Can Bearded Dragons Eat Strawberries?

Strawberries are one of the most popular fruits for us humans to snack on. Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to share our juicy fruit snack with our pets? You are likely here because you are aware that not all foods that are safe for humans to eat are safe for your pet bearded dragon to eat. Can a bearded dragon eat strawberries?

Dr. Jess explains it all below:

Let’s Talk Bearded Dragons?

Bearded dragons are cool little reptiles that are grouped into the category of desert lizards – they like a warm, dry environment.

They fall into the genus Pogona with eight different species falling under this grouping.

The eight species of bearded dragons, are distinguished from one another and named for the differences in their spines on their chins and necks.

Bearded dragons get their name from their armor of spiny scales, which include a “beard” of spikes under their chins, and a neck that puffs up depending on their mood, most commonly seen when puffed out when they are upset.

They do this to seem larger to whatever is upsetting or intimidating them.

This may be paired with a erry ‘hiss’ when really upset.

They can live up to 10 years and can reach up to 24 inches long and weigh up to 18 ounces once full grown. They range in colors from brown, to orange, to yellow, to cream.

Beardies have a precise eye and good sense of smell.

Bearded dragons are often referred to as “beardies”, are one of the more popular reptilian pets because of their cool, interesting exterior and their popularity being of low maintenance pets.

What Do Bearded Dragons Typically Eat?

What do bearded dragons eat? How do they eat it? Do bearded dragons have teeth? So many great questions to answer here!

Beardies commonly consume vegetables, fruits, and insects.

Bearded dragons are considered omnivorous, meaning they eat what both herbivores (plant-eaters) and carnivores (meat-eaters).

Young, immature, growing bearded dragons tend to be mostly carnivores, and eat more meat, at most 80% animal and 20% plant material

Adult bearded dragons are usually the exact opposite when it comes to diet, they tend to eat more plants and be more on the herbivorous side of things. Some adult beardies can be more along the lines of 80% plant and 20% animal foods.

As a basic rule of thumb, a bearded dragon’s diet should be comprised of foods that are around the basic ballpark of 50% animal-based and 50% plant-based.

As mentioned above, the age and maturity of each and every dragon should also come into play here, so it is a very good idea to discuss your dragon’s specific diet with your veterinarian.

If your bearded dragon stops eating – check out this article on how long bearded dragons can go without eating food and contact your local veterinarian.

Common Store-Bought Fruits for Beardies:

• Apples
• Apricots
• Bananas
• Blueberries
• Cabbage
• Dates
• Figs
• Grapes
• Guava
• Kiwi
• Mango
• Melon
• Papaya
• Peaches
• Pears
• Plums
• Raisins
• Raspberries
• Strawberries
• Watermelon
• and a multitude of other fruits

Medical Concerns Regarding Fruits:

Many fruits can be fed to bearded dragons every now and then in very small amounts.

However, many fruits are extremely acidic or high in sugar and can be difficult on bearded dragon digestive systems.

This is why only a very small amount every blue moon (like once a month!) should be the norm with most fruits for beardies.

This goes for many fruits and vegetables.

Strawberry Nutrition:

Strawberries are a very popular fruit because of it’s sweet flavor, beautiful red exterior, and its many uses in cooking, especially in desserts. Strawberries have many nutritional benefits as well as tasty benefits.

Antioxidants:

Strawberries contain antioxidants that may help to prevent cell damage that harmful free radicals can cause. These antioxidants can help with things like preventing certain cancers and diseases.

Sugar Levels:

Even with how sweet their taste, a strawberry does not rapidly increase blood sugar levels like other tasty fruits.

This means that strawberries are a more safe choice of fruit to snack on for those pets that have metabolic conditions such as diabetes in which blood sugar levels can be an issue.

Water Content:

A strawberries high water concentration can help keep small bodies more hydrated.

Fiber:

Strawberries also have a fiber content that is larger than many other common fruits.

This is great because fiber helps with satiety, keeping the pet feeling full after eating for longer as well as helps keep the gastrointestinal tract moving and flowing smoothly as it should.

How To Feed Strawberries To Your Bearded Dragon?

First off, you should always purchase high-quality strawberries for your lizard from a reputable food source.

All fruits and vegetables will need to have a visual inspection done to make sure that you are giving your pet a ripe, healthy food to eat.

Next, you will need to clean, cut, slice, chop, or dice up the strawberry so that your dragon can safely eat it.

They will need food in bite-sized pieces.

You may need to consider mixing the chopped strawberry with vegetables, up together to help discourage picking through their food bowl and eating only the preferred items in their dish.

Food should be presented in a shallow clean dish that is not easily tipped over.

Fresh water should always be available in a shallow dish that can’t be easily tipped over. This water dish should be washed and cleaned daily.

Any food left in your bearded dragon’s enclosure that is not eaten up will start to get old and become unsafe for your dragon to eat, if they will even touch it at all.

This could lead to some major health issues, as well as a smelly enclosure and a bug problem – things you definitely do not want to deal with.

So, it is very important to clean out any foods that your bearded dragon leaves behind in a timely manner.

How Many Strawberries Should I Give My Bearded Dragon?

Contact with your local veterinarian for expert advice about your pet’s diet.

They will be able to help you decide how much strawberry to give your beardie.

The amount of food you should give them will definitely depend on what foods you and your vet have decided are going to be a part of the pet’s diet.

As a rule of thumb, if your dragon is leaving food behind – then it may be that too much food is being offered to them.

How Often To Feed Bearded Dragon Strawberries?

Most young bearded dragons eat once or twice daily, while older lizards can be fed once daily, depending upon each pet’s individual appetite.

Some bearded dragons will not eat for a period of time.

Read this article on why bearded dragons may not be eating daily.

Can Strawberries Be Harmful to Bearded Dragons?

There are always risk involved when your pet consumes anything, whether it is a new food in their diet or not.

I have listed a few of the hazards that come with feeding your pet beardie strawberries:

Choking Hazard:

Strawberries can be quite large and slippery and may become a choking hazard in smaller, younger dragons.

Give consideration to cutting them into a smaller, more manageable size before feeding them to your bearded dragon so that they are less likely to choke.

Digestion Problems / Sugar Content:

Strawberries do contain a high level of sugar, just like many other fruit does.

Too much sugar, especially on a regular basis, can lead to obesity, dehydration, digestion problems, diarrhea, tooth decay (yes, bearded dragons have teeth!), and inappetence, all of which can further develop into more serious issues.

Calcium to Phosphorus Ratio:

It is commonly known in the bearded dragon world, that bearded dragons need to consume more calcium than phosphorus in their daily diet.

Any failure to achieve this ratio over a long period of time can result in the bearded dragon suffering from illnesses like metabolic bone disease.

Strawberries have a higher phosphorus to calcium ratio.

Because this ratio is so incredibly important to your beardie’s health, it is also important to provide your beardie with calcium supplementation to ensure that your beardie is getting enough calcium that it needs daily to support proper body functions.

Can They Eat Strawberry Seeds?

They sure can eat strawberry seeds!

Strawberry seeds are quite small and since we are feeding our bearded dragon strawberries in moderation, there shouldn’t be any concern as to overdosing your pet with too many strawberry seeds.

Can Bearded Dragons Eat Strawberry Leaves?

Giving your beardie a strawberry leaf or two when you are offering them pieces of strawberry won’t harm them at all.

Just make sure that it is done in moderation, just like the fruit of the strawberry is offered up in moderation.

Can Dragons Eat Strawberry Tops?

The strawberry top has much less sugar than the rest of the berry, which is good for your pet’s health, but not good in respect of flavor.

Dragons can eat strawberry tops, but they may very well prefer the sweetness of the berry over its top.

The tops of strawberries are safe for your pet to nibble on as long as this too is offered in moderation just like the rest of the strawberry.

Can They Eat Dried Strawberries?

The higher sugar content of dried fruit such as dried strawberries makes me always say a resounding no.

Do not feed your bearded dragon any dried strawberry pieces, stick with the fresh fruit.

Can They Eat Frozen Strawberries?

Frozen strawberries are quite hard and are a potential choking hazard, so I do not recommend offering your pet any frozen strawberries, even if they are already in smaller pieces.

Can Bearded Dragons Have Strawberry Juice?

Most strawberry juices contain high amounts of sugars. High amounts of sugar is not healthy for your bearded dragon.

Therefore, I do not recommend offering your beardie any type of strawberry juice – it may lead to adverse reactions (see list below).

Can They Eat Strawberry Jam or Preserves?

No, no, nope.

Do not ever feed your bearded dragon jelly or jam as these are high in sugar.

High sugar content is not good for your little friend, so please stay away from the jellies and jams!

Bearded Dragon Diet Supplements:

Bearded dragons have an increased need for calcium versus phosphorus in their diet.

This is especially true when they are young and their bones are growing.

Most veterinarians will likely recommend to sprinkle bearded dragon calcium powder over the food that you are offering your dragon.

This is usually done 2-3 times per week.

Contact your veterinarian for specific recommendations about supplementing your dragon’s diet.

Adverse Reactions to Foods:

Any food has the potential to cause adverse reactions in your bearded dragon. Some of these negative signs and symptoms include but are not limited to:

• Lethargy
• Anorexia
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Hiding
• Agitation/Aggression

Summary:

Bearded dragons can be fed quite a plethora of fruits, vegetables, and insects safely, including strawberries.

However, it is important to know how much, how often, and how to properly serve strawberries and every other food we give our little dragons before we allow them to consume it.

For individual questions regarding your pet and their diet, contact your vet for specific dietary plans.

Resources:

Nutritional Secondary Hyperparathyroidism in Reptiles – Veterinary Partner