Bearded Dragons are lizards native to Australia that make wonderful pets.
If you’re new to owning a Bearded Dragon, you might be wondering: Are Bearded Dragons allowed to eat blueberries?
In this article, I will cover some key information on Bearded Dragons eating fruit, including whether they can eat blueberries.
Without further ado, let’s get into it.
Bearded Dragons are very social animals and enjoy being around other reptiles.
They also love to play and interact with their owners.
Blueberries are delicious fruits that come from North America.
They are high in antioxidants and contain lots of fiber, and are noted as a superfood for humans.
But, what about reptiles?
Are Bearded Dragons Allowed To Eat Blueberries?
Bearded Dragons are omnivores, and they can eat almost anything.
Bearing this in mind, Bearded Dragons are allowed to eat blueberries.
Blueberries are not toxic for Bearded Dragons, though they do contain naturally occurring sugar, so they should only be given to your pet in moderation.
That being said, there are a few checks that you will need to make before you feed them to your Beardie.
Firstly, you will need to check that the blueberries are free from mold.
If they have any signs of mold on them, then it is best to avoid giving them to your Bearded Dragon, as this can make them feel unwell.
Secondly, make sure that the blueberries are free from pesticides.
You should only feed your Bearded Dragon organic blueberries, as washing your fruit is never 100% effective for removing all pesticide residues.
Pesticides can be harmful to your Bearded Dragon’s health and could end in a visit to the veterinarian if you’re not careful.
Thirdly, you will need to make sure that the blueberries in question are within their “sell by” date.
It’s not worth the risk of giving your Bearded Dragon blueberries that are past best.
After all, your pet’s health should come above them trying a new snack!
Do Bearded Dragons Like Fruit?
Yes, fruit is very sweet, making it an enjoyable food for Bearded Dragons.
However, fruit should only be provided to your bearded dragon as a treat every now and again.
This comes down to the fact that fruit is packed full of naturally occurring sugars.
Despite the fact that fruit is considered healthy, it’s not good for your Bearded Dragon to eat fruit on a regular basis or as part of their everyday diet.
This is because this could lead to an array of health conditions, including obesity as well as diabetes.
The fruits that your Bearded Dragon will likely enjoy include, but are not limited to: blueberries, mango, papaya, cherries, pineapple, raspberries, and mango.
You will want to make sure that you avoid giving them citrus fruit, such as grapefruit, oranges, as well as nectarines.
This is because these types of fruit can lead to an upset stomach for your Beardie.
If you want to provide your Bearded Dragon with some fruit, then stick to the fresh fruits that you prepare yourself.
Always make sure that you have cut it up into manageable, bite-size pieces for your Beardie.
Failure to do so could result in a choking hazard for your pet!
In addition to this, you will need to make sure that you remove any uneaten fruit from their tank.
This comes down to the fact that fresh fruit rots quite quickly, and rotting fruit is a one-way track to achieving an unsanitary environment.
How Should You Prepare Blueberries For Your Bearded Dragon?
When it comes to choosing your blueberries, you’ll want to opt for organic fruit from your local farmer’s market if you can.
The aim is to find blueberries that are free of pesticides, as you want them to be suitable for your Bearded Dragon’s stomach.
You will need to carefully examine the color of your blueberries to determine whether they’re suitable.
They should be blue, and you’ll need to ensure that the berries don’t have any red on them, as blueberries won’t ripen after being picked in the same way that fruits such as bananas do.
Once you bring your blueberries home from the market, you will need to thoroughly wash them.
Washing them as soon as you get home is super handy because you can eat them straight away and serve them to your beardie without having to remember whether or not you carefully washed them.
To wash your blueberries thoroughly, simply chuck them in a strainer under clean running water and give them a good clean.
Following this, you will want to place them in your refrigerator.
If you don’t have access to a fridge, then you can use a bowl filled with cold tap water instead.
It’s important to note that if you freeze your berries, doing so will freeze them solid.
This means you will need to ensure that the berries have been fully thawed before you give them to your Beardie as you don’t want them to choke.
Is It Safe For My Bearded Dragon To Incorporate Blueberries?
While it’s safe for your Beardie to eat blueberries every now and again, you do need to exercise caution when feeding your bearded dragon blueberries.
As mentioned above, blueberries are packed full of sugar.
While they make a nice treat for your Beardie, they should remain that: a treat.
The most you’ll want to feed your Beardie blueberries is once a week.
This way, you can help prevent your Beardie from getting too fussy, refusing other healthier foods, and keeping them as a treat will also help prevent them from becoming overweight.
What’s The Ideal Diet For A Bearded Dragon?
You might be wondering what foods you should be feeding your Bearded Dragon for the ideal diet.
After all, it’s natural that you’d want them to grow strong and be able to thrive as much as possible!
What To Feed Your Baby Beardie
When your Beardie is a baby, they will need plenty of live food to provide them with the energy and nutrients to grow.
For the first six months of their life, you will want to offer them some form of live food every day.
Live food like locusts and roaches are good for Beardies.
However, you will want to remain mindful of other live foods, such as mealworms, as they can be very fattening for your Beardie.
They will also need a selection of fresh vegetables every single day for a healthy, balanced diet.
What To Feed Your Beardie At 6 Months Old
Once your Bearded Dragon reaches the 6-month mark, you will be able to reduce the amount of live food that you provide them.
Typically speaking, you can reduce giving them live food from every day to 4 times a day at this age.
What To Feed Your Adult Beardie
Generally speaking, you should feed your Bearded Dragon live food a minimum of 2 to 3 times a week.
You will need to make sure that you incorporate plenty of fresh veggies into your Beardie’s diet.
In addition to this, you will want to make sure that you limit treats such as blueberries to once a week.
If you don’t limit your Beardie’s treats, they will likely become fussy when you offer them more nutritional foods.
Offering them fruit every now and then is fine, but they shouldn’t have it too much as they will begin to expect it and could easily refuse other foods as a result of this.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many Blueberries Can You Offer Your Bearded Dragon?
This entirely depends on the food that your Beardie has already eaten that day.
However, generally speaking, you shouldn’t offer them more than a few berries at a time.
Be mindful that treats shouldn’t be your priority, and always ensure that they’ve had enough proper food before you offer them blueberries as a treat.
Offer it after they have eaten their veggies, as this will ensure that they’ve had their main course before they tuck into dessert!
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Strawberries?
Yes, strawberries are fine to feed your Beardie every now and again.
However, like all other fruits, you will want to limit the frequency that you give strawberries to them.
This comes down to the fact that strawberries are packed with sugar and don’t offer much in terms of nutritional value for your Beardie.
Always chop up your strawberries, and make sure you remove the tops before giving them to your Beardie.
Conclusion
Bearded Dragons can eat blueberries in moderation.
However, they should remain as a treat that you only give to them every now and again after they have eaten their normal food first.
Your Bearded Dragon may love eating blueberries, but they shouldn’t become a part of their regular diet.
You don’t want them to put on unnecessary weight and become susceptible to health conditions such as diabetes and obesity due to the sugar in blueberries.
Good luck feeding your Bearded Dragon blueberries!
