Is it safe for bearded dragons to eat radishes? This is one of the most common questions I get from my readers. In this post, let’s talk about whether or not radishes are safe for beardies.
So, can bearded dragons eat radishes?
Radish in general is one of the root crops that bearded dragons can eat in small amounts on an occasional basis. It is not good as a staple food for beardies though.
Radish should not be offered to bearded dragons on a regular basis. It contains a high level of water something that could potentially cause digestive issues to bearded dragons. Choose other veggies instead of staple foods.
One of the most important considerations when choosing the best food for beardies is the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio. The ideal is 2:1. Disproportionate ratio indicates that the food is NOT good for beardies as staple food.
Table of Contents
Why Radish Is Not Good for Beardies as Staple Food?
Below I have listed some of the safe foods for bearded dragons. But before anything else, let’s take a look at the nutritional content of radish and see why you should not feed it regularly to bearded dragons.
The table below contains everything you need to know about radish.
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
| Energy | 66 kJ (16 kcal) |
| Carbohydrates | 3.4 g |
| Sugars | 1.86 g |
| Dietary fiber | 1.6 g |
| Fat | 0.1 g |
| Protein | 0.68 g |
| Vitamins | Quantity %DV† |
| Thiamine (B1) | 0.012 mg 1% |
| Riboflavin (B2) | 0.039 mg 3% |
| Niacin (B3) | 0.254 mg 2% |
| Pantothenic acid (B5) | 0.165 mg 3% |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.071 mg 5% |
| Folate (B9) | 25 μg 6% |
| Vitamin C | 14.8 mg 18% |
| Minerals | Quantity %DV† |
| Calcium | 25 mg 3% |
| Iron | 0.34 mg 3% |
| Magnesium | 10 mg 3% |
| Manganese | 0.069 mg 3% |
| Phosphorus | 20 mg 3% |
| Potassium | 233 mg 5% |
| Zinc | 0.28 mg 3% |
| Other constituents | Quantity |
| Water | 95.3 g |
Source: Wikipedia
As you can see, radish has high water content. If fed on a regular basis, it could potentially cause diarrhea in bearded dragons.
Another thing is that the ratio for calcium to phosphorus is a little out of proportion. This adds to the reason why bearded dragons should not eat radish.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Radish Greens?
Radish greens or radish tops are fine for bearded dragons. However, keep it minimal. I don’t feed it to my beardies regularly. Once a week is okay.
Sometimes you feel being out of choices when it comes to choosing foods for beardies. That situation usually leads you to explore possible safe foods for your reptile.
Unfortunately, bearded dragons are vulnerable to health issues when consumed unsafe foods. But don’t worry, the list of safe foods is long enough for your beardies.
As promised, in this section, I will share with you the food list that contains safe foods for your bearded dragons.
Safe Foods for Bearded Dragons in Captivity
As mentioned, there are many greens, fruits, and vegetables you can choose for your bearded dragons. Some of them are included below.
So, without further ado, let’s dive into the list.
Greens for Bearded Dragons’ Salad
Choosing the best greens for salad can be challenging sometimes. This is because not all greens are safe. And I know exactly how it feels as an owner.
This is the reason why I made a simple list for safe greens. The examples are:
- Chicory
- Endives
- Lollo Bionda
- Lollo Rosso
- Radicchio
- Romaine lettuce
- Arugula
For occasional feeding:
- Lamb’s lettuce (But make sure that it is not more than a treat)
Greens that you should not give to your beardies are:
- Iceberg lettuce
- Cabbage lettuce
Vegetables for Bearded Dragons
Safe vegetables for bearded dragons are:
- Radish greens
- Pumpkin
- Carrots
- Zucchini
For occasional feeding:
- Broccoli
- Chinese cabbage
- Cucumber
- Kohlrabi leaves
- Fennel leaves
- Chard
- Okra
- Bell peppers
- Leek
- Brussels sprouts
- Beetroot
- Celery leaves
- Starfruit
- Tomato
Vegetables that you should not give to your beardies are:
- Spinach
- Radish (can be fed rarely)
Spices and Herbs for Bearded Dragons
Bearded dragons can eat spices and herbs. However, it should be minimal or on an occasional basis only. Some of the spices that beardies can eat are:
- Basil
- Savory
- Dill
- Catnip
- Cress
- Lovage
- Marjoram
- Oregano
- Lucerne
- Lemon balm
- Thyme
- Chives
- Sage
- Rosemary
- Peppermint
The herb that you should not give to your beardies:
- Parsley (if fed, it should be on rare occasions)
Plants for Bearded Dragons
There are some plants and flowers that bearded dragons can eat. Examples of them are:
- Rose petals
- Rose leaves
- Hibiscus flowers
- Hibiscus leaves
- Pansy flowers
Wild Plants
Some bearded dragon owners feed their beardies with plants they get from the wild. However, you need to be careful though. Wild plants may have chemicals that are harmful for bearded dragons.
If you want to go on this route, make sure that the plants are safe and clean. The examples of plants in the wild are the following:
- Bindweed
- Maple leaves
- Borage
- Grape leaves
- Chickweed
- Daisy
- Rosehip flowers
- Hazel leaves
- Shepherd’s purse
- Chamomile
- Clover
- Cornflower blossoms
- Dandelion
- Mallow
- Evening primrose
- Petunia flowers
- Purslane
- Marigold
- Plantain
- Violet
Personally, though, I don’t feed my beardies with plants picked in the wild. But if you are sure that those plants are clean and safe, you can try.
Fruits for Bearded Dragons
Aside from green vegetables, fruits also part of the bearded dragons’ diet. However, not all fruits are healthy and good for them. So be careful.
Below are some of the fruits you can give to your bearded dragons on an occasional basis. This is because most fruits are too watery for beardies.
- Apple
- Mango
- Raspberries
- Blueberries
- Strawberries
- Blackberries
- Pear
- Papaya
Fruits that are not safe for bearded dragons:
- Banana
- Kiwi
Live Foods for Bearded Dragons
Bearded dragons’ diet should also contain live insects, especially for young bearded dragons. They need protein sources for their speedy growth.
Beardies love the following:
- Crickets
- Locusts
- Cockroaches
On an occasional basis, beardies can eat;
- Mealworms
- Zophobas
- Wax moth larvae
Live foods that beardies should not eat:
- Rats or mice
Things to Remember When Feeding Bearded Dragons
Bearded dragons are prone to health problems when ingested inappropriate foods. So make sure that you pick the right type of food for them.
In choosing the food for beardies, do not pick the ones that have a disproportionate ratio for calcium to phosphorus.
Also, stay away from fruits that are too watery. They could potentially cause digestive problems in your bearded dragons like diarrhea.
Lastly, as long as possible, do not feed your bearded dragons with unsafe plants in the wild. You don’t know what’s in them. Make sure that those plants are safe and clean before offering to your beardies.
Final Thoughts on Can Bearded Dragons Eat Radishes
Radish is not a poisonous root crop for bearded dragons. However, it is not so good for bearded dragons as staple food.
Radish contains a little disproportionate ratio for calcium to phosphorus. As a rule of thumb, always choose food that has an ideal ratio of 2:1.
Finally, radish also contains a considerable amount of water something that is not good for bearded dragons. Watery foods could potentially cause diarrhea and other digestive problems.
I hope this helps. If you want to learn more about bearded dragons, feel free to explore my guide page.
Thank you for reading!
