There are a lot of fruits that bearded dragons can eat. As for papaya, you may wonder, can bearded dragons eat papaya?
So, can bearded dragons eat papaya? Yes, bearded dragons can eat papaya. The fruit is very nutritious and healthy to eat. However, papaya contains a high amount of water and sugar content. When it’s given to them in large amounts, it can be dangerous for them. Also, papaya doesn’t have a good ratio of calcium and phosphorus, which is not safe for them. To avoid any health issues arising, only feed papaya to your bearded dragon in moderation.
Is It Safe For Bearded Dragons To Eat Papaya?
Papaya itself doesn’t contain any toxins or any dangerous substances that could harm your bearded dragons.
However, papaya contains a high amount of phosphorus. This isn’t good for bearded dragons as it prevents calcium from being absorbed by the body. If the beardie doesn’t get enough calcium in their body each day, it could lead to metabolic bone disease (MBD).
As long as papaya is fed to them in moderation, the fruit is safe for them.
Health Benefits of Papaya for Bearded Dragons. Can bearded dragons eat papaya?
Papaya is loaded with vitamins and minerals. It’s a good source of fiber and vitamin C. Feeding them papaya has many health benefits for your bearded dragons.
One small papaya (152 grams) contains:
- Calories: 59
- Carbohydrates: 15 grams
- Fiber: 3 grams
- Protein: 1 gram
- Vitamin C: 157% of the RDI
- Vitamin A: 33% of the RDI
- Folate (vitamin B9): 14% of the RDI
- Potassium: 11% of the RDI
Source: USDA
Below are some health benefits of feeding papaya to your bearded dragons:
Prevent Illness
Papaya is a good source of vitamin C. This vitamin is important for a strong immune system. If the bearded dragons get plenty of food that has vitamin C, they will be less likely to become ill.
If they do become ill, providing them with a lot of vitamin C will help them recover from the illness quickly.
Good For Hydration
Papaya has a very high content of water. This will help keep your beardie hydrated, especially during the summer. Bearded dragons also need a good humidity.
Improves Digestion
Papaya has a good amount of fiber content. Fiber is important for the overall health of the digestive system.
Fiber is carbohydrates that cannot be absorbed by the body. Instead, it helps bulk up the stool and help move it smoothly through the digestive tract.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Papaya Seeds?
Yes, bearded dragons can eat the seeds of the papaya. The seed is edible and doesn’t contain any toxins.
Most beardie will not eat the seeds. They will simply go straight to the flesh, where it’s sweet and tasty for them.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Papaya Skin?
Bearded dragons can eat papaya skin. It is safe for them to eat as it doesn’t contain any toxins, and it’s soft for them to eat.
However, be aware of the source of the papaya. Most of them that are sold in the grocery stores will have chemicals such as pesticides and herbicides. These chemicals are used to help the plant grow and prevent pests from damaging the fruit.
The chemicals are usually concentrated in the skin of the papaya. Therefore, you’ve bought them from the grocery stores or don’t know the source of it, it’s better to peel away the skin.
On the other hand, if you’ve grown them yourselves without any use of chemicals or bought them where it’s grown organically, you can let your bearded dragons eat the skin as well.
Can bearded dragons eat papaya, how to feed them?
When it comes to feeding papaya to your bearded dragons, there are a couple of methods you can try.
The first method is to simply cut the fruit in halves and give them to your beardie. You can leave the skin attached. The beardie will eat the flesh, and they may eat the skin as well.
Another method is to cut the fruit into cubes or slice them. You can either give them the fruit as is or mix it with other fruits.
Mixing with other fruit is a great way to boost their nutrition. Make sure to cut a small amount of each fruit if you’re going to mix them together.
How Many Papayas To Feed Bearded Dragons?
When feeding papaya to your bearded dragons, it’s recommended to give them in small quantities. For an adult bearded dragon, you can give them a slice of the papaya. For baby bearded dragons, a tiny piece of the fruit is enough for them to enough.
How Often To Feed Papaya To Bearded Dragons?
Papaya should only be fed to your bearded dragons in moderation. The fruit doesn’t have a good ratio of calcium and phosphorus. Feeding them too much papaya could cause them to be calcium deficient.
To prevent any health issues, give your bearded dragons a small amount of papaya, once or twice per month.
Other Fruits That Bearded Dragons Can Eat
Banana
Bananas are nutrient-rich fruit and contain a lot of essential vitamins and minerals. It’s a good source of vitamin A, vitamin C, antioxidants, and fiver. However, bananas contain a lot of sugar as well. Too much sugar in their diet can cause your bearded dragons to become obese, have heart problems, and have liver damage. To prevent any health issues, it’s best to feed bananas to your bearded dragons in moderation.
Cantaloupe
Cantaloupe is a fruit that is sweet in taste with orange flesh. It makes a great treat for bearded dragons, especially during the summer months. Cantaloupe contains mostly water, which will keep them hydrated. In addition, it’s an excellent source of vitamin A and C.
Grapes
Grapes contain an abundance of nutrients that the bearded dragons require to stay healthy. However, grapes also contain a lot of water and sugar. Too much of both of these will harm the health of your beardie. For that reason, grapes should be fed to them in moderation.
Conclusion
Papaya has many essential nutrients that bearded dragons need to stay healthy. You should provide them with good food, they can also eat dried food. While the fruit is nutritious for them, papaya contains a high amount of phosphorus. This will cause the body to not be able to absorb the calcium that they need. For that reason, feed papaya to your bearded dragons in moderation. You may also wonder if chameleons can eat papaya, or if bearded dragons eat dandelions or aloe vera.