Ensuring your bearded dragon gets enough calcium is critical for their health. Calcium supports proper bone development, muscle function, and egg production in females. Lack of calcium can lead to metabolic bone disease, a serious condition. Monitoring their diet, behavior, and supplement regimen will help you assess if they need more calcium.
How much calcium does a bearded dragon need?
The exact calcium requirements for bearded dragons are not known. However, experts recommend the following daily calcium intake based on their life stage:
- Hatchlings: 1.2-2% of diet dry matter
- Juveniles: 1.1-1.4% of diet dry matter
- Adults: 0.5-0.9% of diet dry matter
- Breeding females: 2.5-3.0% of diet dry matter
For a juvenile bearded dragon eating 50 dubia roaches per day, this equals about 1 gram of calcium supplement per day. Their actual intake can vary based on diet composition, feeding regimen, supplement brand, and individual needs.
How can I tell if my bearded dragon needs more calcium?
Monitor for these signs that your bearded dragon may need more calcium:
- Lethargy or weakness
- Twitching or jerking limbs
- Swelling around joints or legs bending at odd angles
- Reluctance to move or loss of appetite
- Soft or deformed jawbone
- Bumps along spine or tail
- Fractures or broken bones
These can indicate the bone deformities and fragility associated with metabolic bone disease. Young, growing dragons are especially prone. Adults can develop the condition if calcium intake is too low for an extended period. Other symptoms include stunted growth and seizures in severe cases. Seek veterinary care immediately if you notice any of these signs.
What causes a calcium deficiency in bearded dragons?
There are a few potential causes of low calcium levels:
- Inadequate dietary calcium: Not enough calcium-rich foods or calcium supplements. Feeders like dubia roaches are naturally low in calcium.
- Improper calcium:phosphorus ratio: Too much phosphorus interferes with calcium absorption. The ratio should be 1.5-2:1 calcium to phosphorus.
- Lack of vitamin D3: Needed to properly metabolize and absorb calcium. Reptile species make vitamin D3 from UVB exposure.
- Kidney or intestinal issues: Health conditions affecting calcium regulation and absorption.
In most cases, adjusting the diet and supplements resolves calcium deficiency. But an underlying health issue could require treatment too.
How can I get more calcium into my bearded dragon’s diet?
Here are some tips for boosting calcium intake:
- Use calcium carbonate powder supplement daily.
- Coat insects with supplement before feeding. Aim for a light coat on each insect.
- Offer calcium-rich produce like kale, mustard greens, dandelion greens, okra, and broccoli leaves.
- Feed calcium-dusted insects 3-5 times per week for juveniles, 2-3 times per week for adults.
- Alternate calcium and multivitamin supplements to provide variety.
- Choose calcium powders with vitamin D3 for better absorption.
- Avoid oversupplementing. Excess calcium can cause health issues.
Adjust amounts based on your dragon’s age, weight, diet, and signs of deficiency. Work with your veterinarian to fine-tune supplementation for your pet’s needs.
How should I give calcium supplements?
Follow these tips for safe, effective calcium supplementation:
- Use calcium carbonate powder designed for reptiles.
- Replace container every 6 months since calcium degrades over time.
- Store powder in air-tight container in cool, dark place.
- Lightly coat feeder insects to avoid excess supplement intake.
- Mix powders well into vegetables, fruits, greens, and other moist foods.
- Avoid supplementing two days in a row. Use a multivitamin on alternate days.
- Do not use calcium supplements formulated for human consumption.
Never use small mammal or bird calcium supplements. These contain phosphorus and can disrupt the crucial calcium-phosphorus balance in reptiles. Only use reptile-specific supplements.
What feeder insects are high in calcium?
Most feeder insects are naturally low in calcium. But some options provide more calcium than others:
| Feeder insect | Calcium content |
|---|---|
| Black soldier fly larvae | 35-50 mg/100g |
| Locusts | 8-20 mg/100g |
| Mealworms | 8 mg/100g |
| Superworms | 6 mg/100g |
| Waxworms | 3 mg/100g |
| Dubia roaches | 2 mg/100g |
| Crickets | 1 mg/100g |
Black soldier fly larvae stand out with 10 times more calcium than crickets or roaches. But all insects should still be gut loaded and dusted with supplements to meet your bearded dragon’s needs.
What are the best plants and vegetables high in calcium?
Certain produce can offer more calcium and improve your dragon’s supplement regimen. Some top calcium-rich plant foods include:
- Mustard, turnip, kale, collard, and dandelion greens
- Bok choy and broccoli leaves and stems
- Okra
- Green beans and peas
- Carrots, sweet potato
- Figs
- Mulberry leaves
Leafy greens top the list, with around 150-200 mg calcium per 100 grams. Stick to greens low in oxalates as these bind calcium. Offer a variety of vegetables, sprouts, flowers, and fruit for diversity. Aim for 30-50% plant matter in an adult beardie diet.
What are signs my bearded dragon is getting too much calcium?
Although less common than deficiency, excess calcium can also pose risks including:
- Loss of appetite
- Decreased growth
- Weakness and lethargy
- Muscle tremors or twitching
- Swollen eyelids or face
- White urates or chalky feces
These often resolve by discontinuing supplements for a period of time. Prevent problems by carefully following supplement directions, varying powders used, and monitoring your pet’s health and diet. Never offer free access to a bowl of plain calcium powder.
How can I balance calcium and phosphorus?
Bearded dragons need a calcium-phosphorus ratio around 1.5-2:1 for proper health and bone strength. Tips to maintain the balance include:
- Limit high-phosphorus foods like seeds, nuts, fish, eggs, dairy.
- Choose calcium powders containing little to no phosphorus.
- Check calcium and phosphorus levels of commercial diets if feeding pellets or mixes.
- Provide a multivitamin supplement 1-2 times per week that contains vitamin D3 but no phosphorus.
- Have plants comprise 30-50% of the diet to offset phosphorus from proteins.
- Ask your vet to assess ratio if concerned your dragon’s levels are off.
Ideally offer a variety of calcium-rich produce along with properly supplemented insects, commercial diets, and feeders like black soldier fly larvae to help achieve balance.
How does vitamin D3 help with calcium absorption?
Vitamin D3 aids calcium absorption and metabolism in several key ways:
- Helps absorb calcium from the digestive tract into the bloodstream.
- Prevents calcium loss through urine.
- Essential for bone mineralization as calcium combines with phosphorus to form bone.
- Maintains calcium and phosphorus balance.
- Allows proper nervous system function.
- Prevents diseases like rickets and osteomalacia.
Unlike humans, bearded dragons produce vitamin D3 when exposed to UVB light. Ensure your dragon receives daily UVB exposure for 12-14 hours and use D3 calcium supplements. Lack of either can lead to deficiency and metabolic bone disease.
Conclusion
Monitoring calcium intake and optimizing your bearded dragon’s diet and sunlight exposure will go a long way towards preventing deficiency. Look for signs they need more calcium like lethargy or bone abnormalities. Offer a variety of calcium-rich foods along with proper supplementation. Work closely with your herp vet to meet your pet’s needs and keep their bones, muscles, and nerves functioning properly.
