Apples are usually crispy, sweet and refreshing. No doubt, you like to eat one occasionally. But, can bearded dragons eat apples? Read this article to get the correct information on “can bearded dragons eat apples”, its risks and its potential nutritional benefits .
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Nutritional Benefits of Apples – Can Bearded Dragons Eat Apples?
Vitamins A and C are something that bearded dragons definitely need in order to stay healthy. Those vitamins can be found in apples. They’ve also got dietary fibre that can help with keeping their digestive system regular. So, apples are great for bearded dragons, right? They do help with digestion and offer plenty of vitamins, but they are just a small part of a bearded dragon’s diet.
Risks of Feeding Apples to Bearded Dragons
Too Many Carbs: Apples are very rich in carbohydrates (sugars) that can lead to obesity if fed to a bearded dragon regularly, especially because they do not need such a high level of carbohydrates in their diet.
High Sugar Content: Can bearded dragons eat apples? The answer is yes. But only occasionally. They are naturally high in sugars that are unnatural for bearded dragons consume. in Bearded dragons can often develop diabetes and other long term health issues because of a diet that consists of too many sugars. Sugars need to be cut back to avoid diabetes and other health issues.
Acidity: In addition to other problems, apples also happen to be acidic. While the acidic level of apples can vary between moderately acidic to highly acidic, eating apples religiously can put your bearded dragon at risk of upsetting his digestive system. Over time, few acidic meals here and there can even cause dental erosion and other oral health problems for your scaled pet.
Pesticide Exposure: Like many other fruits, apples are typically sprayed with pesticides while they’re growing. Ingestion of these chemicals can be dangerous for beardies. Handle this by giving apples a good rinse or go for organic apples to ensure they haven’t been sprayed with toxic chemicals before feeding them to your beardie.
Recognising these risks can help owners make better-informed decisions about feeding bearded dragons apples – eg, yes, it can be offered, but only once in a while, and definitely not straight from the fruit bowl.
How to Safely Include Apples in Your Bearded Dragon’s Diet
How Often Should they be Fed Apples? Bearded dragons should be fed apples sparingly. Apples should only be given as occasional treats, not as a regular part of your bearded dragons diet. Once a week, a small piece of apple is plenty.
Preparation: Thoroughly wash the apple to clean out pesticides or chemicals. Peel the apple and remove seeds to prevent ingestion and/or exposure to pesticides. Cut apple into small pieces that avoid choking.
Dietary Balance: Don’t make apples the sole focus of your beardie’s diet… Bearded dragons typically eat a diet of leafy greens and veggies, with fruit as an occasional treat to add variety.
Alternatives to Apples
If you’re looking for fruit options with a lower sugar content for your bearded dragon, try these safer picks below.
Blueberries: They are lower in sugar and higher in antioxidants.
Raspberries: Offer good fiber content and vitamins with lower sugar levels.
Papaya: A fruit of the tropics that is rich in vitamins and low in acidity. It has about the same acidity level as an apple.
Conclusion
In general, so, can bearded dragons eat apples? Yes, but only in moderation. They should be a very minor part of a varied, healthy diet, and that variety will depend at least in part on your specific bearded dragon as well as their age and health: so ask your reptile-dealing veterinarian how to do this. With their sugar and acid content, apples are not optimal for your dragon if you want them to stay healthy and thrive, comforably and consistently making egg damn lovely things to eat. Bottom line: if you try this, tread very lightly, and always, always experiment in moderation.
Craving more tasty tips for your bearded buddy’s diet? Dive into our free Ultimate Bearded Dragon Diet Guide for all the juicy details!