Yes, bearded dragons can eat applesauce. Applesauce is a fruit so that makes it an option for bearded dragons to eat. There are some baby foods on the market which are just applesauce with nothing else added. This can be helpful if your baby dragon does not like eating fresh fruit but still needs some of the nutrients that are found in fruits. The best type of applesauce for bearded dragons is homemade or all-natural applesauce. Check out the fruits bearded dragons can eat.
Valuable Nutrients in Applesauce
The vitamins found in applesauce are Vitamin A, B-Complex Vitamins, and Vitamin C. There is also a lot of calcium in applesauce so it can be useful when mixed with the calcium powder. Apples contain beta carotene which is converted to Vitamin A by your dragon’s body. You should not feed your bearded dragon more than two tablespoons of applesauce every other day because that would be too much Vitamin A for them.
Best Way to Feed Applesauce to Your Bearded Dragon
There are a few ways you can give the applesauce to your bearded dragon, but before you do so make sure it is prepared properly so they cannot choke on it. You should slice or cube the applesauce and remove any seeds before giving them to your bearded dragons. The best way to feed the applesauce is by using a spoon or ice-cream scooper, but if need be, you can also use an eyedropper.
Benefits of Feeding My Bearded Dragon Applesauce
Just like humans, bearded dragons can also benefit from eating applesauce because it provides them with many important vitamins and nutrients such as Vitamin A, Vitamin B6, Potassium, etc. A balanced diet is essential for your dragon’s overall health so adding some homemade applesauce to their diet is beneficial.
Applesauce can be good for your dragon’s health, but you must make sure it is prepared correctly. Be extremely careful when feeding your bearded dragon applesauce because if the food is not prepared correctly there are some negative ramifications that can come along with it.
Can Bearded Dragons Consume These Foods?
- Can Bearded Dragons Eat Nectarines
- Can Bearded Dragons Eat Blackberries
- Can Bearded Dragons Eat Dragon Fruit
Risks of Feeding My Bearded Dragon Applesauce
Apples contain a high amount of pectin, which is hard for them to digest since their stomachs are so acidic. Their digestive system cannot break down pectin properly and this can lead to an intestinal impaction which basically stops healthy digestion in its tracks. This will put extra pressure on internal organs since they’re working harder than usual just trying to get rid of whatever’s stuck inside the digestive tract. Calling the vet may be necessary depending on how severe or protracted this condition becomes.
In rare cases, a bearded dragon will be allergic to apples and consuming them can lead to some negative side effects such as diarrhea or vomiting. This is extremely rare though and if this occurs, it usually means that there’s something else wrong with your pet’s health.
Lastly, overfeeding applesauce can lead to obesity. Store-bought applesauce is high in sugar and high-fructose corn syrup. All of this sugar can hurt your bearded dragon’s stomach as well as pack on the weight.
Alternative Foods for Bearded Dragons
As with any other food you feed your bearded dragon, moderation is key. There are plenty of fruits and vegetables that you can feed your pet to supplement their diet and the occasional bowl of applesauce will do no harm to them.
A few examples include:
- Apples (small amounts in moderation)
- Carrots (chopped up into small pieces and served raw or slightly steamed)
- Mangos (high in Vitamin A and low in sugar)
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Applesauce? – The Conclusion
Applesauce is okay for dragons, but it can cause diarrhea. And you should always make sure to feed your dragon fresh fruits and vegetables, but just a little bit of applesauce is fine. As long as your dragon isn’t showing signs of constipation or diarrhea then the applesauce should be just fine for them.
If you do decide to feed your dragon applesauce, only give them about a teaspoon at a time as this will be healthier for them and less likely to cause an upset stomach.
You should also only give them the applesauce a few times per week as too much of it can lead to diarrhea.
As you can see, there are benefits and disadvantages to feeding your bearded dragon applesauce. It is up to you how often you want to do so but keep in mind that giving it very infrequently is better than giving it frequently.