Bearded dragons are a popular pet among reptile enthusiasts because of their adorable appeal and relative ease to care for. They have been known to eat many different types of food, from vegetables and fruits to insects and worms. While there are some foods that should not be given to bearded dragons, you may wonder if apples are safe for them.
So, can bearded dragons eat apples? Yes, bearded dragons can eat apples. It’s full of nutrition that your beardie can benefit a lot from. When feeding apples to your beardie, avoid the apple peels and seeds. Apple peels can cause them to choke on it, while the seeds contain a toxin that is harmful to them. Also, be sure to feed them in moderation as apples contain a high amount of sugar.
Is It Safe For Bearded Dragons To Eat Apples?
While bearded dragons can eat apples, they should be a staple food for a bearded dragon’s diet. While apples are nutritious for humans and even pets such as dogs or cats, bearded dragons have a different digestive system that is unable to process some of the nutrients found in apples.
One of the nutrients found in apples is sugar. Too much of it can have a big impact on the health of your beardie. If they consume a large amount of sugar, it can lead to obesity and high blood pressure.
Also, avoid feeding the apple seeds and core sections of the fruit. The seeds contain cyanide, which is a toxin that can harm your beardie. The core of the apple is too tough and can cause them to choke on it. since these areas contain chemicals that could harm your pet lizard.
So, to ensure apples are safe for your bearded dragon to enjoy, only give them the fruit to eat in small amounts and occasionally.
Is It Healthy For Bearded Dragons To Eat Apples?
Apples are an excellent source of many nutrients that are beneficial to your reptile. They contain natural sugars, fiber, and vitamins C and K, along with antioxidants. No matter whether you have a baby or an adult bearded dragon, they can all benefit from eating apples.
Nutrition Facts
One raw, unpeeled, medium-sized apple (100 grams):
- Calories: 52
- Water: 86%
- Protein: 0.3 grams
- Carbs: 13.8 grams
- Sugar: 10.4 grams
- Fiber: 2.4 grams
- Fat: 0.2 grams
Source: USDA
Below are some of the health benefits of feeding apples to your bearded dragons:
Strengthen Immune System
Vitamin C is a great supplement to help your bearded dragon have a healthy immune system.
Providing your pet with vitamin C will help strengthen their immune system and keep them from getting sick. I recommend giving your bearded dragon a vitamin C supplement that contains 100mg of vitamin C per day or food such as apples that are high in this vitamin.
Improve Digestive Health
Fiber is one of the most important nutrients in the body. It aids in digestion and keeps things moving smoothly through your bearded dragon’s system. Not getting enough fiber could lead to constipation and other digestive problems.
With the right amount of fiber in their diet, bearded dragons can live a long and healthy life due to a healthy digestive system.
Good For Hydration
Apples contain a lot of water that keeps bearded dragons hydrated. During the summer when it can get extremely hot, you can give apples to them to prevent them from becoming dehydrated.
Can Baby Bearded Dragons Eat Apples?
Baby bearded dragons can eat apples, but only in moderation. While this fruit is healthy for them to eat, it doesn’t contain enough nutrients that they need to grow strong and healthy.
At this age, baby beardie grows very quickly. Due to their fast growth, they need food that has a lot of protein and calcium. For that reason, the majority of their diet should consist of insects and other live food. Live foods should be 70% of your baby beardie diet.
The rest should come from vegetables and a small amount of fruits. Vegetables that are great for baby beardie include acorn squash, collard greens, and yellow squash. These can be included in their diet daily.
As for apples, you can give them some, but only a very small amount of it. Cut the apple and only feed them the flesh. The size of the apple should be no larger than the distance between both of their eyes.
How To Feed Apples To Bearded Dragons
Before feeding apples to your bearded dragons, you’ll need to prepare them first. They are unable to eat the whole apple if you try to give them some.
First, pick the freshest apple and give it a good wash. This is to remove any pesticides and debris that may be on there.
Second, with a sharp knife, peel away the skin of the apple. Then cut the fruit in halves.
Third, remove the seeds and inner section of the apple. The seeds are toxic and can harm your beardie.
Last, cut the apple into small pieces. Each piece of the apple should be no larger than the distance between both of their eyes.
You can feed them just the apple or mix it with other fruits. Making a fruit salad is a great way to give your beardie a boost in nutrition.
How Often Can Bearded Dragons Eat Apples?
If you’re thinking of feeding apples to your bearded dragon, the answer is simple: not very often.
Most people have heard that apples are something dragons can eat, but they don’t know exactly how much or how often. The truth is that while apples aren’t harmful to your dragon, they aren’t the best food you can give them either. They are high in sugar which can cause health problems if fed too often.
It’s recommended to feed 10% of the total amount of fruit per week for adult bearded dragons. 80% should be from vegetables, while 10% should be from insects and other live foods.
Therefore, to ensure apples don’t cause your beardie any health problems, you can feed bearded dragons apples once a week.
Other Fruit That Bearded Dragons Can Eat
Mango
Bearded dragons are omnivorous reptiles that eat both plants and animals, which include mango. Mango is a delicious fruit and an excellent source of vitamins and minerals. As it is rich in vitamins, mango can increase stamina and also help your beardie maintain good health.
Honeydew
Bearded dragons can eat honeydew, it isn’t a good idea to give them too much of it due to its high sugar content which can lead to obesity and other health problems. You can feed your bearded dragon honeydew if you cut it into small pieces and mix it with other foods.
Cherries
Cherries are not poisonous for bearded dragons and will add some variety to their diet. Be careful when feeding your pet cherries because they can be toxic to them if eaten in excess. The pit of the cherry contains cyanide and it can cause serious damage to your bearded dragon’s liver, kidneys, and heart if consumed in large amounts or over an extended period of time.
Conclusion
Apple can be good food for bearded dragons. In fact, it is a great way to feed your pet as an occasional snack or as part of the daily diet. Bearded dragon owners should be careful not to overfeed them with apples since they do contain high sugar content, but as long as you keep the amount reasonable and as part of a balanced diet, feeding them apples can help keep your pet healthy and happy.
