooms it is very important to seek veterinary care immediately.
Bearded dragons can eat many different vegetables and fruits that offer some healthy benefits but they should never be fed mushrooms because they will make them sick and could even poison them enough to cause death without immediate veterinary attention.
List of Vegetables for Bearded Dragons
- Can Bearded Dragons Eat Alfalfa Sprouts
- Can Bearded Dragons Eat Aloe Vera
- Can Bearded Dragons Eat Arugula
Alternative Foods for Bearded Dragons
Instead of feeding your bearded dragon mushrooms, you can provide them with other healthy vegetables and fruits such as collard greens, turnip greens, mustard greens or dandelion leaves. These types of leafy greens should be chopped into small pieces to ensure that they do not get stuck in the throat on the way down. Remember never to give any fruit without removing the seeds first since they are high in phosphorus which is harmful to reptiles.
Other veggies that are safe to feed are butternut squash, acorn squash or zucchini. You should also introduce fiber into their diet by adding carrots once a week after chopping them up so they are easier to digest. Be sure to chop all veggies up rather than leaving them whole.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Mushrooms? – The Conclusion
If you own a bearded dragon and would like to offer it a treat, you should never feed your pet mushrooms. They are poisonous for lizards and could cause serious health problems or even death from poisoning if eaten.
Instead of feeding your bearded dragon any type of mushroom, you should provide them with leafy vegetables that are safe to eat such as collard greens or turnip greens. You can also serve up butternut squash, acorn squash or zucchini without the seeds for added fiber in their diet.
Always take the time to chop veggies into small pieces before offering them since there is a risk they may get stuck in your lizard’s throat on the way down. Remove all seeds from the fruit before serving up any type of fruit.