Bearded dragons are usually pretty easy to take care of, but there are some things that you should be aware of when it comes to feeding them. As for kiwi fruit, you may be wondering if your beardie can eat them.
So, can bearded dragons eat kiwi? Yes, bearded dragons can eat kiwi. The fruit is high in nutrition that can benefit your beardie in many ways. It’s a good source of antioxidants, calcium, fiber, and vitamin C. Due to the fruit containing a moderate amount of oxalic acid, kiwi should only be fed to them in small amounts, once or twice per month.
However, it’s not as simple as dropping a kiwi in your dragon’s tank and waiting for it to chow down. There are a few things to consider when introducing new foods into your pet’s diet, especially if she hasn’t eaten them before.
Is It Safe For Bearded Dragons To Eat Kiwi?
Kiwi is safe for bearded dragons to eat if they are fed in moderation.
When bearded dragons eat too much of the kiwi fruit, it can harm their health. This is due to the oxalic acid that is found in the fruit.
Like phosphorous, oxalic acid prevents calcium from being absorbed into the bloodstream. Over time, it can lead to metabolic bone disease.
Therefore, to prevent the metabolic bone disease from happening to your beardie, feed a small amount of kiwi to them, once or twice per month.
Is It Healthy For Bearded Dragons To Eat Kiwi?
What you should know about kiwi is that it’s very nutritious. Kiwi actually contains a lot of vitamin C, B1, and B2. If your bearded dragon has an appetite for fruit, then you should consider feeding them this fruit, as it is healthy for them.
Nutrition Facts
One kiwifruit, about 69 grams (g) contains the following:
- 42 calories (cal)
- 215 milligrams (mg) of potassium
- 1 g of dietary fiber
- 8 g of protein
- 23 mg of calcium
- 64 mg of vitamin C
- 2 g of sugar
- 1 mg of vitamin E
- 8 micrograms (mcg) of vitamin K
- 7 mg of magnesium
- 60 international units (IU) of vitamin A
- 17 mcg of folate
Source: USDA
Below are some of the health benefits of feeding kiwi to your bearded dragons:
Aids Digestion
Kiwi contains a good amount of fiber, which is important for the digestive system. Fiber helps aid in digestion by bulking up the stool. This will make the food they eat move smoothly thoroughly in the digestive tract.
Boost Immune System
Kiwi is one of the fruits that has a very high amount of vitamin C. This vitamin will boost the immune system of your beardie if they eat kiwi.
When your beardie has a strong immune system, they will be less likely to become ill.
Prevent Illness and Diseases
Kiwi has a good amount of antioxidants. This compound helps prevent damages to the cells from free radicals.
Without antioxidants to keep free radicals under control in the body, it can lead to illness and disease.
Can Baby Bearded Dragons Eat Kiwi?
Kiwi should not be fed to baby bearded dragons. The fruit isn’t food that will benefit them. While it contains a good amount of nutrition, kiwi doesn’t have enough of it to support the growth of your baby beardie.
Baby bearded dragons require a lot of protein in their diet to support their fast health. This means live food should make up 80% of their diet, while 20% comes from vegetables.
Instead of kiwi, you should feed them other healthy food that will help them grow healthy and strong. This can include bell peppers, acorn squash, and yellow squash.
However, if you have some leftover kiwi, you can give them some, but only a tiny piece.
How To Feed Kiwi To Bearded Dragons
Feeding kiwi fruit to your bearded dragons is pretty straightforward. All you need to do is prepare the fruit first. Below are the steps to preparing kiwi for your bearded dragons to eat.
- Choose a kiwi that is ripe, since it’s full of nutrition and easy for them to eat.
- Wash the kiwi thoroughly to remove any debris that may be on there.
- With a sharp knife, slice the peel away or cut the fruit in halves and scoop out the green fruit. The peels are too tough and pose a choking hazard for your beardie.
- Cut the kiwi into small pieces. It should be no larger than the space between both of their eyes.
- Place the kiwi into their bowl and give it to them. You can also make a healthy and nutritious salad by mixing the kiwi with other fruits and even vegetables too.
How Often Can Bearded Dragons Eat Kiwi?
Kiwi can be fed to your bearded dragons, once or twice a month. Any more than that, it could cause harm to them.
Kiwi contains oxalic acid, which binds to calcium in food. This will prevent the calcium from being absorbed into the body. Over time, it can lead to metabolic bone disease if your beardie has a calcium deficiency.
Other Fruits That Bearded Dragons Can Eat
Honeydew
Bearded dragons love honeydew, and it contains a lot of nutrition. You should only give them honeydew in moderation, since it is very high in sugar and can lead to health problems if fed too much.
Mango
Bearded dragons can eat mango. You will need to make sure the fruit is free of pesticides and wash it before giving it to your lizard. You should avoid overfeeding this fruit to your pet since it contains a very high amount of sugar.
Papaya
Bearded dragons love to eat papaya. However, they need to be sure it is ripe first. Also, papaya has a lot of vitamin C and other nutrients that bearded dragons need to stay healthy, so you should definitely include this fruit in their diet.
Conclusion
Kiwi may be small, but it has a lot of nutrition. While bearded dragons can eat kiwi, there are a few things to consider before offering it as food. First, it’s very easy for bearded dragons to overconsume this fruit, so care should be taken that they don’t eat too much at once. Secondly, kiwi contains a high amount of oxalic acid, which is harmful to them in a large amount. To ensure they don’t get sick from eating kiwi, feed your bearded dragon a small amount, once or twice a month, to help keep them healthy and happy!
