Safe Fruits For Bearded Dragons are fresh nutritious fruits like strawberries, blueberries, bananas, melons etc. as part of their diet. There are many fruits the bearded dragon can eat, but there are also others that are unsafe and can harm your pet. If you want to know what fruits are safe for bearded dragons, then read on.
What Do Bearded Dragons Eat? Best Food List and Feeding Guide
At first glance a Bearded Dragon’s diet can seem complicated.
In the wild these lizards are omnivores and eat a mixture of insects, vegetables and fruits.
A pet Beardie should be fed a variety of foods to make sure they are heathy.
In addition to feeding a variety of foods juveniles and babies should be fed different diets – it is important to change a Bearded Dragon’s diet as they grow.
Their diet can seem complicated, but even first time reptile owners can easily master their nutrition.
This article will explain everything you need to know about feeding bearded dragons. We even have a ready to go feeding chart for you to follow, so keep reading…
What Do Bearded Dragons Eat?
Pet Beardies have a very diverse diet and eat insects, small vertebrates, greens, vegetables, and fruits.
There are many different types of insects, fruits, and vegetables that are safe to feed, but the foods below are nutritionally better:
- Ants and beetles.
- Dubia roaches, earthworms, crickets and superworms.
- Collard greens, dandelion greens and kale.
- Grapes, bananas, apples, strawberries, watermelon and blueberries.
They are not very picky eaters.
Bearded dragons are agile and in the wild hunt live prey. They crush crickets and mealworms with their powerful jaws and eat every day.
When kept in captivity adults should be fed once a day but they require different foods at different life stages.
Juveniles require more protein because they are rapidly growing. Juveniles should be fed three times a day. They should also eat a diet of mostly insects compared to adults that eat fewer insects and more fruits and vegetables.
Hatchlings should be offered crickets constantly.
It is important adults, juveniles and hatchlings receive the correct food and nutrients to stay healthy.
Bearded dragons will also need a calcium powder sprinkled on their food twice a week. Calcium is necessary for bone development, neurological processes, and a variety of other bodily functions.
Formulating their diet can be overwhelming.
The easiest way to vary their food intake is to use a weekly feeding chart.
Bearded Dragon Diet
The correct diet for a bearded dragon should contain protein, greens, vegetables and fruits. Feeding a balanced diet is vital for their health. Feed a split of 25% insects and vertebrates and 75% greens, vegetables, and fruits:
- Dubia roaches, earthworms, crickets and superworms.
- Collard greens, dandelion greens, kale, grapes, bananas, watermelon and blueberries.
Bearded dragons have only been popular pets for two decades and still retain many of their wild behaviors and eating habits.
When we introduce a wild reptile to captivity it is important their food mimics the foods they eat naturally.
This will not only help keep them happy but also healthy too.
Baby Bearded Dragon Feeding Schedule
Young Bearded Dragons grow very quickly and need lots of protein. Because of this, hatchlings and juveniles have a different feeding plan from fully grown adults.
Their ratio of protein to greens, vegetables and fruits should be 75/25.
They should be fed 75% insects and 25% plant material.
For the first two months bearded dragons will need to be fed crickets throughout the day.
Start with two crickets every 10 to 15 minutes at the hatchling stage. As they grow, gradually feed them less often until they are being fed three times a day at two months of age.
It is important to make sure you cut up any greens, vegetables, and fruits into bite sized pieces before feeding. Pieces should be no bigger than the distance between your bearded dragon’s eyes.
Feeding food in large pieces can result in gastrointestinal issues.
As your Bearded Dragon grows their diet will change.
Beardies reach adult size at 18 months. After this they become less active and do not need the high protein food fed to juveniles and hatchlings.
At around this age they can gradually be transitioned to an adult’s diet.
Adult Bearded Dragon Feeding Schedule
Adults should be fed once a day. Try to feed a split of 75% greens, vegetables, and fruits and 25% insects and vertebrates.
It is very important to vary the types of foods you are feeding. This acts as a form of enrichment and keeps them interested in their food.
An example feeding schedule can be seen below:
Before serving any vegetables or fruits chop them into small bite-sized pieces – this will make them easier to eat.
Some owners choose to chop vegetables and fruits weekly and then freeze them. They then thaw this mix in the microwave before feeding. Greens should always be offered fresh.
If your bearded dragon does not eat their food you should remove it from their enclosure within an hour. This will prevent them from eating spoiled food and falling ill.
Adults are typically good eaters.
If they start to refuse food or eat less than normal speak with your vet as this could be the first sign of an illness or injury.
Bearded Dragon Food
The following list of insects, vegetables and fruits are good choices to include in your bearded dragon’s diet:
- Dubia roaches, earthworms, crickets and superworms.
- Apples, blueberries, peaches, strawberries and watermelon.
- Cabbage, carrots, collard greens, kale, pumpkin and sweet potato.
Dubia roaches are very high in protein and are easy to digest so they make an excellent addition to a bearded dragon diet. Crickets and superworms can also be fed for variety but are not as easily digestible.
You should feed lots of leafy greens such as collard greens, dandelion greens, and kale. These greens are high in calcium and are nutrient dense.
A small amount of fruits can be added to their intake but it is important not to overfeed them as they are high in sugars.
What Fruit Can Bearded Dragons Eat?
Fruits are an important part of bearded dragon diets. They provide many vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients not readily found in other foods. The following fruits are good options to feed your bearded dragon:
- Apples
- Bananas
- Blueberries
- Grapes
- Strawberries
- Watermelon
You should only feed your bearded dragon fruits occasionally and use them as treats.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat:
Grapes: Yes. Grapes should be chopped into quarters to prevent choking.
Bananas: Yes. You should only feed bananas occasionally as they have a high phosphorous to calcium ratio which can be unhealthy.
Apples: Yes apples are an excellent choice of fruit to feed your bearded dragon. You should peel the apples and cut them into bite sized pieces before serving.
Strawberries: Yes strawberries are excellent as a treat as they have high amounts of several key nutrients including vitamin C, manganese, folate, and potassium. You shouldn’t feed strawberries too often as they are high in oxalates.
Watermelon: Yes. However unlike many fruits in this list it is not nutritionally dense and so is not the best food to feed.
Blueberries: Yes you can occasionally feed blueberries. They are high in vitamin C and vitamin K. Don’t feed too many as they are high in oxalates that can prevent your bearded dragon from receiving enough calcium.
Oranges: No. It is best to not feed oranges or other citrus fruit such as lemons and limes. These fruits are too acidic for bearded dragons. Acidity can irritate their stomach and lead to a variety of gastrointestinal issues.
Raspberries: Yes bearded dragons can eat raspberries occasionally. Raspberries contain many important nutrients like Vitamin C, potassium, and antioxidants.
What Vegetables Can Bearded Dragons Eat?
Vegetables and leafy greens are a very important part of a bearded dragon’s diet. They should make up 75% of their food intake. The following vegetables are good choices to feed:
- Cabbage
- Carrots
- Collard Greens
- Kale
- Pumpkin
- Sweet Potato
- Tomatoes
Vegetables provide your bearded dragon with many nutrients and calories.
When feeding your bearded dragon vegetables you should always wash them and only serve them raw.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat:
Spinach: No. It is best not to feed your bearded dragon spinach as it binds to calcium and can lead to a calcium deficiency if fed too often.
Kale: Yes Kale is an excellent food choice and is high in calcium, vitamin C, vitamin, K, vitamin A, and folate. Kale can be fed regularly and should be a staple food.
Carrots: Sometimes. Carrots should only be fed occasionally as too many can cause toxicity from too much vitamin A. Include the carrot’s green top as they are also heathy.
Zucchini: Yes it is safe to feed but it does not have many nutrients.
Broccoli: Yes broccoli is high in vitamin A, thiamine, vitamin C, and vitamin K.
Celery: No like iceberg lettuce, it is mostly water and contains very few nutrients.
Tomatoes: Yes tomatoes are low in oxalates and high in vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin, K, and folate.
Cabbage: Yes. Cabbage should be fed occasionally to bearded dragons as it can provide them with lots of vitamin C.
Common Feeding Mistakes
There are three common feeding mistakes that can be made when feeding a bearded dragon. These mistakes can lead to a variety of health issues and obesity.
Mistake One: Overfeeding
Obesity in adult bearded dragons is very common.
Like most reptiles they have a very healthily appetite and are prone to obesity if fed to many insects.
An adult should receive no more than twenty insects a day!
It is easy to accidentally overfeed as they will eat as many insects as you feed.
Obesity is a major health issue as it can predispose your bearded dragon to heart disease and joint issues.
Mistake Two: Feeding Juveniles Mealworms
Feeding juveniles mealworms can stunt their growth and prevent them from receiving the nutrients they need.
Mealworms have an outer shell made up of chitin that juveniles cannot properly digest. You should avoid feeding bearded dragons mealworms, and opt for superworms when they reach 18 months of age.
Mistake Three: Not Gut Loading
When feeding your bearded dragon live insects it is important to gut load them at least a day before feeding.
Gut loading involves feeding the insects fruits and vegetables that are dense in nutrients before feeding the insects to your bearded dragon. This process greatly improves the amount of nutrients that your bearded dragon receives.
What Can’t Bearded Dragons Eat?
There are a handful of foods that should always be avoided when feeding a bearded dragon. The foods in the list below can cause a variety of health abnormalities and toxicities:
- Avocado
- Beef
- Bread
- Chicken
- Eggplant
- Fireflies
- Fish
- Garlic/Onion
- Iceberg lettuce/Celery
- Spiders/ticks
Bearded Dragons do not eat meat in the wild, so it should not be fed in captivity. Meats and fish are too high in fat and phosphorous.
Avocado, garlic, onion, and eggplant should all be avoided as they can be toxic even in small amounts.
Non-nutrient dense foods with a high water content should also not be fed. These include iceberg lettuce and celery.
Finally, fireflies, spiders, and ticks can be toxic to bearded dragons. Even half a firefly can kill an adult bearded dragon because of the cardiotoxins.
What Fruits A Bearded Dragon Can Eat – Delicious Choices!
Bearded Dragons are resilient, docile, and easy-to-care-for creatures that make excellent pets for lizard enthusiasts.
Affectionately referred to as Beardies, these scaley little guys are omnivorous, meaning that their diet consists of a range of both plant matter and insect meat.
If you’re a first-time Bearded Dragon owner, or you’re interested in getting one as a companion, you may be wondering what fruits they can eat.
I’ve done a bit of research in this regard, so read on to find out more.
What Fruits Can a Bearded Dragon Eat?
Bearded Dragons can eat plums, peaches, figs, apples, raspberries, bananas, watermelon, cherries, pears, mangos, and papayas. While it’s important to include fruit as part of your Beardie’s diet, it’s advisable to keep their intake to a minimum, at no more than 10% of their total daily feed.
Types of Fruits Bearded Dragons Enjoy
Bearing in mind that fruit should not comprise more than 10% of a Beardie’s diet, there are quite a few options in terms of what they might enjoy.
And with that being said, some fruits are better for bearded dragons compared to others.
Apples, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, papaya, mango, and pear are among the most beneficial fruits for Bearded Dragons and contain a good balance of nutrients and vitamins. These make a great treat roughly once each week.
Bananas, cherries, and watermelon are not quite as healthy as the above, but they are still a delicious snack for a Beardie (maybe once a month or so) and can change up the flavor profiles of their meals.
It is important to remember that Bearded Dragons are extremely intelligent, and just as humans wouldn’t enjoy the same meal day after day, week after week, neither will your Dragon.
Therefore, it’s good to mix it up in their fruit treats to keep them excited and coming back for more.
What Fruits to Avoid Feeding My Bearded Dragon
Some foods are an absolute no-go for Bearded Dragons, including some fruits.
Citrus and avocado should never be fed to a Beardie, as citrus is far too acidic for their systems to handle, and avocado contains toxins that are poisonous to most animals.
In general, if you’re unsure of whether or not you can feed your Dragon a particular type of fruit, rather avoid it and opt for something you know is safe for them to eat.
Benefits of Fruit for Bearded Dragons
While one should only feed fruit to Bearded Dragons sparingly, there are some excellent benefits to including small portions in their diets.
Most of the fruits that Beardies enjoy are packed with fiber, vitamins, antioxidants, and water.
Fiber aids in their digestion and a small intake can prevent them from becoming constipated and keep their systems regulated.
Vitamins, especially Vitamin D and C and Calcium, keep them healthy and promote strong bones and consistent growth.
Similarly, antioxidants are vital for a Bearded Dragon’s wellness. Antioxidants are the compounds in fruits that prevent free radicals from damaging a Beardie’s blood and tissue cells.
Finally, as they are not prolific water-drinkers, the hydration stored in fruit is a great way for them to absorb much-needed liquids.
Together with the above, fruit is also immensely beneficial in terms of adding flavor and excitement to your Bearded Dragon’s diet.
They are known to be fussy eaters at times, and a bit of fruit goes a long way to livening up a bowl of healthy greens.
Indeed, a drop or two of fruit juice in their water bowls has also proven to be an effective way to get them to drink.
Why Too Much Fruit is Bad for a Bearded Dragon
Many fruits contain high levels of natural sugars, which can cause your Beardie to become overweight and listless in large quantities.
It also decays their teeth, which will make it difficult for them to eat over time, aside from being painful.
Oxalate is also present in many fruits. This prevents calcium absorption by binding calcium and turning it into a waste product, which then passes as a stool.
Calcium’s vital for a Bearded Dragon’s growth, so you want to avoid flushing it out of their systems.
Furthermore, too much fruit can be acidic for your Dragon and will cause indigestion and diarrhea.
As much as your scaled companion may love his fruity treats, it’s far better to serve them up in moderation.
What Fruit Can I Feed My Bearded Dragon?
What kinds of fruit are safe for your bearded dragon?
How much fruit should you give your beardie compared to vegetables and insects?
Which fruits are best in terms of their nutritional value for your lizard?
The list of appropriate fruits for your beardie’s diet is long and varied.
Bearded dragons are usually not very picky eaters, and most sugary, juicy fruits are like candy to them.
There are many things to keep in mind when choosing which fruits to feed to your lizards, such as their vitamin and mineral content, their calcium to phosphorus ratio, oxalic acid content, and even your dragon’s taste.
What Fruit Can I Feed My Bearded Dragon?
While bearded dragons typically love most fruits and would gladly eat them for every meal, only around 5% to 10% of an adult bearded dragon’s diet should be composed of fruit, with the other 90% being made up primarily of vegetable matter such as dark, leafy greens and a small amount of protein-dense insects. Safe fruits for your bearded dragon’s diet include:
- Apples
- Blueberries
- Mangoes
- Strawberries
- Papaya
- Bananas
For juvenile bearded dragons and baby bearded dragons, insects and vegetables’ ideal ratio is quite different, but the proportion of fruit their diet requires is mostly the same.
Staple insects such as crickets, butter worms, silkworms, and Dubia roaches will make up as much as 80% of their diet for the first year or so of their lives since they require lots of insect protein for their quick metabolisms while they rapidly grow into their adult size.
The other 20% of their food intake should be mostly plant matter such as vegetables and a small amount of fruit from time to time.
Feeding your lizard a varied range of fruits on an occasional basis is a great way to keep their diet exciting and flavorful, which will also keep your dragon happy.
A few small pieces of fruit on top of their salad full of dark greens and veggies will encourage them to eat the entirety of their meal if you find they are more a bit pickier with their vegetables, as many dragons are.
Risk Factors Of Feeding Too Much Fruit
Most fruits are very high in natural sugars, so your bearded dragon will become overweight and lethargic very quickly if you use virtually any kind of fruit as a staple food in their diet.
Sugar is also bad for their teeth and causes tooth decay.
Your lizard certainly won’t complain at first, but over time the excess weight and damage to their teeth will cause several painful and even deadly health issues.
Think of fruit as a dessert for your lizard.
They will be thrilled to see it in their food dish, but it is always possible to have too much of a good thing.
Another unfortunately common characteristic of many fruits is their high oxalate content, also known as oxalic acid, which binds with calcium and prevents calcium absorption, instead of causing it to be passed as a waste product in your dragon’s stools.
Baby dragons, juvenile beardies, and adult bearded dragons all need plenty of calcium.
It keeps their bones and muscles strong and their metabolisms functioning correctly.
Even if the fruit does contain a decent amount of the mineral, much of it will go to waste when it binds with the oxalic acid also present in the fruit.
A calcium deficiency will quickly lead to weak, brittle bones, metabolic bone disease, and many other unpleasant health issues.
Most fruits, being quite moist foods, have a high water content, and while plenty of water is excellent for keeping your beardie hydrated, too much of it will cause an upset stomach and result in runny stools and dehydration.
It is also essential to avoid any very acidic fruits, such as citrus fruits, as their acids will similarly upset your lizard’s stomach and cause diarrhea.
Always provide your dragon with a freshwater source to keep them properly hydrated, preferably a small dish of water you clean and refill daily.
A water bowl wide, sturdy, and low to the ground is ideal.
Most pet stores have a variety of different food and water dishes to choose from.
Regardless of your dragon’s age, only a small amount of fruit given occasionally is necessary for them to thrive.
You have many different options when it comes to fruit to keep your lizard’s diet varied, well-rounded, and tasty for them.
Keep their fruit intake low to avoid any potential risk factors.
What Are Good Staple Fruits For Bearded Dragons?
As mentioned above, fruit, in general, should only make up around 5 to 10% of your beardie’s food list overall.
There are no fruits which should be used consistently as true staple foods in the same way staple vegetables are for maintaining a proper diet.
However, within this small 10% or so of their diet, there are several types of fruit great to use again and again for your beardie’s salads as long as they are provided alongside lots of safe vegetables and insects.
Each dragon is different, and the foods they develop preferences for will vary from lizard to lizard.
As you get to know your beardie’s preferred food items and their dislikes, it is good to offer new and different foods often to give them a variety of vitamins and nutrients as well as flavors.
You wouldn’t like or nutritionally benefit from eating the same thing every day, and neither will your lizard.
Here is a list of some of the best and most common fruits safe to give to your bearded dragon from time to time, along with their nutritional content and any other notable information.
These fruits are safe for your lizard to eat a few times per month or around one time per week and have various health benefits.
Occasional Treat Fruits
While the following fruits aren’t quite as nutritious or healthy as the options mentioned in the previous section, they are still safe when implemented into your bearded dragon feeding schedule as a rare treat at most once or twice per month.
These fruits contain fewer vitamins and minerals and more sugar, acid, and oxalates than the options mentioned above.
If your beardie has developed a preference for any of these foods, be sure to only offer them on rare occasions and in small amounts.
Toxic Fruits You Should Never Give Your Beardie
Although your bearded dragon is quite a hardy animal and can get away with eating a variety of less nutritious foods on rare occasions, a few fruits are extremely toxic and even deadly to them and should not be given to them under any circumstances.
These fruits include:
If your dragon has eaten any of these foods, don’t panic.
Contact your local veterinarian familiar with reptiles immediately for further instruction and your lizard’s future health care needs.
It is crucial to closely monitor your lizard’s health status and food intake for any changes or unusual behavior, regardless of whether they’ve eaten a potentially toxic food.
Calcium To Phosphorus Ratio
Whenever you consider a new food for your bearded dragon’s diet, whether it is a fruit or a vegetable, always make sure you know its calcium to phosphorus ratio.
An ideal ratio is anything higher than 2:1, meaning your dragon should be getting at least twice, if not three times, as much calcium as it does phosphorus from any fruit you feed to them.
You always want your dragon to get more calcium than phosphorus out of any food they consume, especially since phosphorus often binds with calcium and prevents calcium absorption.
In addition to this, a calcium supplement is a necessity for your dragon’s diet.
Purchase a calcium powder from your local pet shop and dust any food you give to your dragon with the powder at least three to five times per week to ensure they get an adequate amount of calcium in their diet.
Fruits, in general, tend to have very poor calcium to phosphorus ratios, while most vegetables and other plant matter fare a lot better in this regard with much higher ratios.
This is primarily why the list of acceptable vegetables is much longer than the list of good fruits for your dragon’s diet and why their vegetable intake should be much higher than their fruit intake.
Due to most fruits’ low amounts of calcium compared to their phosphorus content, there is no appropriate staple fruit for your dragon.
However, many fruits can still be given to your dragon as part of a healthy diet in small amounts if you are mindful of their calcium to phosphorus ratios.