This fruit makes a tasty treat during the summer months. It has a lot of water and packed with nutrition. For humans, watermelon is safe to eat, but what about bearded dragons? Can bearded dragons eat watermelon too?
Can bearded dragons eat watermelon? Yes, bearded dragons can eat watermelon. This fruit is packed with nutrition. Due to them being high in water content and not much nutrition that can benefit bearded dragons, it should be given to them in moderation.
Is It Safe For Bearded Dragons To Eat Watermelon?
Watermelon is safe for bearded dragons to eat. It doesn’t contain any toxins that could harm them.
However, watermelon is high in water content, consisting of about 92% water. Too much water can harm the bearded dragons.
Health Benefits of Watermelon for Bearded Dragons
Watermelon is packed with water and nutrients, contains few calories, and refreshing. For bearded dragons, they can benefit from the nutrients that this fruit has.
The nutrients in 2/3 cup (100 grams) of raw watermelon are:
- Calories: 30
- Water: 91%
- Protein: 0.6 grams
- Carbs: 7.6 grams
- Sugar: 6.2 grams
- Fiber: 0.4 grams
- Fat: 0.2 grams
- Vitamin C: 21% of the RDI
- Vitamin A: 18% of the RDI
- Potassium: 5% of the RDI
- Magnesium: 4% of the RDI
- Vitamins B1, B5, and B6: 3% of the RDI
The above data is from the USDA
Vitamin C and beta-carotene – These nutrients help strengthen the bearded dragon’s immune system.
Not only that, vitamin C and beta-carotene help improve vision, reproduction, and growth.
Fiber – Fiber is vital for the digestive system. A bearded dragon that gets enough fiber in their system will help improve their digestive system and prevent issues.
Also, it will help prevent constipation. This will help move food through their digestive tract smoothly.
Can Baby Bearded Dragons Eat Watermelon?
Yes, you can feed watermelon to baby bearded dragons, but in small quantities. They will typically eat anything that you give them, but since watermelon is loaded with sugar and high in water content, it could cause them health issues.
Give them a small piece of the watermelon with the seeds removed. Avoid giving them too much, or they’ll get addicted to the sweet-tasting fruit and stop eating their staple foods.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Watermelon Rind?
It’s safe to feed watermelon rind to your bearded dragon. Make sure to cut them into small pieces, so it will be easier for them to eat them.
Also, shave off the outer green part of the watermelon. That part tends to be too tough for the beardie to eat.
Before feeding the watermelon rind to them, make sure to wash it thoroughly first. You’ll want to remove dirt and other debris before giving it to your bearded dragon.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Watermelon Seeds?
Bearded dragons can eat the watermelon seeds, but only the white seeds. The white seeds are soft and edible and won’t cause any harm to the beardie.
On the other hand, the dark-colored seeds are tough and should not be given to the bearded dragon. It could cause a choking hazard for them as it may get stuck in the throat. Also, it may cause digestive issues for them.
When feeding the watermelon, make sure to remove all the seeds first.
How To Feed Watermelon To Bearded Dragons
When it comes to feeding watermelon to your bearded dragons, you have two options. You can either feed them seeded or seedless melon. Both are fine for them to eat, but you need to remove the seeds first.
While their mouth is big enough, the seeds could get stuck in their throat. This will cause them to choke on it or suffer from gut impaction if the seeds are swallowed.
Once the seeds are all removed from the fruit, slice the melon into small pieces. Cut off the rind and feed them the pink and red flesh.
Another way to give them a nutritional boost is to create a fruit salad. Besides watermelon, you can add apples, cantaloupe, mango, and papaya to the salad. Make sure to cut them into
How Many Watermelons Can a Bearded Dragon Eat?
Watermelon contains a good amount of nutrition, but you should only feed them to your bearded dragon in small quantities. A slice of watermelon is enough for them to enjoy.
For baby bearded dragons, a small piece of the watermelon can be fed to them.
For an adult bearded dragon, you can give them a slice of watermelon. Make sure to cut the fruit into small sizes. It should be no larger than the length between their eyes.
You’ll want to avoid feeding them too much as the watermelon could cause them to have digestive issues. Too much of this fruit could lead to diarrhea and an upset stomach.
How Often To Feed Watermelon To Bearded Dragons?
Consisting of about 92% water, watermelon makes an excellent source of hydration. It also means that the nutrients in this fruit aren’t that much to meet the bearded dragon’s nutrition needs.
For that reason, bearded dragons can eat a few small pieces of watermelon once a month.
In limited amounts, watermelon can give the beardie a boost in nutrition. They are going to enjoy eating it due to the sweet taste of it. But it’s important to not give them too much, or you’ll risk them having digestive issues.
Other Fruits That Bearded Dragons Can Eat
Apples
Apples are a good source of fiber, antioxidants, vitamin C, and many other nutrients. This fruit makes a great treat for feeding your bearded dragons. Due to their high amount of water content, apples should be given to them in moderation. A small slice of apple, once or twice per week is generally enough for them.
Grapes
The grape makes a good treat for your bearded dragons. It’s nutrient-dense and very tasty for them to eat. However, due to the oxalate that’s in the grapes, it should be fed to them occasionally. Oxalate binds to minerals such as calcium. When bearded dragons eat too many grapes, the body will not be able to absorb the calcium into their body.
Kiwi Fruit
Kiwi makes a good treat for bearded dragons. This tropical fruit is high in vitamin C which the beardie needs plenty of each day. While it’s packed with vitamin C and other nutrition, it’s also has a decent amount of oxalate as well. Oxalate binds to calcium and prevents it from being absorbed by the body. Therefore, its kiwi should be fed to them on occasion, which means once or twice per month.
Conclusion
Watermelon makes a tasty and healthy snack for bearded dragons, but too much of it can be bad for them. This fruit has too much water content which will cause digestive issues for them if they eat too much of it. To prevent any problem, feed your bearded dragons a small piece of watermelon, once or twice per week.
