Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Why does my beardie want to eat pebbles and gravel? He even tries to get the pebbles out of the cement in the patio. Thanks for any help. :]

may look like food to it. Like a big bug or pelleted food if you give that to it. Once my dragon tried to eat the floral pattern of carpet. It had a nice green to it. lol
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1.0.0 Bearded Dragon (Rex- "normal" orange fire)
1.0.0 Bearded Dragon (Glutany- German Giant Mix)
0.1.0 Okeetee Corn (Okatee)
1.1.0 Spotted Python (Hotdog and Shoelace)

OK thanks. But I guess that will be a problem as I like to take him and he likes to go out a lot. Maybe some specticals for him. hehehehe

The pebbles and gravel may reflect the light in a way that attracts the dragon. It may be trying to add essential trace minerals into its diet it is lacking. It could just be tasting its environment and the pebbles/gravel are sticking to his tongue. Or it could be something it needs we just don't know about yet.

Birds are the only animals i know of that will consciously eat pebbles and stones to help break down the tough shells/skins of the seeds they eat (stores in their craw which acts like a big grinding machine, using the pebbles to grind down the hard seeds). As Bearded dragons don't eat significant amounts of seeds/grains, I highly doubt they would use stones for this purpose.
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PHLdyPayne

I guess that they do it to get a good sence of their environment. My dragons lick everthing they can. I like to think of bearded dragons as the most aloof reptile. And thats why so many people like them. Sure most of the time they are just sitting around and basking, but other times they are being just plain silly.

I have a 6 month old puppy poodle that tries to eat everything. Oh god, i just thougt, imagine trying to pry something out of a BD's mouth like you would with a puppy. THank god for lizard cages
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a free range dragon is a happy dragon