Having a bearded dragon as a pet at your home is unique and taking care of their needs is essential for their health and well-being. If you want your bearded dragon to be as healthy and happy as possible, diet is crucial. Like humans and other living things, your bearded dragon needs various essential nutrients in its diet for optimal health. Naturally, you might have some queries about what they can and cannot eat, including different fruits like apples.
The diet of bearded dragons can be composed of 10 to 20% of fruits. However, it would be best if you were very careful about the fruit portion of the bowel. Most of the fruits contain many carbohydrates, water, and other elements, which in excess can be a lot harmful to your little friend. For a complete understanding of a bearded dragon’s diet, you need to know the correct balance of portions to better play with the food contents, not to take any individual component to dangerous levels.
This article will discuss individually the apple, its nutrition content, the safety profile for bearded dragons, and how you can feed it to yo little beardie. So, continue reading till the very end and know everything before feeding this delicious fruit to your bearded dragon.
Table of Contents
Can Your Bearded Dragon Eat Apples?
Here are lavish red apples in front of you, and you are wondering if you can let your bearded dragon enjoy this luxury. So, here we come with the answer:
Yes, apples can be included in the diet of bearded dragons. You can apples have up to 5g per week for your bearded dragon.
However, when you decide to add apples in the salad bowl of your bearded dragon, there are a few things you need to consider;
- Never feed a lot at one time. Too many apples can be harmful to your bearded dragon. In fact, in the increased quantity, the risk outweighs the benefits. We will discuss that in the following sections in detail.
- Never feed in big chunks, or it has a high chance of choking your little friend. Bearded dragons are not very good food chewers, so you need to be very careful in this case.
So, now you must have understood that apples are not the staple food for bearded dragons. Although they are highly nutritious and just enough quantity can do wonders to a bearded dragon, their safety profile is moderate. It would be best if you were careful about the amount you will feed to your beardie. These are a delicious sweet treat that your bearded dragon love. You can give it to build an appetite or reward for the excellent behavior of your little friend.
Too many apples can cause severe gastrointestinal problems. So, you better avoid it even though your little one loves it. After all, that is for its own good!
Now, let’s discuss the advantages and disadvantages of having apples in the diet of your little beardie—moreover, all the other factors related to this delicious fruit that must be considered while feeding them.
Nutrition In Apples:
Apples contain several essential nutrients and potent plant compounds that benefit the health of bearded dragons. Apples are a healthy choice and make an excellent treat for bearded dragons. It is also one of the most easily digestible sources of iron. Apples are packed with a variety of vitamins and minerals. 100 gm apples contain the following nutrition values:
Now, if we a deeper look into mineral and vitamin content, we have:
| Contents | Quantity |
|---|---|
|
Vitamin A |
1% |
|
Vitamin C |
7% |
|
Magnesium |
1% |
|
Sodium |
1mg |
|
Potassium |
107mg |
Benefits Of The Apple Diet
Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of feeding your bearded dragon apples:
Maintain GIT Health:
Apples help in the proper digestion of food. The constituents in apples play a vital role in maintaining the health of the gut. It helps to prevent multiple stomach problems in bearded dragons such as gastritis. Primarily green apples are known best to help the bearded dragons maintain a proper digestive system. It goes without saying that most of the health-related problems in bearded dragons are related to their GIT. If you succeed in taking care of your little friend’s gut, you will be able to protect it from life threatening infections.
Fibers Are Necessary:
If you peel the apple skin before feeding it to your bearded dragon, it has just the right amount of fibers in it. These fibers help improve the mobility of GIT, thus prevent any chance of ulceration and constipation. So, it is the best diet remedy for constipation in bearded dragons. However, it would be best if you always were very careful about the number of fibers you are feeding your dragon. Never provide more than one or two-component rich in fiber in a single time.
If you are interested in looking into fiber-rich foods for the bearded dragon, you may look into broccoli, celery, parsley, etc
Moreover, avoid fiber-rich foods when your beardie is suffering from diarrhea. Consuming fibers in diarrhea can worsen the situation a lot. So, be careful while feeding fibers and their proportion.
Moreover, fibers, when given in excess to even a healthy adult dragon, can cause severe diarrhea. So, always keep its amount under check to have the benefit instead of a loss.
Bone Development:
It may seem surprising, but some animal studies have proven that apples have a visible role in healthy bone development in animals. So, yeah, if you are careful with the quantity, then these delicious treats can become beneficial for growing beardies. However, we suggest avoiding apples in bearded dragons for up to 4 months to prevent stressing the body’s metabolism with carbohydrate overload.
Decrease Tail Rot:
One of the most common problems that most bearded dragon owners complain about is their bearded dragon’s tail rot. Tail rot is not only observed in the duration of shedding but also during other times of the year. Apple is one of the magical fruit that prevents the chances of tail rot in bearded dragons.
Cardiovascular Health.
Apples lower the cholesterol levels in the blood. Many scientific pieces of research prove that plant chemicals present in apples prevent ischemic attacks. Moreover, it also plays a significant role in preventing thromboembolism. Apples are highly beneficial in preventing any damage to blood vessels and the heart.
Potassium:
Potassium is essential to maintain the normal blood pressure of the body of bearded dragons. It helps in the regulation of normal contraction of heart muscles. It also plays an essential role in maintaining the nervous system and the muscular system in the body of reptiles.
Antioxidant Source:
Apples contain unique antioxidant, which prevents cell destruction and inflammation.
Remember, antioxidants are compulsory for any living being. Hundreds and thousands of free radicals generate every day that has the highest potential to weaken the immune system and cause cancer. Antioxidants fight with these malicious agents and deactivate them. So, your bearded dragon needs an adequate amount of antioxidants in the diet to maintain a healthy immune system. However, unfortunately, bearded dragons cannot have most of the fruits rich ins antioxidants such as lime, oranges, etc.
So, you need to look for other sources of antioxidants, including vitamin C and E. These can be found in raspberries, cantaloupe, parsley, celery, etc. Other than raspberry, none of them has an adequate concentration on its own. You need to combine fruits and vegetables with sufficient vitamin C and E content in one salad bowl. Make sure you avoid any unripe or sour fruit as a source of vitamin C for your beardie. It will do more harm than good.
Good Hydration:
With its adequate water content, the apple stands out to be an ideal hydrating source for bearded dragons. Most of the bearded dragons don’t like drinking from the water container. So, they start getting dehydrated. The best way to avoid this is to include water-rich sources like parsley, broccoli, etc., in the bearded dragon’s diet. However, make sure that you never overdo it. An excess of water is the most significant cause of diarrhea in pet beardie. It can then cause dehydration and electrolyte imbalance.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are one of the essential energy sources for all living beings. It will help your beardie to maintain its strength and do not lay down with fatigue. Precisely these are energy boosters. It will help them move around quickly. However, unlike other fruits, apples contain a perfect proportion of carbohydrates. Mind that an excess of carbohydrate can cause severe diarrhea to your bearded dragon. Moreover, it can also cause obesity and diabetes. That is why we need to take a lot of care while feeding fruits to our bearded dragon. Let us compare the carbohydrate contents of the most common fruits available for bearded dragons:
So, now you can have a better idea of which fruit best suit your situation
How Many Apples Can Bearded Dragon Have In A Week?
Apples contain a lot of valuable nutrients and minerals that are beneficial for health. So, bearded dragons can take apples in their diet.
The amount of apples fed to a bearded dragon depends on its overall health.
If your pet is excellent and does not have any health issues such as diabetes, then it can have pieces of apples once a week. You can feed your bearded dragon apples occasionally, and only a tiny amount should be given.
For a healthy bearded dragon, you may assume the quantity to be as close to half a medium to a thin slice of apple at one time. Never feed a lot in one go. For best results, go once a week with a small quantity every time.
Remember that if your bearded dragon is suffering from diabetes, the inclusion of fruits in your diet will exacerbate the situation. So, better avoid apples in diabetic beardies along with other fruits.
Way Of Feeding Apple Diet To Bearded Dragons
Following are the steps you need to ensure before feeding apples to your bearded dragon:
- Bearded dragons are too little, and they have a small mouth. So, apples should be cut into small pieces to feed them.
- Buying fresh apples from the market should be preferred. It is also encouraged to purchase organic fruits and vegetables for bearded dragons.
- Before providing, apples have to be washed.
- The apples should be cut into pieces of bite sizes.
- Make sure to peel the apple and take the skin off completely. They cannot digest the skin of apples, and it can harm their health.
- When your dragon is eating an apple for the first time, watch them closely to prevent or detect any risk.
- Apples can also be given after mixed with other vegetables or alone.
Pro Tip!
Bearded dragon loves sweet things. Moreover, they are very picky eaters. So, if your beardie is resisting the boring bowl of salad, you may top it up with small chunks of apples to make it more appealing for your bearded dragon. Better spread it on top to let your friend have the juicy flavor, which will motivate it to finish the whole meal.
Health-Related Risks For Bearded Dragon In Apple Diet
- Apples are rich in sugar, meaning that if your dragon consumes a high quantity, it can harm your dragon.
- Apple seeds contain cyanide, a potent poison. Thus eating too many apple seeds could be fatal. Besides, because apples are relatively acidic, they could be damaging to teeth. Feeding apples to bearded dragons throughout the day is detrimental, while eating just before mealtimes is good. Eating apples in excess amount can also lead to weight gain. Prolonged sugar can also cause cardiovascular risks.
- They may cause dehydration in bearded dragons. Dehydration is one of the most severe issues in the bearded dragon. It is related to the excretion of water through stools from the body and decreased water intake.
- Apples can cause stomach problems such as diarrhea. Apples are rich in fiber and water content. Both of these components in excess can cause severe diarrhea and loose, watery stools. Diarrhea in bearded dragons causes severe dehydration and also severe electrolyte imbalance. The situation can worsen to the extent that it can become hazardous for your beardie.
- They can develop diabetes and fatty liver disease as it contains a lot more sugars and calories. This amount of sugar content can affect the metabolism and cause various illnesses related to indigestion and water loss. Moreover, it can also cause obesity, fatty liver, tooth and gum decay, and even diabetes. These situations can also worsen and become fatal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Apples Bearded Dragons Can Eat And Which Cannot?
Do not feed apples to your dragon until it is older than six months. Your bearded dragon needs a lot more protein at this stage. When more old than six months, they can eat apple leaves, green apples, Granny Smith apples, and drink apple juice. But they cannot eat apples with skin and seeds.
Which Color Apples Are Good For Bearded Dragons?
Beaded dragons can eat red as well as green apples. Green apples are a little bit rich in iron and potassium as compared to red apples. Remember to remove the skin of both colors before feeding them.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Apple Peels Too?
Humans can quickly eat apple peels, but the same is not valid for bearded dragons. Apple peels are hard for them to chew and digest ad peels can also contain pesticides and hazardous chemicals. These chemicals can put the health of dragons in danger. So apples should be carefully unpeeled before feeding them.
Can We Also Feed Apple Seeds To Bearded Dragons?
Apple seeds contain some toxic chemicals. The dragons are also not able to chew the seeds and thus can cause choking. So, it is not recommended to feed apple seeds to your beardie along with small pieces. Carefully remove all the seeds of apples before feeding them to your dragon.
Conclusion
Apples are a healthy diet for bearded dragons as long as they occasionally take them in required amounts. They are feeding more apples than needed can also have side effects described above. These effects can worsen if your bearded dragon is overweight because they contain many calories and sugars. To be on the safer side, use apples once weekly and without seeds.
I hope this article proves useful for you, and now you understand how much apples can be given to bearded dragons.
I am a graduate of a veterinary university. Dealing with all the kinds of pets from the dawn to dusk, it’s like understanding their language. That is the best time ever, I must say!
Writing has always been my orphenadrine. I love to share my experience and talk about the most common issues people have been facing with their pets. My writing career began in 2015. I aimed to work for pets to share my experience and make pet humans relation a lot better. I usually talk about the most significant or recurrent cases of the day. During my practice at pet centre, I face a lot of questions by pet owners. Moreover, I also own a variety of pets myself including different species of mammals, birds and reptiles.
Therefore, I have decided to educate all the pet owners about their little friends who can’t talk the way we do. Understanding what they are telling us is all we need to do. And most of us fail to perceive.
So, I am here to serve the purpose. Let’s help each other in better understanding the needs, behaviours, and problems of our best friends with the best possible solutions!
