Mice are not a bearded dragon’s natural diet and do not provide all of its nutritional needs.
Make sure your beardie gets a balanced diet of insects, vegetables, and fruits by monitoring their food intake.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Mice?
Captive bearded dragons should not eat mice, even though wild ones do. Insects, vegetables, and fruits should be their main diet.
It depends on the age and species of bearded dragon. Here are the details:
Baby and juvenile bearded dragons:
- Baby and juvenile bearded dragons should generally not be fed mice.
- They have small mouths and throats that can’t accommodate larger prey like mice.
- They are still developing calcium needs that insects and worms better provide.
- Mice are high in fat, which young bearded dragons don’t need.
- Mice can pose a risk of injury or death to small bearded dragons.
Adult bearded dragons:
- Some adult bearded dragons may be able to eat fuzzy mice or small hopper mice as an occasional protein source.
- Adult bearded dragons have more developed calcium needs and larger mouths to handle mice.
- Mice should make up no more than 10-20{ee685e3adeb6997ca32ed3610b1b2ca8a7809e1b3fc9db6880a50336a8b9cba5} of an adult bearded dragon’s diet at most.
- Too many mice can provide excess fat and calories leading to health issues.
Adult Central Bearded Dragons:
- Adult Central bearded dragons are often recommended to not eat mice.
- Their narrow heads and mouths make mice difficult for them to consume safely.
- Most adult Central bearded dragons are better suited to insects and worms.
In summary, baby and juvenile bearded dragons should never be given mice due to risk of injury and nutritional concerns. Adult bearded dragons may be able to tolerate small mice occasionally as long as total fat and calories are monitored. But Central bearded dragons are typically ill-suited to mice, even as adults.
Overall, a balanced bearded dragon diet should consist primarily of insects like crickets and worms, with leafy greens and vegetables as a base. Mice should only be considered, if at all, for select adult bearded dragon species in small amounts.
Feeding bearded dragons mice can cause obesity and other health issues due to their high fat content.
A healthy bearded dragon needs a low-fat, 30{ee685e3adeb6997ca32ed3610b1b2ca8a7809e1b3fc9db6880a50336a8b9cba5} animal protein diet. Insects and fruits can help your beardie lose weight.
When pregnant or ill, feeding your pet beardie a mouse can be beneficial. It is important to weigh the pros and cons before feeding your pet a mouse.
Nutrition of Mice
Mice are not in bearded dragons’ diets. Grasshoppers, gut-loaded (fish-like) foods, calcium-dusted crickets and mealworms, spiders, wax worms, and silk worms are their preferred foods.
Although pinkie mice (0-5 days old) are tasty, they do not provide enough calcium for your beardie. Use a live hornworm, which is high in calcium, to treat your beardie.
Beardies with parasites are often lethargic and inactive. Adding a baby mouse to their diet can help them recover.
Health Benefits and Risks of Mice
Mice can nourish bearded dragons, but they should not be fed regularly. Mice can carry harmful bacteria, viruses, and toxins that can harm your beardie.
Due to their high fat content, mice should not be fed to beardies regularly. They can cause captive reptiles to become obese, which is harmful.
Mice can carry parasites like mites and ticks in addition to the risks above. These parasites can cause skin irritation, anemia, and other health issues in bearded dragons.
Other Alternatives to Mice
You can feed your bearded dragon alternatives to mice. Other options include live crickets, hornworms, super worms, and black soldier fly larvae (Phoenix worms).
Small crickets are easy for young beardies to handle and high in protein. You can also provide leafy greens.
You can also feed them wild plants and flowers. Wash these before feeding them to your pet.
Conclusion about Eating Mice
Captive bearded dragons should not eat only mice, even though they are nutritious. Mice are too big for bearded dragons and may bite and injure them.
Bearded dragons can become obese from mice’s high fat content. This can cause gout, liver disease, and joint issues.
Bearded dragons should be fed a variety of healthy, low-calorie foods rich in vitamins and minerals. Greens are nutrient-dense, low in phosphorus and oxalates, and high in calcium.