Can Bearded Dragons Eat Bananas? Key Facts for Their Health
Bananas are okay for bearded dragons to eat in small amounts. While bananas are full of vitamins and minerals, they are also high in sugar and phosphorus, which can be bad if you eat too many of them. Your bearded dragon should eat bananas every so often.
This article will tell you what other fruits are safe for your pet and what foods will keep it healthy and happy. Start learning everything you need to know.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Bananas?
Bananas should be given occasionally as a treat, with the frequency depending on your dragon’s overall diet and calcium needs. A general guideline is offering bananas once every 1-2 weeks, with careful attention to overall fruit intake.Bananas have a lot of good nutrients, but they also have a lot of sugar and phosphorus.
If your bearded dragon eats too many bananas, they can get metabolic bone disease (MBD) and other health problems. For their safety, you should only give them a few bananas at a time.
Nutritional Content of Bananas for Bearded Dragons
You should be careful about what you feed your pets because bananas are full of vitamins and minerals.
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Vitamins A and C: These vitamins help boost your bearded dragon’s immune system and overall health.
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Potassium and Magnesium: These minerals are good for heart and muscle function.
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Phosphorus to Calcium Ratio: Bananas contain more phosphorus than calcium, which can potentially interfere with calcium absorption if fed in excess.
The risk of metabolic bone disease (MBD) from occasional banana consumption is relatively low compared to other foods high in phosphorus, like spinach or rhubarb.
How to Feed Bananas Safely to Bearded Dragons
When giving your pet bananas, it's important to do so in moderation.
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Serve in small portions: Cut the banana into small slices to avoid overfeeding.
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Limit frequency: Give bananas only once or twice a month as a rare treat.
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Avoid overfeeding: Too much fruit can upset your dragon’s digestive system and lead to obesity.
What Fruit Does a Bearded Dragon Eat?
Bearded dragons like different kinds of fruits, but you should only give them a small amount at a time. A small amount of fruits should be in their diet. Some fruits are good for you, but others, like citrus fruits, can make your stomach hurt. Giving your pet a variety of safe fruits will help them get a well-balanced diet.
Safe Fruits for Bearded Dragons
If you only give your bearded dragon a small amount of some fruits, they will be fine.
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Apples: A good source of vitamins A and C, but remove the skin and seeds before feeding.
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Blueberries and Strawberries: These fruits are rich in antioxidants and are great for your dragon’s immune system.
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Grapes and Bananas: Both provide essential vitamins but should only be offered occasionally to avoid overloading on sugar.
Fruits to Avoid Feeding Bearded Dragons
There are some fruits that are bad for your dragon or hard for it to digest.
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Bearded dragons eat oranges: Oranges and lemons can upset your dragon’s digestive system and should be avoided.
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Rhubarb: Contains oxalic acid, which can be toxic to your pet.
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Mango and Avocado: Avocado should be avoided as it contains persin, which is toxic to bearded dragons. Mango, while high in sugar, is safe in moderation, but should be fed sparingly to avoid excess sugar intake.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Eggs?
Eggs are a good source of protein and vitamins, but feeding too many can lead to obesity due to their fat content. Eggs are a good source of protein and vitamins that your pet needs, especially vitamin D, which helps the body absorb calcium. The primary concern with overfeeding eggs is an imbalance in the overall diet rather than direct kidney issues.
Benefits of Eggs for Bearded Dragons
Eggs are a good source of nutrients, but parents should only give them eggs sometimes.
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Protein: Eggs provide protein, which is essential for growth, muscle function, and overall health, especially in baby bearded dragons.
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Vitamin D: This vitamin is necessary for calcium absorption, preventing metabolic bone disease (MBD).
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Additional Nutrients: Eggs also provide vitamin A and B12, which support skin health and immunity.
How to Safely Feed Eggs to Bearded Dragons
These safety tips will help you feed eggs to your bearded dragon without hurting it.
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Scrambled or boiled: Cook the eggs without any seasoning, oil, or butter.
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Portion control: Feed no more than half an egg every two weeks.
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Don’t overfeed: Too much protein from eggs can cause obesity and other health issues, so it’s best to keep egg intake minimal.
What Other Foods Can Bearded Dragons Eat?
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Bearded dragons eat a variety of things, like bugs, fruits, vegetables, and other treats now and then. Giving your pet a variety of these foods will make sure it gets all the nutrients it needs. To keep its diet healthy, here are some other things you can feed your bearded dragon.
Insects and Protein Sources
Bearded dragons get the protein they need from bugs and other animals.
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Bearded dragons eat spiders: Spiders can be eaten, but ensure they are safe and pesticide-free.
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Bearded dragons eat crickets: Crickets are a great protein source, just make sure to dust them with calcium powder.
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Bearded dragons eat mealworms: Feed mealworms in moderation as they are high in fat.
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Bearded dragons eat mice: Mice are a rare treat for baby bearded dragons but should not be fed often.
Vegetables and Leafy Greens
Most of what your bearded dragon eats should be leafy greens.
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Bearded dragons eat carrots: A good source of vitamins but should be fed occasionally due to their sugar content.
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Bearded dragons eat broccoli: This vegetable offers vitamins but should be given in moderation to avoid gas.
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Bearded dragons eat cucumbers: Hydrating and low in calories, cucumbers are perfect for hydration.
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Bearded dragons eat spinach: Limit spinach due to its oxalate content, which can prevent calcium absorption.
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Bearded dragons eat cauliflower: A great source of fiber but should be offered in small portions.
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Bearded dragons eat bell peppers: Packed with vitamin C, bell peppers are a healthy option.
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Bearded dragons eat turnip greens: Excellent for bone health due to their high calcium content.
Fruits for Bearded Dragons
Due to their high sugar content, fruits should only be given as a treat once in a while.
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Bearded dragons eat apples: Remove seeds and peel before feeding.
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Bearded dragons eat grapes: Feed in moderation to avoid excess sugar.
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Bearded dragons eat strawberries: Great for antioxidants, but serve in small amounts.
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Bearded dragons eat blueberries: A healthy treat full of vitamins.
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Bearded dragons eat rhubarb: Avoid rhubarb as it is toxic to bearded dragons.
What Plants Are Toxic to Bearded Dragons?
Bearded dragons can't handle some plants. There are some plants that can be poisonous or make your stomach hurt. It is very important that you don't give your pet poisonous plants and that they can only get safe ones.
Toxic Plants for Bearded Dragons
Even in small amounts, some plants are bad for bearded dragons and should never be fed to them.
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Rhubarb: Extremely toxic, even in small doses, and can cause kidney failure.
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Ivy: Common in households, but it can upset the digestive system and lead to health issues.
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Oleander: Highly poisonous and can cause severe health problems or even death if consumed.
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Citrus fruits: Such as oranges and lemons, should be avoided due to their high acidity and potential to cause digestive upset, as well as their high oxalate content, which can interfere with calcium absorption.
Safe Plants for Bearded Dragons
The good news is that a lot of plants are safe for bearded dragons and can even be good for them.
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Dandelion Greens: Rich in calcium, they help support your pet’s bone health and are safe for daily feeding.
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Collard Greens: Full of vitamins A and C, they are perfect for feeding your dragon regularly.
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Turnip Greens: High in calcium, turnip greens contribute to your dragon's bone health and overall well-being.
What Can FullyHealthy Offer You?
You and your pet can both enjoy the many organic and allergen-free products that FullyHealthy has to offer. Looking for healthy treats or extra nutrients for your bearded dragon? FullyHealthy has lots of great options to make their diet better.
FullyHealthy Products for Bearded Dragons
FullHealthy has a variety of high-quality products that are good for both you and your pet's health.
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Sweetpotato Awesome Organic Freeze-Dried Banana Slices: These banana slices are a healthy treat with no added sugar, perfect for your bearded dragon as an occasional treat.
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Barnana Organic Chewy Banana Bites: Made from organic bananas, these chewy bites make a great snack but should be fed in moderation due to their high sugar content.
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Paleo Perfection Vanilla Banana Protein Powder: Made from grass-fed beef collagen and organic banana, this product offers great nutrition for those following special diets.
Maintaining a Balanced Diet for Bearded Dragons
Feeding your bearded dragon a balanced diet is important for its health and happiness.
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Small Doses: Feed treats like banana slices or protein powder in small quantities to avoid high sugar intake.
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Balanced Diet: Be sure to include leafy greens, such as collard greens and dandelion greens, and avoid feeding high-sugar fruits like tomatoes and citrus fruits in large quantities.
Final Thoughts
Bearded dragons eat a lot of different fruits like bananas and vegetables, like tomatoes, peas, celery, and more, but it's important to keep the right amount of food for them. If you don't give them fruits very often or foods that are high in phosphorus, like bananas, you can keep their phosphorus ratio from getting off.
Giving baby beardies a variety of small foods is important for their growth and bone development. When you pick fruits for your pet, remember that the right amount of calcium to phosphorus is important for their health.
FAQs
Can bearded dragons eat tomatoes?
The short answer is Yes, but only in small pieces and rarely. Tomatoes have high phosphorus, which affects the ideal ratio of calcium to phosphorus in their diet.
What fruits can bearded dragons eat?
Bearded dragons eat fruits like strawberries, grapes, and bananas in moderation. Always ensure the phosphorus ratio is balanced by offering fruits rarely and focusing on leafy greens.
Can bearded dragons eat peas?
Yes, bearded dragons eat peas, but only in small pieces. This veggie should be fed sparingly due to its high phosphorus content.
Can baby beardies eat celery?
Baby beardies can eat celery but in moderation. It’s low in calcium, so be mindful of the phosphorus ratio when adding celery to their diet.
Should I feed my bearded dragon tomatoes?
Long answer is Bearded dragons eat tomatoes, but only rarely and in small pieces due to the high phosphorus content, which can upset the calcium balance.
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