Can bearded dragons eat green onions, or is it toxic for my pet?
Finding safe vegetables to feed for variety to your dragon’s diet is challenging. Green onion may seem to be a healthy choice as it is green and light.
However, you should not feed your pet green onions.
Though nutritious and rich in vitamin C and folate, green onions are also highly acidic and toxic for your beardie. So avoid feeding your pet any type of onion, green or red mature onions.
So as you just can’t feed anything to your bearded dragon, I have researched and compiled a few vital points for feeding your pet. And after considerable research, I have decided to provide my insight about feeding green onions to bearded dragons.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Green Onions?
No. It is better to eliminate green onions from your pet’s diet because it contains a dangerous chemical that is poisonous for your pet. Its high acidity levels can cause severe health issues, including stomach ulcers and blisters. And its high fiber levels can trigger diarrhea and vomiting.
Your beardie may also develop kidney and liver problems if fed large quantities of green onions or too frequently. So better to avoid any onions and instead feed your omnivore pet plants and insects at least once a week.
What Types of Onions Can Bearded Dragons Eat?
Many beardy owners think green onions are safer than red onions for their pets. It is because they are milder in taste and with less thiosulfate than other onion options.
However, the truth is that no form of onion is safe for your pet. Instead of focusing on green onions, there are other food options available.
Being omnivores, dragons eat both plant and animal-based foods. So their diet should mainly comprise fresh vegetables and insects like mealworms and crickets.
When it comes to plants, feed your pet a variety of leafy greens like kale, dandelion, mustard, turnip, or collard greens. They also enjoy other vegetables like carrots, peas, and green beans.
Just make sure you cut the vegetable into small, easy-to-eat bites. And providing a variety of colors, textures, and flavors ensures a balanced diet.
Bearded dragons remain healthy and happy with lots of attention and care, and they should consume juvenile insects thrice a day as part of their optimal diet.
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Why Do Some Bearded Dragon Owners Feed Their Pets Green Onions?
Though many beardy owners know that green onions are not safe for their pets, many do feed beardies the plant.
Why is this so?
Well, it’s because onions are common ingredients found in various cuisines and dishes amongst people of diverse cultures worldwide.
So whether you like it or not, onions are consumed by many bearded dragons in raw or cooked form. And beardy owners generally perceive that what is good for humans will inadvertently be safe for beardies too. And keep on feeding their pets green onions.
It is true, but with some exceptions, green onions are one of them. The ignorance of this fact and the many exceptional foods not to feed beardies makes many owners end up feeding their pets onions.
After understanding their nutritional values, you will realize why green onions are a no-no for beardies. No doubt green onions have nutritional value. They contain proteins, carbohydrates, sugars, and minerals like iron, potassium, and magnesium.
However, every 100g of green onions also contains 0.116mg of Niacin (B3), 0.123 mg of pantothenic acid (B5), 19 mcg of folate (folic acid), 29 mg of phosphorus, 23mg of calcium, and 7.4 mg of vitamin C or L-ascorbic acid.
These numbers prove that onion is highly acidic and that the calcium and phosphorus levels are relatively similar. This contradicts the desirable and safe 2:1 calcium to phosphorus level for bearded dragons.
Remember, beardies have a delicate digestive system, too delicate for acidic onions. So any kind of onion, be it sautéed, caramelized, or grilled, is terrible for beardies.
Besides, beardies do not know what they can and should eat. As a pet owner, ensure you don’t feed your pet foods that will inflict harm, including onions.
What Should I Feed My Bearded Dragon Instead of Green Onions?
There are multiple similar options to green onions to consider for feeding your pet. They include romaine lettuce, dandelion greens, kale, watercress, cabbage, or bok Choy. Not only are these vegetables safer than green onions, but they also have nutrients that can prevent health-related issues.
Feed your beardie crickets or insects at least once a week for their protein. Regardless of age, young beardies need 80% of the live protein in the form of live insects in their diet. However, adults need only 20% of the amount.
Though not compulsory, some beardy owners even go through the hassles of training their beardies to eat dead mice for protein.
There are not any known advantages to feeding your beardy onions. However, there are multiple cons of feeding beardies green onions, which include:
- The risk of its high acid content triggering intestinal issues for your pet, like stomach ulcers and blisters
- Damaging your pet’s liver and kidneys after feeding green onions too often or in large quantities
Not just onions. Even citric fruits can trigger stomach irritation and severe gastrointestinal upsets in your pet.
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Summary
In a nutshell, onions are not a recommended food for your bearded dragon. The reason is that green onions are too acidic and can trigger health problems in your pet.
Instead of taking all the hassles and risks, we recommend avoiding feeding beard dragons green onions. And instead, stick to leafy greens. However, you needn’t panic if you accidentally feed your pet green onions through a pet-food mix that contains onions.
A single incident is unlikely to inflict serious harm on your beardy dragon. However, as no two beardies are alike, quickly consult your vet if you notice something strange after accidentally feeding your beardy green onions.
