Yes, your bearded dragon can eat strawberries but never in excess (as is the case with all fruits in their diet). On the flip side, strawberries and apples are both considered to be among the safest fruits for dragons, so you don’t have to limit their consumption to every few weeks like you would with other fruits.
The strawberries themselves contain healthy nutrients like Vitamin C, which is important for your Bearded Dragon’s immune system. So if you’re looking to sneak in some extra nutrition, there are few things better than feeding them some fresh homegrown strawberries. Check out the fruits.
Valuable Nutrients in Strawberries
There are many valuable nutrients found in strawberries:
- Vitamin C: This is a necessary vitamin that your bearded dragon needs for his immune system.
- Fiber: Helps to keep your dragon’s digestive tract moving properly.
- Sugar: Of course, it wouldn’t be a healthy fruit without some sugar content.
- Iron: One of the many needed minerals in a healthy diet full of variety.
Mangetout strawberries are about 90% water and generally have low acid levels so they’re generally safe fruits for Dragons to eat. Again, like with other fruits make sure not to feed them more than you should as excess amounts may lead to diarrhea.
There are many benefits of feeding your dragon strawberries:
- Strawberries contain very little phosphorus and calcium, making them one of the safest fruits to feed regularly.
- Low in fat and full of Vitamin C, fiber, and sugar – just like you would want for a healthy and well-balanced diet.
- Strawberries can also be an effective way to help transition baby or juvenile dragons onto solids as they may be more attracted to the sweeter taste than other foods.
How Many Strawberries Can Be Fed To My Dragon?
The amount that you feed your dragon depends on his size as well as how much he eats as some dragons will gorge themselves while others won’t touch a strawberry even though they’re very hungry. When first transitioning your dragon onto solids, start with a few small strawberries and then work your way up.
Don’t worry if you have a fussy eater as there are other fruits that can easily be used to offer variety in their diet without many of the risks associated with overfeeding them more popular items like bananas or watermelon.
Grazing vs. Selective Feeding – Which Is Best?
In nature, bearded dragons would pick and choose what they eat based on need so it’s best not to push it beyond its limits, but rather let them graze on smaller portions throughout the day. This is especially important for juveniles who still have higher nutritional requirements than adults. If possible, aim for a combination of both grazing and selective feeding as it will allow you to provide your dragon with the variety it needs while still avoiding the risk of overfeeding.
Risks of Feeding My Bearded Dragon Strawberries
There are a few risks associated with feeding your dragon strawberries:
- Strawberries contain potential allergens like latex and other members of the nightshade family, so it’s best not to feed them more than you should.
- Be careful of pesticides and make sure to wash any fruit before feeding it to your dragon.
- Eating too much strawberry may result in loose stool or diarrhea.
- If fed in excess, strawberries can cause obesity which is especially dangerous for already obese bearded dragons who naturally tend towards becoming even heavier (and at greater risk for health problems).
Fruits Bearded Dragons Can Consume
Alternative Foods for Bearded Dragons
If your dragon isn’t sold on the strawberries, you can offer other healthy fruits that are high in Vitamin C, sugar, and fiber to help balance their diet. Some great alternatives include:
- Kiwi fruit: This is full of good nutrition including plenty of Vitamin C, fiber, and potassium. They’re very flavorful so most dragons love them.
- Banana: The perfect treat for sweet tooths since bananas are naturally sweet enough to be eaten on their own (try feeding them frozen banana chunks which will also provide some extra hydration).
- Watermelon: Their thick rind makes watermelon difficult for bearded dragons to consume in large quantities but its mostly water content helps keep them hydrated when fed sparingly.
- Papaya: High in vitamin C and fiber so most dragons love them.
- Apples: Not as sweet as other fruit but still very good for your dragon and they may be more attracted to their crunchy texture.
- Raspberries: Make sure to remove the seeds before feeding them to your dragon since it’s hard for Bearded Dragons to digest large amounts of seeds (although some dragons that love raspberries will eat the seed along with the flesh).
- Blueberries: Great way to satisfy your Dragon’s sweet tooth without adding too many calories.
- Mango: Delicious tropical treat full of vitamin C, B6, potassium, magnesium, and more.
- Pears: Good source of fiber and Vitamin C. Start by offering small pieces and make sure not to offer too many as they’re a little higher in sugar.
- Grapes: Many Bearded Dragons love grapes so it’s often best to offer them as a treat rather than a staple food.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Strawberries? – The Conclusion
Strawberries are a great treat for your Bearded Dragon but you don’t want to give them too many. Make sure to wash and peel all fruit before offering it and always avoid potential pesticides or other harmful chemicals that could be present. If possible, let your dragon graze on smaller portions throughout the day rather than giving them one single large portion so they can get more variety in their diet without overfeeding. If any of the strawberries cause loose stool or diarrhea then stop feeding them strawberries and consider alternative fruits that may be easier on their digestive systems such as kiwi, bananas, watermelon, papaya, apples, raspberries, blueberries, mangoes, or pears.
Bearded Dragons make wonderful pets for people of all ages and skill levels. This is why they’re one of the most popular lizards in the world today.