Many people wonder if they can give their bearded dragons the same food they buy from the grocery store. I’m constantly asked can bearded dragons eat apples and the answer is yes. Now you have to be careful how much you feed them fruit and stuff like that so check out the rest of the article to see what’s safe and what isn’t
Table of Contents
What are bearded Dragons?
If you’re new to the whole reptile ownership thing it can be overwhelming at first because there are many small things you have to watch out for like diet, tank humidity, lighting and more.
I’m sure that’s why you’re on this guide because you want to know whats safe for your pet.
First i want to tell you a little about these awesome chill little guys.
They are technically considered desert lizards because they much prefer a more dry and warm environment. They do need humidity but compared to other reptiles that need high amounts the bearded dragon only needs between 20-40% humidity
There is a scientific name for these guys called Genus Pogona and there are 8 species inside that major grouping.
Bearded dragons get their name from the spiky scales they have under their chin which can actually change different colors. it will turn black when they are upset for example.
They will puff their “beard” when upset or threatened to scare off predators along with a nice hiss
They have great eyesight and can actually see color like humans can. They are pretty quick on their feet too which helps them catch prey and escape predators
They have a nickname “Beardies” so you will hear that a lot among the information you will be seeking. They have grown in popularity over the years as well. Its no wonder, they are adorable and easy to take care of once you understand the lighting and heating.
When a bearded Dragon begins to trust you they are able to fall asleep on you. Mine does it all the time when we are around the house hanging out.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Apples? Bearded Dragon diet and FAQ
The list of questions i get from people about bearded dragons is like this
- can bearded dragons eat apples?
- can bearded dragons eat bananas?
- what should their diet consist of?
- How often should i feed my beardie?
Your Bearded Dragon can eat apples on a weekly basis. However you need to know that Beardies don’t need to eat fruit on a daily basis. Its better to feed them fruit like once every few days which is what i do.
My bearded dragons diet looks like this
- 60% veggies
- 30% protein (insects)
- 10% Fruit
So bearded dragons are omnivores. They eat everything on the table such as insects, vegetables, and fruit. The optimal diet for a beardie is mostly vegetables and insects but you want to look at fruit as more of a treat.
What Apples do for your beaded Dragon
Apples provide many nutrients just like they do for humans
The reason why your beardie cant eat fruit ALL the time is because too much sugar will upset their digestive tract.
Apples will give your bearded dragon lots of vitamin C. i don’t think you need a vitamin c lesson so i wont say it here but it will keep your beardie healthy and happy
Apples contain a lot of water. Many fruits do actually and that water will keep your beardie hydrated.
of course apples contain a lot of Fiber. This will help your Bearded Dragon get the gunk out of its system from all the insects that they eat
After eating an apple your beardie will feel full. Kind of like humans do with feeling satiated.
Apple contain potassium which humans themselves are actually mostly deficient of. This helps your beardie stay healthy as well. Beardies can also eat bananas which are good for potassium as well but ill link the article when i write it here.
Which types of apples can Bearded Dragons eat?
- Red
- Green
- yellow
Just make sure they only eat fruits in moderation. i know I’ve repeated this but its important. so don’t forget please.
How to feed your Bearded Dragon apples
its easiest for them to eat apples when they are cut up and diced. I personally cut the whole apple up and remove the seeds and all that.
Then i give it to him in small pieces. If you need reference about the size of half your finger or thumb.
I always get my beardie high quality apples from the store, usually organic. Make sure you rinse them off anyways and proceed with feeding
I like to put the food in a shallow bowl or dish to make him more comfortable while he eats. They are so cute when they eat food.
if they end up leaving some of the food behind i would do an end of the day cleanup. When that food begins to rot its not good to have around so just get rid of it.
How much Apple should I give my bearded Dragon?
what i do is trial and error
Sometimes my beardie will eat all the food i give him and sometimes he doesn’t. So if you notice he only eats a certain amount every time and then leaves it behind then just reduce by a little bit each time.
How often should i feed my bearded dragon apples?
To be honest i only feed mine apples and other fruits about 2 to 3 times a week. Bearded dragons should be eating mostly vegetables and insects.
Those insects should be gut loaded and dusted with vitamin supplements as well to make sure they stay healthy.
1 to 3 times a week is perfect and make sure you’re checking to see if they leave some leftover
if you notice your bearded dragon isn’t eating check this out
Make sure you peel the apple too.
Can apples hurt my bearded dragon?
Too much of anything is bad for you. same goes for them too. I’ve already mentioned how much in terms of ratio to feed your beardie so i wont mention it again
Digestion issues can occur with the high sugar content that apples contain and lots of issues come with too much sugar. your beardie can get overweight!
Bearded dragons have teeth so you want to keep sugar within a controlled amount.
Be careful and use as much common sense and trial and error to see how your bearded dragon reacts to the food you’re giving him within our guidelines. Bearded dragons can actually be picky eaters and sometimes just won’t eat certain foods
Peeling the apple skin is really important too because they can actually choke on it. Its a strange texture to them. it can get stuck and lodged in their throats so be careful and peel the apples.
Metabolic bone disease and Supplementation
Something you need to be aware if metabolic bone disease. if your bearded dragon is not getting enough phosphorus and calcium they will develop this disease.
to prevent this disease from happening you should supplement calcium and phosphorus into their daily diet.
i just dust calcium powder on the insects and food i give them a few times a week to keep their calcium high. Don’t overdo it though just stick to 2 to 3 times a week
You can purchase calcium supplements here
If you ever have any questions about bearded dragons contact your vet.
Summary of Can bearded dragons eat apples
Bearded dragons can eat all kinds of food but with fruits you just have to be careful with the sugar intake. They can eat veggies for most of their meals and then insects for their protein needs
use a calcium supplement 2 to 3 times a week to keep your bearded dragon healthy and free from metabolic bone disease.
Bearded Dragons can eat this whole list of food
- collard greens
- dandelion greens
- grape leaves
- mustard greens
- green and red leaf lettuce
- bell peppers of all colors
- carrots
- green beans
- peas
- sweet potato
- turnups
- apples
- apricots
- bananas
- berries
- grapes
- oranges
- papayas
- pears
- tomatoes
- pansies
Long list but theres tons of food these awesome little guys can eat. i hope you got exactly what you were looking for in this post.
thank you for coming here!
