What Are The Best Fruits For Bearded Dragons? As bearded dragons are omnivores, they need a balanced combination of fruits and vegetables. Because their nutritional requirements are rather high, you will have to offer them fresh fruits and vegetables daily. There are many different types of fruits and vegetables you can feed your bearded dragon; this article will help you choose the right ones.
10 FRUITS BEARDED DRAGONS CAN EAT
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A proper diet for adult bearded dragons should contain 80% plants and 20% protein, usually in the form of crickets or roaches. Only 10 to 20% of the plant percentage should be fruit. What kinds of fruits may bearded dragons consume, then? In this essay, we’re going to talk about that. But first, some background information on these well-known pet reptiles and a warning about giving a bearded dragon fruit.
What is a bearded dragon?
Reptiles known as Bearded Dragons are named for the distinctive “beards” on their throats, which when threatened can turn black and swell. These Australian natives adore lying on rocks and trees in the bush. In order to avoid the heat, they also tunnel.
This reptile has a flat body, a triangular head, and spines on its scales. In comparison to a girl, a man will reach a height of around 20 inches. They are quite quiet and alone. They can survive 10 to 15 years in captivity.
These and other features have elevated the bearded dragon to the top of the list of reptile pets. However, special consideration must be paid to their diet if a “beardie,” as they are fondly known, is kept as a pet.
FRUIT IS NOT NEEDED EVERY DAY FOR BEARDED DRAGONS
You should be cautious when feeding your dragon fruit. Giving too much fruit has several disadvantages.
The main offender is sugar. Your dragon may gain weight if you consume too much sugar. Additionally, it may lead to tooth decay, which will make it painful and difficult for them to consume. Kidney and intestinal issues may result.
Oxalic acid concentration is another factor to keep an eye on (oxalates). This may prevent calcium from being absorbed.
Additionally, all food should have more calcium than phosphorus, regardless of the type. Calcium will bond to phosphorus. Due to their propensity for metabolic bone disease, calcium is essential to the health of bearded dragons. One of the most widespread ailments affecting bearded dragons is the sickness that draws calcium out from the bones.
Always cut the fruit finely (ideally, no larger than the distance between the dragon’s eyes). Try to only give them fruit that is organic. Bearded dragons are harmed by pesticides.
But the appropriate fruit consumed in moderation can be very good for your bearded dragon. Which leads us to the 20 fruits that bearded dragons may eat list that was promised.
10 FRUITS BEARDED DRAGONS CAN EAT
The fruit has many many nutritional benefits for a Bearded dragon. It’s also an exciting treat that all dragons love. Below is a list of 20 safe and tasty fruits a Bearded dragon can eat.
1. APPLES
In the US, there are more than 2,500 different apple kinds. The Bearded dragon can devour any of them without any problems. Although some, like as the Granny Smith, are healthier.
Apples are a great option because they are a good source of vitamins A and C. These vitamins support the immune system, growth, and vision of the bearded dragon.
Apples are also a good source of fiber, which supports digestive health. The dragon’s energy level will remain high thanks to the numerous carbohydrates.
Because they don’t consume a lot of water, bearded dragons will stay hydrated thanks to the high water content (86%) of their food.
Peel the apple first since apple skins might be a choking hazard. The high sugar content of apples is the sole drawback to feeding your dragon apples. It is advised that they consume this fruit just once a week.
2. BANANAS
Bananas are fine to occasionally feed your Bearded dragon. The vitamins A and C, potassium, and calcium in bananas are all great for your dragon. However, they are high in oxalates that block calcium absorption. A few pieces, once or twice a month as a treat is fine. This is one of the few fruits where the peel is safe for the dragon to eat.
3. WATERMELON
Watermelon is not the most nutrient-dense of fruits, despite being incredibly sweet and a great amount of water (92%). The watermelon will provide the Bearded dragon with some vitamin C and beta carotene, but not much else. Because of the high sugar content, a few tiny pieces once a month will do.
4. BLUEBERRIES
Due to the high vitamin C and K content of these berries, your dragon will benefit from growth, immunological support, and eye health. Although blueberries don’t have a lot of sugar, they do have a lot of oxalates. No more than 1 to 2 berries per week are recommended if you want the calcium to be absorbed.
5. PRICKLY PEARS
Prickly pears, which are both a fruit and a vegetable, are thought to be a staple food for your bearded dragon. The vegetable is the padded portion, and the fruit is the pear portion. For dragons, both are fantastic!
They are very nourishing and include the essential vitamins A, B, and C. The pears are rich in protein, iron, and fiber. The best part is that it contains a lot of calcium, which is crucial for the dragon’s bone health.
Unfortunately, in some areas of the United States, it might be hard to find. If you’re fortunate enough to find any, gently prepare them for your pet. Take out all of the seeds, skin, and spines.
6. BLACKBERRIES
Every two weeks, you can feed these berries to your bearded dragon. Simply giving 2 to 3 each time is recommended. They can keep your dragon hydrated because they are 88% water.
Additionally a wonderful source of vitamin C are blueberries. Because of its high quantities of sugar and oxalate, this fruit should only be given infrequently. Unconsumed berries should be removed from your dragon’s enclosure as they deteriorate soon.
7. RASPBERRIES
Raspberries are fine as a rare treat for Bearded dragons. The sugar and oxalate levels are too high to be a part of the regular fruit rotation. Raspberries do have iron, potassium, vitamin K, E, and C. Which are all great for beardies.
8. PEACHES
Bearded dragons enjoy eating sweet fruits. Therefore, they’ll enjoy some luscious peaches. They will keep the water-averse dragon hydrated because they are 88% water. In addition, they are a fantastic source of fiber and vitamin C. This fruit just needs to be fed once a week. Make sure to remove the peel.
9. STRAWBERRIES
Strawberries are one of the fruits that are more calcium to phosphorus balanced and can be fed to your bearded dragon once a week. Strawberries are a great source of calcium and vitamin C for your bearded dragon.
Because it contains 45% water, it won’t overhydrate them and cause upset stomachs. The seeds are not a choking threat because to their small size.
So, are strawberries okay to give to your bearded dragon? Yes, it is the answer. You can keep your bearded dragon happy and healthy by giving it a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, such strawberries. Just be aware that you should eat most fruits in moderation.
10. GRAPES
Give your Bearded dragon 1 to 2 grapes, in any of the different hues, once a week. Just make sure to peel, remove the pits, and chop the fruit into little pieces.
There is a lot of potassium and fiber. Be careful not to give too much because there is a lot of sugar and water in the mixture. Just so you know, grape leaves are quite high in calcium and have more minerals than the actual grape!
What Can Bearded Dragons Eat? The Best Food for Bearded Dragons
Guest Post by Mike Valverde
Bearded dragons are an excellent choice if you’re just beginning your reptile ownership journey. They are a good introduction to the fascinating world of herpetoculture because they are active during the day, don’t occupy much room, and are kind animals that don’t mind being held.
The fact that beardies are omnivorous is another quality that makes them excellent first pets. This indicates that they aren’t finicky eaters like hognose snakes and ball pythons are.
Bearded dragons can eat a wide variety of foods, but it does not necessarily mean that all of those things are healthy for them. So if you’re interested in learning more about the best food for bearded dragons, read the information below!
WHAT FRUITS CAN BEARDED DRAGONS EAT?
Because of the sweet flavor and energetic sugar content of fresh fruit, bearded dragons like eating it much like people do. However, you should only feed your beardies fruit and other food groups in lesser portions.
In other words, as a reward, bearded dragons can eat some fruit!
Take a look at the details below to learn which fruits are best for bearded dragons:
Can bearded dragons eat grapes?
Yes! Grapes provide essential elements for a bearded dragon’s diet and are simple for them to chew and digest. They can effectively manufacture each substance to support their growth and nutrition since they have a great calcium to phosphorus ratio. But because they are deficient in vitamin D, you shouldn’t make this a regular part of their diet. Furthermore, you shouldn’t give green grapes to your pet because they have a greater acidity and can irritate its stomach!
Can bearded dragons eat apples?
Yes! Although you should be careful to trim each piece so your beardie won’t damage itself in the process, bearded dragons can eat apples. Cut portions that are no larger than the distance between their eyes as a general rule. Similar to grapes, apples offer a balanced calcium to phosphorus ratio but are deficient in vitamins A and D.
Can bearded dragons eat strawberries?
Strawberries are edible by bearded dragons, however they are essentially nutritionally useless. To begin with, these fruits are full without having a high nutrient content because they are almost entirely composed of water. Strawberries also have a low calcium to phosphorus ratio, on that same issue. Basically, feeding your beardie a strawberry won’t hurt him, but it also won’t do him any good either.
Can bearded dragons eat blueberries?
Despite being a superfood for humans, blueberries don’t provide bearded dragons with the same level of nourishment. Don’t expect them to have the same impact as when you put them in your smoothie, but you can still offer them to your bearded dragon. Similar to strawberries, these have a low calcium to phosphorus ratio and few important vitamins for bears.
Can bearded dragons eat raspberries?
You can, but definitely shouldn’t, give your bearded dragons raspberries. The nutritional value of raspberries, like that of blueberries, makes them a bad choice for your beardie’s diet. In fact, strawberries are even less healthy for bearded dragons than blueberries when comparing the calcium to phosphorus ratio and the amount of vitamin A.
Can bearded dragons eat bananas?
Yes. Although bananas are thought to be healthy for humans because of their high potassium content, bearded dragons don’t gain from this in terms of nutrition. Therefore, even if you can give this fruit to your bearded dragon without any problems, it has little nutritional value and is best as a modest treat.
Can bearded dragons eat tomatoes?
Yes! Tomatoes are loaded with vitamin A and have an excellent calcium to phosphorus ratio. However, given that they are primarily composed of water, they will quickly fill up your beardie’s stomach before they have a chance to benefit from these nutrients. As a result, these work best as a healthful treat or as a garnish for salad greens.
Can bearded dragons eat pumpkins?
Kind of! If you give your bearded dragon a small amount of pumpkin, it won’t become poisonous. However, it is acidic, which is bad for its digestion, and has no nutritional value. In the end, it’s much better to give your beardie a tomato or a grape instead of another fruit. This is not true unless a veterinarian or herpetologist advises feeding pumpkin seeds to a pet to help get rid of intestinal parasites.
Can bearded dragons eat oranges?
Actually, no! Once more, eating a little bit of an orange won’t harm your bearded dragon. However, it’s not a good idea to give any citrus fruit—due to its incredibly acidic content—to your bearded dragon because it will upset its stomach. Additionally, there is not much nutritional value because of the low calcium to phosphorus ratio.
Can bearded dragons eat figs?
Dried figs are safe to give your pet beardie because they have a high Calcium content and a relatively low Phosphorus level. The C:P ratio, however, is insufficient to support making this a fixture of their diet, and the high sugar level can also be unsettling.
Can bearded dragons eat mangos?
Mangos contain too much phosphorus for your bearded dragon to receive any nutritional value from the calcium. Avoid feeding them to your pet. Additionally, they contain a moderate quantity of oxalates, which can cause kidney problems. It is therefore best to refrain from giving them any mangoes at all.
Can bearded dragons eat peaches?
Feeding peaches to your bearded dragon is not a good idea. They contain a calcium to phosphorus ratio of 1:3, which is the complete opposite of what you should feed your pet!
Can bearded dragons eat bell peppers?
It’s not ideal to feed your pet bearded dragon red or green sweet peppers. Whether you cook them or serve them raw, they have far too much Phosphorus and too little Calcium to have any nutritional value.
Can bearded dragons eat avocados?
No! You must not feed your bearded dragon avocados; doing so could seriously harm or even kill your pet. Many people are unaware of the fact that avocados, despite being a regular part of the diet of modern humans, are really thought to be harmful. Bearded dragons should not consume these fruits because of the strong acid content in them, therefore keep them away!
WHAT VEGETABLES CAN BEARDED DRAGONS EAT?
Fruit shouldn’t make up the majority of your bearded dragon’s diet, but veggies are a better alternative. These are less significant when feeding infants but more significant for a beardie that is fully grown. To maintain your pet’s health, learn about the finest veggies for bearded dragons that will offer the right quantity of vitamins and moisture in the following paragraphs.
Can bearded dragons eat spinach?
Not really! This is another example of a food that’s healthy for humans but unhealthy for bearded dragons. Despite having large quantities of Vitamin A and a good Calcium to Phosphorus ratio, there are some aspects of spinach (and baby spinach) that can cause problems with your beardie’s digestive system. In particular, a high acidity similar to that found in citrus fruits can cause discomfort and potentially lead to gout! Instead, try feeding your beardie arugula or kale.
Can bearded dragons eat broccoli?
It’s not a good idea to feed your bearded dragon broccoli, although they won’t get hurt if they have a small amount. For starters, the Vitamin A content is pretty low and the ratio of Calcium to Phosphorus is equally disappointing. Additionally, these are largely made up of water, so they’re filling without providing much nutrition. However, broccoli does contain a decent amount of Vitamin K, which can help with its intestines. Despite this, there are better Vitamin K-rich foods to feed your bearded dragon!
Can bearded dragons eat carrots?
Yes! Carrots are a terrific source of Vitamin A and have a decent ratio of Calcium to Phosphorus. This makes for a terrific snack for your beardie, as well as a nice garnish to their salads. They’re also high in water, which will help keep your beardie hydrated. However, carrot greens are even healthier and make for a better meat than the root portion.
Can bearded dragons eat cucumbers?
If you remove the hard-to-digest peel from a cucumber, you can safely feed it to a pet bearded dragon. It does provide some nutritional benefits thanks to a decent amount of Vitamin K. Also, it’s Calcium-Phosphorus ratio is good enough to avoid digestive and absorption issues. However, these have a very high water content that will fill up your beardie’s belly without offering an equivalent nutritional benefit.
Can bearded dragons eat peas?
Yes, your pet bearded dragon can eat peas safely. They offer some nutritional benefit due to a high Calcium content and a low Phosphorus content, in addition to a decent amount of Vitamin A. However, the Phosphorus content happens to be significantly lower in comparison to Calcium— to the point that it throws off the ideal ratio and makes it a poor substitute for healthier veggies. Feed this to your pet in small doses!
Can bearded dragons eat cauliflower?
You can feed your bearded dragon cauliflower, but there’s essentially no reason for you to do so. The amount of important vitamins contained in this vegetable are meager when it comes to maintaining the nutrition of your beardie. What’s worse is that this is yet another waterlogged veggie that will just fill your pet’s stomach.
Can bearded dragons eat radishes?
Yes and no. It’s healthier to feed your bearded dragon radish greens (the tops of the radish plant) than it is to feed them the radish itself. That’s because the greens have a higher concentration of Vitamin A and a lower water content, meaning they can provide sustenance without just filling your pet’s belly. However, both the tops and bottoms of radishes are poor substitutes for healthier leafy green vegetables— try turnip greens instead!
Can bearded dragons eat celery?
Bearded dragons can eat celery and get some nutritional value out of it. It has a high ratio of Calcium to Phosphorus and contains fiber and other essential vitamins. However, you don’t want to feed too much celery to your pet for two reasons:
- The high water content will fill up your pet without providing a proportionate amount of nutrients.
- Moderate oxalate content means that eating excessive amounts can cause kidney problems.
Can bearded dragons eat sweet potatoes?
Feeding your beardie sweet potatoes is not a good idea because they are low in calcium and high in oxalates and phosphorus. It’s okay to give your pet this as an occasional treat, but if you give it to them more frequently than that, they could develop malnutrition and kidney problems.
Can bearded dragons eat rhubarb?
No! Rhubarb is harmful, so don’t give it to your bearded dragon! This seemingly harmless vegetable has a very lopsided calcium to phosphorus ratio. If your beardie consumes even a small bit of rhubarb, it will experience a dramatic negative reaction instead of securely receiving these nutrients. Never do it!
WHAT ELSE CAN BEARDED DRAGONS EAT?
Bearded dragons are omnivorous, which means they eat meat in addition to fruits and veggies. In fact, baby bearded dragons should have a diet mostly made up of protein-rich insects to help them grow big and strong. Once they become adults, most of their diet should be made up of vegetables; however, you should still feed them insects to maintain a healthy diet. But what about animals that aren’t insects? Here’s what you need to know:
CAN BEARDED DRAGONS EAT PEARS?
Pears have a nutrient-rich peel and are delicious and supple. They make a delicious dessert or snack. If pears are one of your preferred fruits, you might be curious as to whether bearded dragons can also eat them. Can bearded dragons consume pears, then? Although not often, they can! Dragons shouldn’t consume pears too regularly because of a few nutritional characteristics.
CAN BEARDED DRAGONS HAVE PEARS?
Can bearded dragons eat pears? Yes, but only as a treat.
Pears offer:
- Vitamin K, for healthy bones and blood
- Folate, for healthy tissue and cells
- Vitamin C, for a healthy immune system
- Copper, for healthy blood
- Potassium, for heart health
- Fiber, for healthy digestion
- Antioxidants, for immune health and cancer prevention
Despite these nutritional benefits, which are excellent for people, there are a few setbacks to be aware of for bearded dragons.
HOW OFTEN CAN A BEARDED DRAGON EAT PEARS?
Pears are a once-a-month delicacy that bearded dragons can consume. In this small amount, it won’t harm them, but if you feed pears to your dragon every day, it could get sick. Here are some explanations:
- Sugar-heavy. Although generally a very healthy fruit, pears are high in sugar, especially for bearded dragons. Too much sugar can cause gum and tooth decay, inflammation, liver problems, heart problems, and more.
- Oxalates. Pears are high in oxalates, which cause calcium depletion. Metabolic bone disease is a consequence of calcium depletion. You definitely don’t want your bearded dragon to suffer from that!
- Obesity risk. Fruit in general isn’t good for your dragon to eat in large quantities, largely because of the sugar. Bearded dragons are already at risk for obesity when they are pets because they don’t get as much exercise as when they are in the wild, even if they get frequent walks and playtime. Dragons can become obese from too many insects as well as much sugary fruit.
WHAT FRUITS CAN BEARDED DRAGONS HAVE MORE OFTEN THAN PEARS?
Baby dragons can occasionally indulge on fruit but largely require protein (aka insects). Adults should consume largely greens and vegetables, but they can occasionally have a small amount of fruit. The following delectable fruits bearded dragons can consume more frequently than pears are:
- Guava (once a week)
- Figs (every other week)
- Grapes (once a week)
- Apples (once a week)
- Strawberries (once a week)
- Mango (multiple times a week)