Bearded dragons are one of the most popular pet reptiles. They are easy to care for and very affectionate. Bearded dragons are a joy to own not only because of their personalities but also because of their diets! Unlike other reptiles, like snakes, bearded dragons are omnivores and can eat a wide variety of foods. Bearded dragons can eat plants and animals! And some bearded dragons acquire a taste for edible flowers. Not all flowers are safe for bearded dragons.
So, can bearded dragons eat honeysuckle?
Bearded dragons can eat honeysuckle, among many other edible flowers like dandelions and carnations. However, there is always the possibility that your beardie has an allergy or sensitivity to honeysuckle flowers. Make sure to check in with your veterinarian before feeding your pet this exotic flower. Â
So, where do you find honeysuckle and how do you feed it to your pet? We’ll get into those details below!
Where Does Honeysuckle Grow?
Honeysuckle is an ornamental shrub that grows in the temperate regions of both hemispheres. Honeysuckle is evergreen or deciduous, and you’ll know you have honeysuckle by the long white flowers that grow on it. These flowers give off a super sweet honey smell and if you grew up around these flowers, you’ve probably tried some of their nectar yourself!
Although honeysuckle is native to more temperate regions, it can be grown all around the world with the right care. If you and your beardie love honeysuckle, you might even be able to cultivate a small bush indoors.
How Would You Feed A Bearded Dragon Honeysuckle?
So, if you do have access to honeysuckle, how would you feed it to your bearded dragon?
As we mentioned above, the first step would probably be to check in with your exotic pet vet. Although honeysuckle should be safe for your beardie to enjoy, you never know what kind of sensitivities your pet might experience.
Once you get the go-ahead, you can just feed the flowers from the honeysuckle to your bearded dragon as is. There’s no preparation required. These edible flowers can be given by hand to your beardie as a snack, or they can join some other foods to make a full and balanced meal.
Honeysuckle nectar is like natural candy, so if your bearded dragon has a sweet tooth, you may have found them a new favorite snack!
What Does A Balanced Meal Look like For A Bearded Dragon?
Bearded dragons are omnivorous which means that they eat, well, everything!
A balanced meal for your beardie should include about 80% plants and 20% insects. Adult bearded dragons don’t require a ton of bug protein but do require the nutrition gained from fresh fruits and veggies. As much as your bearded dragon might want to eat bugs, you should try not to let them fill up on these types of food! If you have a baby bearded dragon, their plate is going to look a lot different.
Growing bearded dragons require opposite rations as compared to adults. Baby beardies usually need about 80% of their diet to be bugs and the other 20% to be plants.
So, what kinds of bugs and plants make the perfect bearded dragon diet? And how often can you feed something like honeysuckle? Let’s find out!
Bugs
If you already have a bearded dragon, you probably know that they love bugs!
Bearded dragons can eat all sorts of bugs! Roaches, cicadas, and crickets are some popular picks for bearded dragons. Usually, it’s easier and safer to buy your bugs from a pet supply store. Bugs raised for food in captivity are guaranteed to be parasite and bacteria-free. If you forage for bugs in your own backyard, you might end up making your beardie sick!
The bugs you feed your bearded dragon can be live or dead, but you might notice your reptile enjoys the hunt. Keeping live bugs can be a bit of a pain, but they’re more nutritious and stimulating for your pet.
If you’re interested in reading about more bugs you can feed your beardie, read our article here.
Plants
What kind of plants should you be giving to your bearded dragon? Mostly, you should aim to feed them vegetables!
The bulk (about 80%) of the plants you feed your bearded dragon should be vegetables like kale, zucchini, or squash. Vegetables can be complemented by fruits and or course, edible flowers! Think of the plants for your beardie as a pretty salad that is just garnished with fruit or flowers. For fruits, your bearded dragon will enjoy berries, melon, or grapes. And of course, we know you can give your beardie edible flowers like hibiscus, honeysuckle, or clover.
Supplements
An important part of a balanced diet for a bearded dragon is a sprinkle of supplements on top!
Bearded dragons, like many captive lizards, are prone to nutritional deficiencies. The best way to ensure that your pet doesn’t have to deal with this is to provide them with supplements. Calcium, Vitamin D3, and multivitamins will help keep your beardie healthy and avoid diseases like metabolic bone disease.
If you’re more of a visual person, here is a feeding guide that shows how your bearded dragon’s meal should look!
Are There Any Flowers That Aren’t Safe For Bearded Dragons To Eat?
Unfortunately, there are some flowers that aren’t safe for bearded dragons to eat!
If a flower will make us humans sick, you can bet it will have the same effect on your pet reptile. Flowers like holly, hydrangea, and ivy are not safe choices for your bearded dragon to snack on. If you’re not sure about a particular flower, you can do your own research or consult your veterinarian. It’s probably not worth the risk if you can’t find a sure answer!
Final Thoughts
It might seem like bearded dragons can eat anything, but that’s not necessarily true!
Honeysuckle is one flower that is probably safe to feed your bearded dragon. Honeysuckle should only be fed as a snack or as a small garnish with your bearded dragon’s meal. A balanced meal for a bearded dragon is mostly made up of vegetables with some fruits and insects.
Check with your vet before feeding your bearded dragon something new. And, we hope when you do try giving your bearded dragon a honeysuckle snack, they enjoy it as much as we do!
