Introduction
You have landed on this page asking, “Can bearded dragons eat Zucchini?” and the short answer is yes. As long as your cute little lizard is not allergic to it, Zucchini can be a healthy addition to your pet’s snack list.
Zucchini, “courgettes”, or “marrows” are tasty and easy-to-grow fruit with good nutrition. We know fruits like watermelon and strawberry are good for bearded dragons, but is Zucchini as healthy for our pets as it is for us?
Like other fruits, we consider Zucchini generally safe for bearded dragons to occasionally eat as it does not cause any adverse effects, except when your little pet has consumed too much. Almost all bearded dragons can eat Zucchini, so we can guarantee that your pet will love it too.
For today’s topic, we will discuss further information about Zucchini for bearded dragons. Join us and let’s look at some interesting details into this antioxidant-packed veggie and the nutrients it can add to your beardie’s diet.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Zucchini?
Yes, Zucchini’s tasty yet mild flavor makes it easy to feed most bearded dragons. Most keepers think it is a vegetable, but technically, it’s a fruit!
We highly recommend this fruit because it is jam-packed with antioxidants! We all know that antioxidants can support protecting our pets’ bodies from free radicals. Free radicals refer to those unstable molecules that can cause dangerous long-term effects to our bearded dragons.
For instance, it can damage our pets’ cells, DNA, and the aging process. We also call it oxidative stress. Fortunately, antioxidants are available and can help clean up the damage.
Since Zucchini contains lots of water, it can hydrate our little beardies throughout the day. Besides that, it is super dense in nutrients, making it a reliable source of vitamins and minerals. According to reptile experts, Zucchini can give your beardie lots of vitamin A, C, B6, K and minerals like zinc, copper, phosphorus, manganese, and potassium.
Call to mind that Zucchini always tastes best when it is still young and tender. Hence, if you grow some in your backyard, pick it before it grows into a baseball bat! If you buy, choose the smaller size and ensure it is still firm and not squishy.
If you wish to offer Zucchini to your little dragon, we recommend you start slowly and moderately by carefully testing a small bit since some bearded dragons are prone to stomach upset.
Nutrients of Zucchini for Bearded Dragons
Zucchini is one of the most misunderstood foods for bearded dragons. Nevertheless, semantics aside, this fruit is generally safe and healthy for our little pets. As long as your beardie eats Zucchini in moderation, it can be a perfectly safe snack for him or her.
Call to mind that Zucchini should not be a regular part of your bearded dragon diet because it can pose potential long-term health risks. No worries because we still have far better food options to feed our bearded dragons.
Here’s the nutritional profile of a 100-gram Zucchini.
- Iron 0.35 milligrams
- Potassium 262 milligrams
- Vitamin A 10 micrograms
- Vitamin C 17 milligrams
- Calcium 15 milligrams
Aside from these vitamins and minerals, Zucchini also contains lots of antioxidants and fiber. But sadly, it has a high phosphorous level and low calcium, making this fruit a poor daily food choice for our reptiles.
If you feed Zucchini daily, your bearded dragon might suffer from a calcium deficiency over time, and its body will start leaching its calcium supple from the bones, leading to metabolic bone disease or MBD.
We understand that Zucchini is delicious and quite healthy for humans and other animals. However, this fruit can fall short for beardies because of the issues relating to calcium.
Tip: Looking for the best calcium supplement? Try this.
How Much Zucchini Can Bearded Dragons Eat?
As we mentioned in the discussion above, Zucchini is safe for bearded dragons to eat occasionally. So, how much Zucchini can our bearded dragons eat? According to reptile experts, we can only offer Zucchini once a month or less to reduce MBD risk. We should also note that a little Zucchini is enough to offer our dragons many vitamins and minerals.
One of the reasons we do not suggest Zucchini for your pet’s daily diet is that they have a small stomach. Hence, filling it with foods that don’t offer the best nutrition is counterproductive, especially for baby and young bearded dragons that are still growing and need more nutrients every mealtime.
On top of that, calcium is crucial to bearded dragons. Without the required calcium through supplementation and diet, your pet will likely suffer from major health issues. Sadly, Zucchini only has 15 milligrams of calcium per 100 grams, which is considerably low.
Since calcium is crucial to bearded dragons, it is not wise to regularly fill your cute little pet’s stomach with foods with a low calcium profile. On the other hand, one good thing is that Zucchini is low in sugar, making it safe as a snack or treat, especially for those keepers who worry about feeding sugary foods to their pets.
Tip: Sprinkle some of this calcium powder with vitamin D into your beardie’s food bowl.
How to Prepare Zucchini for Bearded Dragons?
No matter what fruit or vegetable you will offer to your bearded dragon, you need to thoroughly wash it, and Zucchini is no different. It is highly important to wash because bacteria and dirt can make your dragon sick.
After washing, you need to cut Zucchini into thin slices then cut each slice into 1/8. This way, your bearded dragon can easily chew Zucchini with other foods in his bowl.
Call to mind that an adult bearded dragon’s diet requires at least 50% greens, such as kale, Bok choy, dandelion greens, and Swiss chards, to maintain an appropriate weight and prevent obesity.
Tip: Replace your pet’s old food bowl with these cool feeders.
Wrapping UpCan bearded dragons eat Zucchini? Yes. Zucchini is full of nutrients and delivers lots of fiber, vitamins, and minerals in each slice, making it suitable for our little reptiles. Bearded dragons with a complete and balanced diet can consume this fruit unless they are allergic to it. We also recommend it because it is a better alternative to high-calorie treats. We can guarantee that Zucchini is low in cholesterol and would not contribute to your beardie’s weight if consumed rarely.
