Bearded dragons are a type of lizard that is often kept as a pet. They have a long lifespan, and they’re fairly easy to take care of. In addition to the dietary needs that bearded dragons require for optimal health, their environment also plays an important role. Have you ever wondered, can bearded dragons eat pumpkin?
Yes, bearded dragons can eat pumpkins. This vegetable is high in fiber and low in fat and protein. It’s also a good source of potassium, folate, vitamin A and vitamin C. Pumpkins are high in water. Eating too much pumpkin can lead to diarrhea and other digestive issues.
Is It Safe For Bearded Dragons To Eat Pumpkins?
Yes, it is perfectly safe for your bearded dragon to eat pumpkin! In fact, it is an excellent source of fiber and vitamins for your bearded dragon.
Many people choose not to feed their bearded dragons pumpkin due to the high amount of sugar content in it and the fact that it can cause diarrhea in some cases. However, this only happens when there is too much pumpkin offered at once or if your bearded dragon has a sensitive stomach (which may be more common in younger dragons).
If you are going to feed your bearded dragon pumpkin, then make sure that he/she doesn’t overeat. Offer only as much as they need and remove any leftovers after 15 minutes or so.
Benefits Of Feeding Pumpkins To Bearded Dragons
Feeding your bearded dragon pumpkin is a great way to add some variety to your bearded dragon diet.
Here are some benefits of feeding pumpkins to your bearded dragon:
Fiber – Fiber helps with digestion by acting as a sponge for toxins in the intestines and colon. It also helps prevent hairballs from forming in the stomach and intestines by absorbing excess water from fecal matter.
Vitamins – Pumpkin contains vitamin A which helps keep eyesight sharp and healthy as well as provides protection against infections. Vitamin C helps support the immune system by fighting off colds and infections while also promoting healthy skin cell growth. Vitamin K promotes blood clotting which helps protect against bleeding out if injured during shedding or fighting with other dragons.
Can Baby Bearded Dragons Eat Pumpkins?
Pumpkins are a vegetable that can be consumed by baby bearded dragons, but they should only eat them in moderation. At this age, baby bearded dragons need to consume mostly insects for their diet, but occasionally vegetables can be added to their diet as well.
However, the pumpkin needs to be cooked first until it is soft before feeding it to your dragon. You can also feed your dragon pumpkin that has been pureed into a soup or stew since these dishes will contain less fiber than eating the whole squash.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Pumpkin Seeds?
Many people ask if bearded dragons can eat pumpkin seeds. In general, though, they should not be eaten by bearded dragons.
Pumpkin seeds are high in fat content, which is harmful to bearded dragons when consumed in large quantities as they could cause malnutrition or even death.
In addition, pumpkin seeds are hard, which makes it difficult for them to eat and digest.
Therefore, it’s best to avoid giving your beardie any pumpkin seeds.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Pumpkin Leaves?
Pumpkin leaves are not the best food for bearded dragons because they don’t have much nutritional value. However, they can be given occasionally as part of a varied diet.
In addition, pumpkin leaves can cause intestinal problems in bearded dragons if you feed them too much or too often.
How To Feed Pumpkins To Bearded Dragons
When it comes to feeding them pumpkins, make sure that it’s fresh. This will ensure that it has the highest amount of nutrition. Below are the steps to preparing and feeding pumpkin to your beardie:
Step 1: Cut the pumpkin into slices or wedges. Bearded dragons love to eat the pulp inside of pumpkins, so cut out the seeds and the hard outer shell.
Step 2: Then place the pieces of pumpkin into their bowl for them to eat. If you are serving it cooked, then you can skip this step.
Step 3: Put your pumpkin in a pot filled with water and cook it until tender. You may want to cut up some carrots as well and cook them at the same time so that they are soft enough for your lizard to chew on easily after they eat their pumpkin treat.
How Often Can Bearded Dragons Eat Pumpkins?
Pumpkins can be fed to bearded dragons as a treat once or twice per week. You should never feed your bearded dragon more than 10% of their daily food intake in one sitting, so if you feed them 1/4 cup of pumpkin, it would be okay to feed them up to 1/2 cup at once.
Feeding your beardie too many pumpkins too often will result in them developing health issues.
Conclusion
Pumpkins are full of nutrients that are safe for bearded dragons to eat. The best way to feed your pet pumpkin is to bake or boil it until it is soft, puree it, and then feed the puree in small amounts to your lizard. Bearded dragons should not eat pumpkin that has seeds in them because the seeds can cause an intestinal blockage. Your bearded dragon may also not eat pumpkins in large quantities because they can cause intestinal cramping.
