The number of people keeping a pet bearded dragon has been sky rocketing in recent years as more and more people realize just how great bearded dragons can be as pets.
Bearded dragons are now the most popular pet reptile in the world by far and their popularity shows no signs of slowing down with more and more people adding a beardie to their family each month.
We see a large number of different questions about keeping a pet bearded dragon each month due to there being so many people who are brand new to keeping beardies out there and we have been doing our best to answer as many of the common questions that we see as possible.
One question that we have seen people asking more recently that has been controversial on social media is about feeding a bearded dragon pinkies.
With feeding bearded dragon’s pinkies being somewhat controversial, we wanted to publish our own article on the topic to try and help any of our readers work out if it is the right thing for them to do or not.
What Are Pinkies?
For those of you who are not familiar with the term, pinkies are baby mice that are usually only a day or two old.
They are very small in size and have soft bones which make them easy for a bearded dragon to eat and digest with ease.
Bearded dragons in the wild will commonly eat pinkies as they are an easy source of food for them to find and they are packed full of nutrients that are essential for a beardie.
This is one of the reasons why some people like to feed their pet bearded dragon pinkies as it is a more natural diet for them.
Benefits Of Feeding Beardies Pinkies!
There are a few benefits to feeding your bearded dragon pinkies as part of their diet which we will go over below.
Packed Full Of Nutrients
As we briefly mentioned above, pinkies are packed full of nutrients which are essential for a bearded dragon.
This is due to them being such a natural source of food for a beardie in the wild and they contain a good balance of protein, fat, and other essential nutrients.
Easy To Eat & Digest
Another big benefit of feeding your bearded dragon pinkies is that they are very easy for them to eat and digest.
This is due to their small size and soft bones which makes it easy for a beardie to eat them without any problems.
They are also packed full of moisture which is important for a bearded dragon as they can often become dehydrated.
A Natural Diet
As we briefly mentioned above, pinkies are a very natural diet for a bearded dragon as this is what they would eat in the wild.
This means that if you do choose to feed your beardie pinkies, you can be sure that they are getting a diet that is as close to natural as possible.
Disadvantages Of Feeding Beardies Pinkies
Whilst there are some benefits to feeding your bearded dragon pinkies, there are also some disadvantages which we will go over below.
May Be Too Much Protein
One of the main disadvantages of feeding your bearded dragon pinkies is that they may be getting too much protein if this is the only thing that they are eating.
Bearded dragons need a diet that is around 20% protein which means that if they are only eating pinkies, they are likely to be getting too much protein.
This can lead to health problems such as obesity and liver disease so it is important to make sure that they are not eating too many pinkies.
Can Cause Impaction
Another big disadvantage of feeding your bearded dragon pinkies is that they can cause impaction if they are not eaten properly.
This is because their small bones can get stuck in the bearded dragon’s digestive system and cause them to become blocked which can be very dangerous.
It is important to make sure that your beardie is eating pinkies properly and not swallowing them whole to avoid this problem.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Pinkies?
Bearded dragons can eat pinkies but they should only make up a small part of their overall diet and the diet has to be balanced to meet the nutritional requirements of your bearded dragon.
This means that if you are going to feed your beardie pinkies, you need to make sure that they are also eating other food such as vegetables and fruits to get the right balance of nutrients.
You also need to be careful not to overfeed them as this can lead to health problems.
If you have any concerns about feeding your bearded dragon pinkies, it is always best to speak to a vet who can give you further advice.
What Age Can Bearded Dragons Eat Pinkies?
Bearded dragons can eat pinkies from a young age but it is important to make sure that they are only given a small amount as part of a balanced diet.
You also need to be careful not to overfeed them as this can lead to health problems.
If you have any concerns about feeding your bearded dragon pinkies, it is always best to speak to a vet who can give you further advice.
How Often Can Bearded Dragons Eat Pinkies?
Bearded dragons should only eat pinkies as part of a balanced diet and they should not have them too often as this can lead to health problems.
We usually recommend that you don’t feed your bearded dragon pinkies too often and one pinkie every week or two should be fine depending on the rest of your bearded dragon’s calorie intake.
How Many Pinkies Can A Bearded Dragon Eat?
Bearded dragons should only eat a small number of pinkies as part of their overall diet and they should not have too many as this can lead to health problems due to their high protein and fat content.
As a general guide, we would recommend that you only feed your pet bearded dragon one pinkie at a time and ideally, they should only be given to your bearded dragon once ever week or two.
Overfeeding bearded dragons pinkies can be common but they can cause issues with your bearded dragon’s calcium intake ratio and potentially result in your bearded dragon developing metabolic bone disease.
Conclusion
In conclusion, bearded dragons can eat pinkies but they should only make up a small part of their diet and the diet has to be balanced.
You also need to be careful not to overfeed them as this can lead to health problems.
If you have any concerns about feeding your bearded dragon pinkies, it is always best to speak to a vet who can give you further advice.
