Can bearded dragons eat onions?

Can Bearded Dragons Eat Onions? Warning!

There are many food options to choose from relating to bearded dragons’ diets. Pet owners’ curiosity about their pet dragon’s diet and what kind of food they can safely eat never fades.  It always includes items they cannot or should not be feeding to their bearded dragon. 

What about onions, in this instance?  This article will explore onions in bearded dragons’ diets and cover other related information.

Can Bearded Dragons Eat Onions?

Can bearded dragons eat onions? No, bearded dragons should not eat any form of onions under any circumstances. Not even as an occasional treat.  Raw onions are simply too acidic in nature for the delicate digestive system of bearded dragons and can cause serious digestive problems if eaten by them. 

Sometimes your dragon may eat onion, which brings a significant concern if you do not know the effects onions have on your bearded dragon.

Whether raw or cooked, onions for bearded dragons are a big no-no. When feeding your lizard friend onions, he might get sick, and it can even be fatal.

Nutrients Found In Onions

Understanding the nutritional value of onions is essential. We get to know if they have any nutritional value in bearded dragons.

According to the US. Department of Agriculture, the nutritional benefits, if any, contained in 100g of onion, can be seen below.

From the above table, it is clear that onions contain several acidic nutrients.  This is the reason why onions are too acidic for your bearded dragon to digest.

The acids can be toxic to your bearded dragon because of their delicate digestive system.

Why Do Bearded Dragon Owners Feed Onions To Their Pets?

Onions are a common ingredient in cuisine right around the world.  In all cultures, you will find people consuming onions in many forms, whether cooked or raw.

Some bearded dragon owners believe that what is good for humans is also suitable for bearded dragons.

To some extent, this is true, but there are many exceptions, onions being one of them.

Onions are toxic to bearded dragons.

Risks Of Feeding Onions To Bearded Dragons

By now, you should know that onions are among other poisonous foods you need to avoid as far as your bearded dragon is concerned.

High Acidic Level

The high acidic level tends to cause a burning sensation on the tongue and throat of the bearded dragon.  When bearded dragons eat onions, they will become irritated and stop eating.  

Feeding onions can also cause heartburn and irritation on the throat.  The high acid content in onions interferes with the normal function of the digestive enzymes in the stomach by inactivating them.  

Eventually, there will be poor digestion and absorption of nutrients in the body.

Disproportionate Ca:P

The proportion of calcium to phosphorus in onions is unbalanced. Phosphorus has a high calcium binding ability that  It is not a suitable vegetable for your bearded dragon due to the ion imbalance they cause the body. A high phosphorous ratio will bind with calcium and inhibit calcium absorption in your beardies body.  

The proper calcium and phosphorus ratio for beardies is 2:1 or 1:1.  When there is low calcium intake in your bearded dragon’s bloodstream, the beardies extract calcium from their bones. Eventually, removing calcium from the bones can lead to calcium deficiency, causing metabolic bone disease. 

Toxification Of The Digestive System

Bearded dragons have a very delicate digestive system that can result in digestive issues when ingesting the toxic substances contained in onions.  If your beardie eats onions, it can lead to vomiting, burning sensation, and incomplete digestion.

If included in your bearded dragon’s meal, onion leaves release some slippery fluids that fall on the greens and vegetables, making it unpleasant for your bearded friend.  

Avoid onions at all costs because they pose many problems in bearded dragons’ diets, 

Are Red Onions Safe For Your Bearded Dragon?’

You now understand that onions are bad for your pet bearded dragon, but what about other variations of onions, such as red onions?

The short answer is no; red onions are not healthy for your beardie.  Avoid feeding your beardie red onions at all costs. They are no different from the common onion except for their appearance and taste.

Any Form Of Onions Is Bad For Your Bearded Dragon

Some bearded dragon owners believe that by cooking the onions, it becomes safe for your dragon to consume.  It’s definitely not the case.  Onions in all forms are an absolute no-go for your bearded dragon.  

So whether you cook them, fry them, caramelize them, etc. ALL forms of onion are a forbidden item for bearded dragons.

Always make sure that mixed vegetables available in supermarkets do not contain onions.  Avoid all items that include onions since it can make your bearded dragon very sick.

Unintentional Feeding Of Onion To Your Bearded Dragon

No matter your effort, or even if you know about the hazards of feeding onions to bearded dragons, there is always the possibility of feeding onions to them accidentally.

A once-off incident of this nature may not necessarily cause serious harm.  It’s only true if your beardie ingested a small quantity of onion.

Keep your eye on your pet beardie, and if you see anything out of the norm, we strongly advise that you take your pet dragon to the vet immediately.

Are There Other Vegetables Not To Feed Your Bearded Dragon?

Onions are not the only vegetable that is unsafe for your bearded dragon.  Other vegetables include but are not limited to

• Rhubarb
• Spinach
• Avocado

Follow us to find out more about these vegetables in our other posts.

Wrapping Up

To conclude, We will ask the question again: Can bearded dragons eat onions?  Do not feed onions to your bearded dragon ever.  Onions have a high acid content and disproportionate calcium to phosphorous ratio.  Although safe for humans, onions are very harmful to bearded dragons and an absolute no-no.  

We suggest you try collard greens, dandelion greens, leafy vegetables, and green beans in your beardie’s diet. These are foods that bearded dragons can eat.

Always remember to read about any new food you want to introduce to your bearded dragon.  Even food that seems the healthiest, not all veggies are risk-free.

Please follow our articles coming soon about the benefits and risks of other vegetables.

Continue to read our main article “What do Bearded Dragons Eat?” for all the ins and outs on general diet questions, and get a further detailed breakdown of other popular foods in the articles below:

• Can Bearded Dragons eat tomatoes?
• Can Bearded Dragons eat oranges?
• Can Bearded Dragons eat parsley?
• Can Bearded Dragons eat blackberries?
• Can Bearded Dragons eat pumpkin?
• Can Bearded Dragons eat pineapple?
• Can Bearded Dragons eat cantaloupe?
• Can Bearded Dragons eat green beans?
• Can Bearded Dragons eat cherries?
• Can Bearded Dragons eat mango?
• Can Bearded Dragons eat cauliflower?
• Can Bearded Dragons eat avocado?
• Can Bearded Dragons eat brussel-sprouts?
• Can Bearded Dragons eat collard-greens?
• Can Bearded Dragons eat wax-worms?
• Can Bearded Dragons eat dandelions?
• Can Bearded Dragons eat nightcrawlers?
• Can Bearded Dragons eat earthworms?
• Can Bearded Dragons eat eggs?
• Can Bearded Dragons eat cicadas?
• Can Bearded Dragons eat basil?
• Can Bearded Dragons eat peaches?
• Can Bearded Dragons eat grasshoppers?
• Can Bearded Dragons eat sweet potato?
• Can Bearded Dragons eat hornworms?
• Can Bearded Dragons eat Grass?
• Can Bearded Dragons eat Pears?
• Can Bearded Dragons eat Bok Choy?