Can Bearded Dragons Eat Strawberries? When And How Much

bearded dragon

To grow and develop properly, Bearded Dragons need a proper, healthy diet. Their diet can consist of various fruits and veggies. But how can you tell which ones are safe and nutritious for them? For example, strawberries may be one of those fruits you find yourself asking, can Bearded Dragons eat strawberries?

Can Bearded Dragons Eat Strawberries -bearded dragon in it's habitat.

In this article, we’ll discuss whether Beardies can safely eat strawberries, the benefits of the fruits for your reptile, and the drawbacks of them eating this fruit.

What Is A Bearded Dragon?

A Bearded Dragon, affectionately known as a Beardie, is a reptile. There are eight different species of Bearded Dragons. They can grow up to 24 inches long and have an average lifespan of up to 15 years.

But where did Beardies come from? They originated in Australia and were brought over to the United States in the early 1990s. However, this reptile is highly popular in the UK. So if you decide to get one as a pet, it’s important to mimic their natural habitat as best as possible

For instance, Beardies need at least a 40-gallon terrarium with proper lighting and heating. For example, the Bearded Dragon requires a warm habitat during the day (about 75 to 85 degrees F) that’s slightly cooler at night (about 68 to 74 degrees F). In addition, they’ll appreciate a basking spot from a UV light in the tank that’s at least 100 degrees F.

The Bearded Dragon makes a wonderful pet. They’re low-maintenance, docile, and friendly. Beardies are sturdy reptiles that can thrive on proper care and dieting. So, can Bearded Dragons have strawberries? The answer is yes, but let’s learn more.

Check out this video that answers the question…Can Bearded Dragons Eat Strawberries:

https://youtu.be/2cRIwWKIE9w

What Do Strawberries Contain?

Strawberries are a well-loved fruit by many, and rightfully so. This berry packs a punch in nutritional value.

For instance, 3.5 grams of strawberries contain water, protein, fiber, vitamin C, vitamin B6 (folate), potassium, and manganese. In addition, they’re low in carbs. Therefore, these berries are made up of simple sugars but should not cause a spike in blood sugar levels.

Overall, strawberries promote the following health benefits:

  • Heart health
  • Regulates blood sugar
  • Prevents cancer

As you can see, there are a lot of benefits to eating strawberries for humans. So, can you feed Bearded Dragons strawberries?

Can Bearded Dragons Eat Strawberries?

The answer to whether or not you can feed your Bearded Dragon strawberries is yes.

However, it’s not as simple as that. Strawberries are nutritious but should only be given to your Beardie in moderation.

One reason is that fruit should only be about 10% of your Bearded Dragon’s diet. The other 80% to 90% should be made up of leaves and flowers. This is partly because this reptile has unique dietary needs in which they require a high calcium intake.

However, this doesn’t mean you can’t feed your Bearded Dragon strawberries. If you want to see if your Beardie likes strawberries, be sure to talk to their vet about it first.

Can Baby Bearded Dragons Eat Strawberries?

Strawberries are not toxic to baby Beardies. So, if they happen to get a little piece, it’ll be okay.

However, feeding strawberries to your baby Bearded Dragon is not recommended. Baby Beardies are prone to calcium deficiency, and strawberries may add to possible health conditions later in life.

Can Bearded Dragons Eat Strawberry Tops?

Yes, Bearded Dragons can eat strawberry tops. However, the top and the rest of the strawberries should also be given in moderation.

Beardies can eat the leaves of the strawberries in moderation as well.

Can Bearded Dragons Eat Strawberry Leaves?

Similar to the strawberry tops, you can also give your Bearded Dragon the leaves.

Bearded Dragons shouldn’t eat the strawberry leaves all the time, similar to the tops and the fruit itself, but adding a little green to their diet once in a while won’t hurt.

Can Bearded Dragons Eat Strawberry Seeds?

Unlike most other fruits, your Bearded Dragon can certainly eat strawberry seeds.

Since these seeds are so small and you should only give your Bearded Dragon strawberries in small amounts at a time, the seeds should be no problem for your Bearded Dragon to consume.

Are Strawberries Good For Bearded Dragons?

The short answer is yes; strawberries are good for Bearded Dragons. However, they need to be given in small amounts and in moderation.

If your Beardie eats too much strawberry, then the health benefits might backfire and cause your reptile to get sick.

Can Strawberries Be Bad For Bearded Dragons?

Yes, strawberries can be bad for Bearded Dragons, especially if they eat too much of this fruit.

If you’re unsure whether you should feed this berry to your Bearded Dragon or if you’re uncertain how much to give them, then discuss it with your reptile’s vet.

Benefits And Problems With Bearded Dragons And Strawberries

strawberries

As with most human foods, strawberries can have pros and cons for your Bearded Dragon. Overall, strawberries can have nutritional benefits for your reptile, but it’s not much. So, let’s discuss those first.

Strawberries Are Rich In Vitamin C

Vitamin C does a lot for your Beardie’s growth and development. For instance, this vitamin strengthens their immune, vision, and reproduction systems.

Strawberries Contain Antioxidants

Antioxidants help prevent damage to your Beardie’s cells caused by free radicals. For instance, antioxidants can help stave off cancer and other diseases your reptile could get.

Strawberries Have A High Water Content

When it comes to keeping your Bearded Dragon hydrated, you should always leave a bowl of fresh water for them.

However, strawberries have high water content. So, they’ll receive some moisture from the fruit itself.

High water content can also be a drawback of feeding this fruit to your reptile. However, Bearded Dragons are used to being dehydrated from their origin in the wild in Australia.

Also, overhydration can cause dehydration, which can mess up their digestive system and cause diarrhea.

With that said, let’s look at some more drawbacks of giving your Bearded Dragon strawberries.

Strawberries Have Lots Of Sugar

Too much sugar isn’t good for anyone, and it certainly isn’t good for your reptile.

If your Beardie consumes too many strawberries, all that sugar will surely add up. For example, a lot of sugar in your Bearded Dragon’s system could lead to the following issues:

  • Tooth decay
  • Liver disease
  • Diabetes
  • Obesity
  • Heart failure

Strawberries Contain More Phosphorous Than Calcium

Bearded Dragons need more calcium than phosphorous. However, in strawberries, the ratio is the opposite. 

Beardies require a high calcium intake to ensure their bones are growing and developing correctly. In fact, if you and your vet feel like they’re not getting enough calcium, Bearded Dragons can have calcium supplements.

Phosphorous prevents calcium from being absorbed into their system. So, a little phosphorous isn’t bad for them, but too much can have dire consequences. 

For instance, without the proper calcium intake, Beardies can develop Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD), which warps their bones and may cause them to be paralyzed. 

Strawberries May Be A Choking Hazard

Finally, strawberries can be a choking hazard. This is why you want to cut the berry into small pieces when preparing this fruit for your Beardie.

Bearded Dragons have teeth but grab their food with their tongues. So, you want to make sure your reptile can easily grab the fruit and put it into its mouth safely.

In addition, strawberries are a slippery fruit. So, if they accidentally swallow a piece, you want to make sure it’s small enough to go down on its own.

For a quick look at the benefits and drawbacks, you can take a look at the table below.

Benefits of feeding strawberries to Bearded DragonsDrawbacks of feeding strawberries to Bearded Dragons
Rich in vitamin cChoking hazard
Contains antioxidantsIt contains a lot of sugar
High in water contentMay cause overhydration and dehydration
It contains more phosphorous than calcium

How Often Can Bearded Dragons Have Strawberries?

Bearded Dragon

Now that we know the pros and cons of feeding strawberries to your Beardie, It’s recommended to feed them strawberries no more than once a month. However, with the okay from your vet, you can provide them with a strawberry once every two weeks.

In addition, you can feed pieces of a strawberry to your reptile rather than a whole strawberry at once.

The number of strawberries and how often you give them to your Beardie will also depend on the other types of fruits and vegetables you feed your reptile on a daily basis.

Overall, discuss it with your vet, and they’ll be able to tell you how often your Beardie can have this berry.

How To Prepare Bearded Dragon Strawberries

Do Bearded Dragons eat strawberries? It all depends on your Beardie’s taste. It’s safe for them in small amounts, but your reptile might not like the fruit.

With your vet’s approval, you can see if your reptile friend will enjoy a strawberry occasionally.

When preparing this berry for Bearded Dragons, head to the store first and buy organic strawberries. Organic will ensure that the fruit is grown without using pesticides.

Alternatively, you can grow strawberries yourself to give to your reptile.

No matter where you get the strawberries from, you’ll first want to wash the berry thoroughly. Rinsing the fruit will remove any dirt or parasites that may be lurking on the strawberry.

Then, you’ll want to use a knife and cutting board to cut the strawberry into bite-sized pieces. The small pieces will allow your Bearded Dragon to grab the fruit with their tongue and eat it easily.

You can feed your Beardie small pieces of a strawberry as a snack or as part of their meal, but it shouldn’t be a daily habit. In addition, you can give them half a strawberry instead of a full one.

If your Beardie is curious about their food, you can also give them the strawberry top or leaves to see if they like that as well.

Conclusion

Can a Bearded Dragon eat strawberries? Yes, they can. Should they eat strawberries? That’s a conversation between you and your vet.

You’ll want to ensure your Beardie doesn’t have any underlying health issues. In addition, it’ll be up to your reptile whether they enjoy the taste or not.

However, strawberries are not only delicious but also contain a lot of nutritional value. However, too many of those nutrients can backfire, making your reptile friend sick.

So, you can certainly give this tasty fruit to your Beardie as a snack or part of a meal once in a while. Your Bearded Dragon will most likely love the flavor.

Also, find our guide to whether bearded dragons can eat grapeskale, and the best fruits for bearded dragons or learn exactly what not to feed bearded dragons here. You can read more about Bearded Dragons here.

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