Can Bearded Dragons Eat Grapes -

Pet owners are often curious or worried about the food that they are giving to their animals. They often wonder if the food is nutritious or even safe for their pet. So, Can Bearded Dragons Eat Grapes?

This is no different when it comes to Bearded Dragons or any other reptile. Especially with lizards that eat fruit and veg, it can be difficult to know exactly what to feed them.

Many species of lizards can eat a wide variety of fruit and veg but can Bearded Dragons eat Grapes? We are going to look at this in more detail in this article.

Why is it important to know what my Bearded Dragon can Eat?

As with all living creatures, Bearded Dragons have specific dietary requirements. They need to be fed an appropriate amount of protein, fats and carbs to sustain themselves.

On top of this, they need to receive an adequate amount of vitamins and minerals. While supplements can help to achieve this, it is always best to get as much nutrients from actual food.

Therefore, it is very important to not only understand what a Bearded Dragon can eat, but what nutritional benefit it can bring to their diet.

Can Bearded Dragons Eat Grapes?

Yes, Bearded Dragons can eat grapes and it is perfectly safe for them to do so. Grapes offer some valuable nutrients but should only be fed as an occasional treat.

Bearded Dragons can eat grapes with or without the skin. However, the seeds in the grapes should be removed as the lizard can’t digest them. This could potentially lead to impaction.

Another important element of feeding grapes to a Bearded Dragon is the size of the grapes. If swallowed whole, grapes can be a serious choking hazard.

Therefore, grapes or any other fruit for that matter should be cut up into bite sized chunks so they are more manageable and less of a choking hazard.

Can Bearded Dragons Eat Grapes every day?

You should not feed grapes to your Bearded Dragon every day. They should be offered occasionally as a treat and to provide a bit of a nutrient boost.

You should limit your Bearded Dragon to one serving of grapes a week. This will allow them to receive the nutritional benefits of the fruit without any risk.

The primary reason that you shouldn’t offer grapes daily is because they are very high in oxalates. Oxalates are an anion that can be found in some types of food.

The problem with this is that oxalates can bind to minerals such as calcium and prevent a bearded dragon’s body from absorbing it.

As all Bearded Dragon owners know, it is vital for the lizards to absorb enough calcium to prevent conditions such as Metabolic Bone Disease.

As oxalates bind to minerals, they put more pressure on the kidneys as they pass through the body. In small numbers, this will have no effect but in very large concentrations can cause problems such as kidney stones.

To put it into perspective, a serving of grapes can have almost 10 times the oxalate levels as a serving of apples.

What are the Benefits if Bearded Dragons Eat Grapes?

You shouldn’t be put off feeding grapes to your Bearded Dragon. They provide them with vital nutrients and as long as you limit servings, they are completely safe.

Grapes are high in fibre which is an important element of any diet. Fibre helps with digestion so it can actually help with your lizards Calcium intake.

They also have a very high water content which can help with things like dehydration and kidney function.

They are full of antioxidants that are known to reduce the risks of heart disease. Antioxidants are also known to reduce the risks of inflammation.

For added benefits, you can feed you Bearded Dragon red grapes. The skin of red grapes are particularly high in antioxidants.

Can Bearded Dragons Eat Grape Leaves?

A Bearded Dragon can eat grape leaves. The leaves are high in nutrients and are actually a beneficial addition to their diet.

Grape leaves are high in protein and calcium which are two of the most important nutrients for Beardies.

The leaves are also low in Phosphorus and don’t contain the high levels of sugar and oxalates that can be found in the fruit. This makes them even healthier for your lizard than the fruit itself.

How can Bearded Dragons Eat Grapes?

A Bearded Dragon can eat any kind of grape. It doesn’t really matter if you offer green or red grapes as they both offer nutritional value to the lizard.

When preparing the grapes, always make sure you remove any seeds as they can’t be digested. This has the ability to cause impaction issues.

Seedless grapes are an option if you are worried about missing a seed. You do not need to remove the skin off the grape. These have nutritional value with the skin of red grapes being particularly high in antioxidants.

Finally, cut the grapes into small bite sized chunks before placing them in your lizard’s food bowl. Whole grapes are a serious choking hazard for any animal.

What other Fruit can you Feed a Bearded Dragon?

Fruit is an important part of a Bearded Dragons diet as it contains a lot of vitamins and minerals that aren’t easily obtained from other sources of food.

However, the drawback is that most fruit contain high levels of sugar which isn’t good for them. Because of this, it is estimated that around 10-15 percent of a Bearded Dragons diet should be made up of fruit.

Some of the different types of fruit you can offer them include peeled apples, strawberries, mango, pear, watermelon, blackberries and blueberries.

What Vegetables can a Bearded Dragon Eat?

Another important element of a Bearded Dragons diet is vegetables. Veg can make up a large portion of their diet.

You should offer a variety of different vegetables to ensure that the lizard is getting as much nutrients as possible.

Some of the vegetables you can offer include lettuce, spinach, kale, broccoli, bell peppers and watercress.

Do not feed them iceberg lettuce as this is almost pure water and offers no nutritional value for your lizard.

What insects can a Bearded Dragon Eat?

Insects will make up the majority of a Bearded Dragons diet. Not only do Beardie’s love insects but they also provide them with exercise as they chase the insect around their enclosure.

Crickets and Dubia Roaches are the most common insects fed to these lizards. However, variety is key here also and you should offer other insects also when possible.

Some other insects you can offer include mealworms, super worms, hornworms and silkworms.

Mealworms are often the go-to food item when it comes to feeding lizards. The problem is they are not very nutrient dense. To compare, hornworms contain 10 times more protein than the same amount of mealworms by weight.