Every bearded dragon owner at some point gets to ask questions such as can bearded dragons eat apples? The simple answer to the question is YES, bearded dragons can safely consume apples.
An apple a day, they say, keeps the doctor away. While this saying completely referred to human beings, it can also be said about our little reptile friends.
Apples are no doubt a nutrient-dense fruit with so many benefits to their health. Knowing this, it is only natural that any bearded dragon owner will want to share this tasty and nutritious snack with his/her reptilian buddy.
I love apples and eat them a lot. Someday, I offered my bearded dragon a small piece and observed for any adverse effects or signs, and there were none.
This is how I knew that apples are safe for your dragons but should be consumed in moderation.
Knowing that generally fruits are not highly recommended for beardies because of their high sugar content. Thus, it is best to offer apples to your dragons as treats.
Further down this post, we will look at the nutritional value these fruits bring to the table and how we can get the best out of them.
Contents
Health Benefits of Apples for Bearded Dragons
Apples are a very popular fruit; in fact one of the most popular fruit. They are also known for their crunchy and delicious taste.
But, these fruits have also been linked to nutritious benefits. They contain a large chunk of the nutritional requirements of bearded dragons. This can be seen from its nutritional profile.
Let us take a brief look at the basic nutrients and their respective benefits. (1)
Carbohydrate
The body of any organism can be likened to a car, and as such, needs fuel to run.
Bearded dragons are not left out of this. As a typical car run on gasoline, your dragon runs on carbohydrates. Of all nutrients, the primary source of energy for your beardies is carbohydrates.
Bearded dragons are naturally known to be active and vibrant, but they can only keep up with these attributes when they have a regular energy source (carbohydrate).
Iron
Iron is another key nutrient to include in your reptilian pet’s diet as its role in the formation of red blood cells is very critical.
This mineral is largely responsible for the production of the two major oxygen-carrying proteins in the muscle tissue and blood.
The deficiency of this mineral is one of the causes of anemia whenever your pet loses blood.
Potassium
Potassium plays an important role in a lot of body functions, such as regulating blood pressure and heartbeat, proper conduction of nerves, and synthesizing proteins and glycogen.
Together with minerals such as calcium and phosphorus, potassium helps to promote healthy bones in your pet. It helps their muscles to relax and contract, thus improving their motor and climbing skills.
Antioxidants
The health benefits of antioxidants cannot be overemphasized whether in humans or animals such as your dragon pets.
Fortunately, apples are chock full of these substances. Antioxidants help in improving your beardies’ immune system.
Antioxidants also play a role or two in the health of your dragon’s eyesight, skin, bone, etc.
Constant consumption of this substance will help improve the overall health of your reptilian, fighting off a lot of ailments that easily beget them.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is an essential compound for a very important function of the body. This vitamin helps to improve and maintain a healthy vision and provides support for the immune system and other organs of the body.
Vitamin A also plays a huge role in cell growth and development, which scientist believes comes in handy in the prevention of cancerous conditions.
A healthy dose of this vitamin contained in an apple goes a long way to help your beardies fight against diseases and illnesses.
Vitamin C
Apples are one fruit you find Vitamin C. This vitamin is very important for your dragon’s development and growth.
These vitamins also impact the immune system of your bearded dragon. And thus help to protect them against diseases and infections. It helps in the repair and re-growth of the body tissues.
Deficiency of vitamin A has been associated with bleeding gums, diarrhea, tearing of your dragon’s skin, and so on.
Fiber
A constant supply of fiber is needed in your dragon’s diet to help prevent certain medical complications associated with bearded dragons, such as impaction and constipation.
This is not to say that when you constantly provide your beardies with fiber-rich foods, they won’t suffer from these conditions.
But, it goes a long way to minimize the risk and effects of this medical condition. Fiber generally does wonders for your pet’s digestive system.
Good Water Source
Bearded dragons need a regular supply of water to help in regulating their temperature and lubricate their internal organs so they perform optimally.
Apple is a natural source of water, which will help your bearded dragons to stay hydrated.
This particularly comes in handy if they are still struggling to drink from their water bowl. This way, your dragon pet is able to get its required water intake.
How to Feed Apple to your Bearded Dragon?
It would be nice to hand over an apple to your bearded dragons and watch as they devour it. But, that is not the way.
It is recommended to wash the apple to get rid of pathogens and/or pesticides on them.
Instead, the best way to feed apples to your beardie is to peel and slice them into small, thin pieces to prevent a choking hazard.
The next step will be to remove any seeds, stem, or piece of core in them.
After these are done, you can go ahead and feed them to your beardies.
All these protocols are to avoid any harm getting to your dragons. For instance, these pets find it difficult to chew properly and thus cannot effectively digest seeds or large pieces of this fruit.
This can lead to a deadly condition associated with lizards known as gut impaction. (2) (3)
Hazards and Precautions when Feeding Apples to Bearded Dragons
As much as apples are significantly beneficial to the health of your bearded dragons, there are dangers associated with them, if not fed the proper way.
To start with, the sugary content of this fruit is unhealthy and harmful for your dragons. Feeding them too much of this fruit or too regularly can upset their stomachs and cause diarrhea.
The apple fruit acid, as much as these substances are beneficial, can also be harmful to your beardies if not given or consumed in the right amount.
One of the common health conditions triggered is fatty liver disease. It is important that your beardies consume this fruit in the right amount.
It is recommended that when introducing apples to your bearded dragons’ diet, do it slowly and then monitor to see if it might cause any change in them.
Generally, different dragons will respond differently, and so you want to give room for yours to gradually adjust. After which you can provide them more regularly and in larger amounts.
The seeds and skin of apple fruit, when consumed by your dragon can provoke a choking hazard.
Not only is the seed difficult to digest, but it is believed to contain a substance that can be toxic to your pet. It is recommended to avoid them completely.
Particularly for applesauce, it is recommended to dilute with water.
This form of apple consumption comes in handy when training your dragons to drink water from a water bowl.
Bearded dragons are generally not used to drinking from their water bowl during their initial stay in captivity. This is only to be expected knowing that they don’t do that in the wild.
Related Questions To Can Bearded Dragons Have Apples
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Green Apples?
We have already established that apples are packed with a large chunk of nutrition. But, they come in different colors – basically red and green.
It is only natural to be concerned about if they are all good for your dragons.
There has always been a debate on which type of apple is best.
The green apple is known for its thicker skin and crispy tartness while the red apple is known for its juiciness and sweetness.
As far as their health benefits and nutrition is concerned, there is really no difference between the two.
According to their nutritional profile, green apples contain fewer carbs and sugar, and slightly more nutrients such as protein, iron, potassium, vitamin K and fiber.
But, red apples take the lead in the content of antioxidants.
At the end of the day, both red and green apples are going to have about the same effect on your dragons.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Apple Skin?
No, you should not feed your bearded dragon’s apple skin.
Bearded dragons generally find it difficult to chew properly. Due to the thickness of the skin of an apple, these pets find it difficult to chew and digest it.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Apple Seed?
No! Bearded dragons should also not be fed apple seed. Like the skin, the seed of an apple is hard and difficult to chew and digest by these pets.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Applesauce?
Yes! Beaded dragons can be fed with apple sauce.
If you’ve ever owned a bearded dragon, chances are that you have attempted to feed your reptilian buddy with the sauce of an apple. It is however recommended to dilute with water.
Final Words On Can Beardies Eat Apples
Without a doubt, one fruit you want to feed to your bearded dragons is apples. The reason is simple – they are loaded with many nutritional and health benefits.
While taking advantage of these benefits, it is also important to take the necessary precautions. Be careful not to go overboard in the quantity and frequency with which you provided apples to your dragon pets.
The key to getting the best out of this exceptionally healthy fruit is moderation.
Also, completely avoid apple skin and seeds as much as possible, as they are not healthy for your dragons.
If you observe any adverse effects on your pet due to the consumption of this fruit, it is advisable to consult your vet immediately.
Do you have any questions about feeding your bearded dragons with apples? Kindly drop them in the comment section below and I promise to respond as soon as I can.
Did you like “Can Bearded Dragons Eat Apples?”? We would greatly appreciate it if you would share this on your favorite social media.
Be the first to comment