Can bearded dragons eat strawberries?

If you think that bearded dragons can eat any kind of fruit, you must understand that you should only give them fruit as a treat. As you will see, when you feed a bearded dragon, more than half of them cannot resist the taste of fruits, and that’s because they love it. But, it is up to you to make sure you feed them the right ones.

This brings us to the question that can bearded dragons eat strawberries?

Is it safe for bearded dragons to eat strawberries?

The answer is yes. You can feed strawberries to them. They are recommended by experts, but they can only consume them in small portions. Good news is that bearded dragons can eat strawberries once or twice a month as berries are safer than most other fruits.

Nutritional value of strawberries

Nutritional intake value for humans is much different from those of humans. So, here is the nutritional value of strawberries that will help you decide the portion to be served to your bearded dragon.

You should be looking for low phosphorus, high calcium content, and levels of other nutrients such as sodium, fat, sugar, and proteins. Any food that you want to feed the dragon should be low in phosphorus content and sugar, but high in calcium.

Here’s the list of nutrients and minerals found in strawberries.

How often should you feed them?

The VCA Hospitals listed strawberries among the top 5 fruits that bearded dragons can eat. The strawberries are a good source of required nutrients— calcium, per se – compared to other fruits.

It is ideal to feed them strawberries every once a month. Though some like to make it an addition to their salad bowl once or twice a week.

However, to be on a safer side, feed strawberries to bearded dragons in small sliced portions once a month.

How to prepare strawberries for bearded dragons?

First and foremost, all plant-based foods for dragons must be organic. Wash strawberries thoroughly and ensure they are herbicide and pesticide-free.

Everyone loves strawberries for their juicy, soft texture. They are easier to eat. Slice them into small portions and add to the salad to trick the bearded dragon into eating healthy, nutritious greens and veggies.

What parts of strawberries can be served to bearded dragons?

The strawberries are a great treat for dragons inside out. The top is as nutritious as the pulp. Add it to salads to boost the nutritional value of the diet.

In fact, you don’t have to worry about seeds with this fruit. You do not have to pick and remove seeds from strawberries. They are not a problem as they don’t get stuck in their windpipe.

The seeds can only become a problem if you are feeding strawberries to your bearded dragon every now and then.

Strawberries leaves are also a good source of antioxidants for them. They prevent vascular diseases and help digestive disorders such as diarrhoea. However, much like the fruit they should be served in restricted amounts.

Also note, do not use strawberry jam to their diet as they are packed with preservatives and added sugar, which only makes it worse for consumption.

In a nutshell, you can feed strawberries to your dragon as a salad topper or juicy sprinkles to make boring salad fun for bearded dragons.

What are the advantages of feeding strawberries to bearded dragons?

Here is an overview of strawberry benefits to bearded dragons.

Strawberries can improve overall health and prevent heart diseases in bearded dragons. Besides, they are packed with nutrients and contain antioxidants that show anti-inflammatory properties. They prevent the risk of several diseases. Hence, it reduces inflammation.

Addition of strawberries to their diet helps maintain blood regulation by reducing glucose levels. This is due to the fact that they are 91% water with low carbs content. Thus, it reduces risks of spike in blood sugar levels.

It prevents constipation and helps in digestion. It is a rich source of dietary fibre which helps improve the digestion system and lose weight in bearded dragons.

Vitamin C, Potassium, manganese, and other minerals in strawberries improve skin health and immunity.

What are the disadvantages associated with feeding strawberries to bearded dragons?

Although strawberries have several health benefits, there are always risks involved with fruit consumption in bearded dragons. That’s why it is recommended that their diet contains only 5 to 10% of fruits, no more than that.

By now, you already know bearded dragons need more calcium than phosphorus. Strawberries have high phosphorus content as compared to calcium content. This could push them towards the risk of contracting a severe disease like metabolism bone disease, which is common in bearded dragons.

Strawberries have high levels of sugar. Sugar is responsible for various health problems such as diarrhoea, constipation, digestion issues, dehydration, and obesity. Thus, prolonged exposure to sugary foods must be avoided at all costs.

Tooth decay is another important risk involved with high sugar content. One can seldom find calcium-rich fruits for their bearded dragons. Lack of calcium results in bone diseases and tooth decay.

Final word

Long story short, strawberries are among the top beneficial fruits for bearded dragons. Nonetheless, this alone cannot pass strawberries as a treat on a regular basis to your beardie. Maintaining the recommended serving of small portions once or twice a month prevents risks to bearded dragons.