Yes, bearded dragons can eat mango. In fact, dragons love mangoes along with many other fruits. I’ve never known a bearded dragon to shy away from mango but therein lies the problem. They generally love the sweet, juicy melon and can completely gorge themselves on it. For the complete list please click here.
How Much Mango Can I Feed My Bearded Dragon?
The amount must be carefully regulated. If you’re not sure, always err on the side of caution and don’t feed them any more than their recommended serving size.
Mango is a very healthy fruit to feed bearded dragons in moderation. You can slice it up for your lizards so they can lick off the fresh juices or simply offer them mangoes whole when you have them.
How Often Can I Feed My Bearded Dragon A Mango?
You can offer mangoes to your bearded dragons as treats up to 3 times a week. Too much of anything is still too much so just because they love it doesn’t mean you should be feeding them mango daily.
There have been reports of some dragons getting sick from overeating mango so once a week or every other week is more than enough.
Can You Weigh The Portion Size Yourself?
Yes, a typical serving will weigh around 2 ounces with the skin. Be sure to remove any seeds before feeding it to your beardie. If you’re giving them whole fruits then it’s best to use a kitchen scale if you have one to determine the accurate weight of the fruit.
Can I Feed My Bearded Dragon The Skin of The Mango?
You can feed the skin to your bearded dragon as well. It’s loaded with fiber and nutrients so there is no reason not to let them eat it.
What Fruits Bearded Dragons Can Eat?
- Can Bearded Dragons Eat Applesauce
- Can Bearded Dragons Eat Melon
- Can Bearded Dragons Eat Strawberries
What Varieties of Mango Are Safe for Bearded Dragons to Eat?
All the varieties of mango, including Ataulfo (but these are very seasonal), Kent, Haden, Keitt, and Francis are safe for dragons to eat. Please note that if you find this sort of information elsewhere or even in some books, they’re not accurate per modern research. All varieties are fine unless otherwise specified by your vet.
Valuable Nutrients in Mango
Bearded dragons are omnivores and need a steady diet of greens to develop properly. However, mangoes provide some very healthy nutrients:
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
- Carotenoids
- Antioxidants
- Folate
- Potassium
- Fiber
All vitamins need minerals to be available to your bearded dragon; you can also find plenty of these elements in mangoes too.
How to Prepare Mango for A Bearded Dragon?
You can either cut up mangoes into pieces and leave them out for your dragon to eat or slice them up and serve them with a calcium supplement. You can also puree the fruit and freeze the mixture into cubes that you can defrost as needed.
The most important part about preparing mango for your bearded dragon is to remove the rind.
Benefits of Feeding My Bearded Dragon Mango
Bearded dragons enjoy eating mangoes, which provides them with the following benefits:
- Increased energy levels
- Clearer skin
- Healthier eyes
- Better quality eggs
- Reduced risk of metabolic bone disease (MBD)
I’ve personally used these fruits to help reduce the expense of my lizard’s calcium supplements. If your bearded dragon is prone to moonburn or other MBD, you can substitute their daily calcium regimens with small portions of mango during the week.
Risks of Feeding My Bearded Dragon Mango
Too much of anything (even healthy fruits like mangoes) can cause health problems for your bearded dragon. Guilt by association is unfair but it’s better not to get into the habit of feeding fruit at all; dragons really do thrive on greens alone with some supplemental insects every now and then.
Too many sweet treats will lead to fat dragons, which is not something you want. Obesity can lead to serious health problems like fatty liver disease and diabetes; plus it makes your bearded dragon less active.
If you choose to feed your bearded dragon mango occasionally, do so in moderation. Make sure that he or she eats plenty of roughage (romaine lettuce works well for this) before and after the fruit snack. A healthy digestive system will be able to handle mangoes just fine but I would avoid feeding them too often, if at all.
Alternative Foods for Bearded Dragons
If you are worried about your dragon’s sweet tooth leading to obesity, here is a list of alternative foods that bearded dragons love:
- Crickets
- Waxworms
- Mealworms
- Roaches
- Super worms
- Earthworms
- Cockroaches
- Feeder fish (treat)
- Packaged lizard food pellets
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Mango? – The Conclusion
Yes, bearded dragons can eat mango as a fun treat or as an alternative to calcium supplements. Just make sure that it’s part of a balanced diet and not the main course every day. If you have a dragon that is obese or prone to MBD, avoid feeding it mangoes altogether.