can bearded dragons eat blueberries beardeddragongeek.com

Can Bearded Dragons Eat Blueberries? Facts and FAQs

by

Bearded dragons love to eat fruits as sweet treats, snacks, or as an occasional topper. For an adult bearded dragon, 80% of the diet should be plants and from this 80%, only 20% can be fruits. A healthy bearded dragon enjoys apples, strawberries, grapes, etc. Blueberries are delicious, juicy fruit and your bearded dragon will love to gobble them. But can bearded dragons eat blueberries? Are blueberries safe for bearded dragons?

In this article, your all questions will be answered.

Bearded Dragons And Blueberries – FAQs

What Is The Nutrition Profile Of Blueberries?

Raw blueberries per 100 g serving have the following nutrition:

  • Calories: 57 Cal
  • Water Content: 84.21 g
  • Calcium: 6 mg
  • Phosphorus: 12 mg
  • Vitamin A: 54 IU
  • Vitamin C: 9.7mg
  • Oxalates: 3 mg
  • Ca:P Ratio: 0.5:1

Blueberries contain many antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that are beneficial for bearded dragons. They are also exceptionally low in sugar (as compared to other berries), oxalates, and goitrogens which are not good for your pet dragon.

Can Bearded Dragons Have Blueberries?

The short answer is:

  • Yes, a bearded dragon can eat blueberries.
  • No, bearded dragons can’t eat blueberries daily as a staple diet.

Blueberries are safe for bearded dragons when fed in moderation and prepared with utmost care. Frequently feeding blueberries to your beardie can cause health issues.

How Often Can Bearded Dragons Eat Blueberries?

Because blueberries contain many beneficial minerals and vitamins, it may seem like a good idea to incorporate them into the regular diet of bearded dragons. But this is not the case, blueberries have their negative side as well, which compels us to limit their consumption for bearded dragons.

A healthy bearded dragon can eat two to three blueberries once a week.

The main reason to limit the frequency of blueberry consumption is their calcium-to-phosphorous ratio. More on the health risks of blueberries in succeeding paragraphs.

What Are The Health Benefits Of Blueberries For Bearded Dragons?

So, why bearded dragons should eat blueberries? What are the benefits of blueberries for beardies? Blueberries are a sweet treat for bearded dragons and in proper amounts, they have some exceptional benefits for your pet dragon:

Antioxidants:

Blueberries contain many antioxidants, especially in their skin. They reduce inflammation and promote heart health.

Carbohydrates:

Carbohydrates boost the energy of a bearded dragon. 

Manganese:

Manganese also prevents inflammation and aids metabolism.

Vitamin C:

Vitamin C has many benefits for pet dragons. It strengthens your dragon’s vision, immune system, growth, and reproduction.

Vitamin K1:

This vitamin supports heart health by regulating blood clotting. It also improves the bone health of bearded dragons.

Water Content:

Blueberries are made of 85% water and are a good source of hydration for beardies. 

Why Can’t Bearded Dragons Have Blueberries Every Day?

If blueberries have so many benefits, why can’t bearded dragons eat them all the time as a staple diet?

Remember that, bearded dragons should eat fruits only as a treat, occasional snack, or topper, but not as a main meal or as a staple diet.

Blueberries also have some side effects or health risks for bearded dragons. The following are the health concerns of blueberries for bearded dragons:

Poor Calcium-to-Phosphorous Ratio:

When selecting any food for bearded dragons, the amount of calcium and phosphorous plays an important role. Calcium is very important for bearded dragon growth, bones, and overall well-being. On the other hand, phosphorous stops the absorption of calcium in bearded dragons and can cause calcium deficiency.

A food is considered healthy if it has more calcium than phosphorous, which means it has a good calcium-to-phosphorous ratio.

If a bearded dragon occasionally consumes food that is high in phosphorous, no harm will be there. But if a bearded dragon consumes high phosphorous frequently or daily, he’ll suffer from calcium deficiency which can cause weaker bones, broken tissues, or even metabolic bone disease (MBD).

Blueberries have an unsafe calcium-to-phosphorous ratio, they contain twice the phosphorous as compared to calcium.

Blueberries contain a very low amount of calcium as compared to phosphorous. So, eating them frequently can cause many health issues, even in severe cases, death of bearded dragons.

Too Much Sugar:

Although blueberries contain less sugar as compared to other berries, but it is still very high for bearded dragons. So, blueberries are better than other berries but still, their consumption should be moderate.

High sugar in the daily menu of bearded dragons can cause obesity, tooth decay, diabetes, heart problems, and even death.

Blueberries are high in sugar, with 10g of sugar per 100g serving. In captivity, bearded dragons don’t have a place to scurry around and burn calories. So, feeding blueberries daily can cause obesity, diabetes, heart problems, and tooth decay.

Oxalate Content:

Blueberries, like many other fruits, contain oxalic acid, which can bind to calcium and hinder its absorption in the body. Bearded dragons require adequate calcium levels for proper bone growth and muscle function. Excessive consumption of high-oxalate foods, such as blueberries, can lead to calcium deficiency over time, resulting in metabolic bone disease (MBD). MBD is a serious condition characterized by weakened bones, deformities, and even fractures, which can significantly impact the overall health and well-being of the bearded dragon.

Highly Acidic:

Blueberries have an average PH value of 3.2, which is very acidic for bearded dragons. A high acidic diet can cause digestive discomfort in bearded dragons. To neutralize this effect, one can mix blueberries with other fruits of suitable PH value. Due to the high acidic content of blueberries, their consumption requires moderation.

Digestive Issues:

Blueberries have a large amount of dietary fiber. Although these fibers are good for proper digestive function, but excess of these fibers can also disrupt the digestive system. Eating too many blueberries can cause many digestive issues including diarrhea or constipation in bearded dragons.

Can Bearded Dragons Eat Frozen Blueberries?

The safety of frozen blueberries to fresh blueberries is a topic of debate.

  • Frozen blueberries have less pesticides and more preservatives
  • Fresh blueberries have more pesticides.

As for nutrients, both blueberries are almost the same, the difference between them is usually negligible. So, you can feed the frozen as well as fresh organic blueberries to a bearded dragon.

Can Bearded Dragons Eat Blueberry Leaves?

Yes, the bearded dragon can eat blueberries leaves but it is not recommended to feed them too many. You can mix occasional leaves in freshly picked blueberries. But don’t make it a regular thing.

How Can Bearded Dragons Eat Blueberries?

Feeding blueberries to your dragon is quite easy. You can follow these steps to prepare blueberries for your bearded dragon:

  • Choose healthy and fresh blueberries. Don’t feed your dragon rotten berries or berries which are on the verge of rotting. These can cause health issues and make your dragon sick.
  • Choose smaller blueberries for young bearded dragons.
  • If you are feeding frozen blueberries, properly thaw/ melt them before feeding.
  • Remove stems.
  • Thoroughly wash the blueberries to remove all the chemicals and dirt.
  • Although bearded dragons can eat whole blueberries, but it is recommended to slice them in half to avoid choking hazards.
  • Place the blueberries in a food bowl or mix them with other veggies and serve your dragon.
  • Enjoy the show.
  • Remember that, blueberries can rot very quickly in a bearded dragon’s tank. So, always remove uneaten blueberries.

Final Thoughts

Bearded dragons can safely eat two to three blueberries once a week. Blueberries have many benefits for your beardie including boosting the immune system, strengthening bones, reducing inflammation, etc. But blueberries has also a negative side for dragons due to poor calcium-to-phosphorous ratio and high sugar levels. For this reason, their consumption should be moderate.

If you have any questions about bearded dragons or want us to post on some specific topic, feel free to contact us.

Bearded Dragons And Blueberries – FAQs

How many blueberries bearded dragons eat?

A healthy bearded dragon can eat 2-3 blueberries once a week.

Can baby bearded dragons eat blueberries?

Yes, baby bearded dragons can also eat blueberries but you need to prepare them more carefully. Select the smaller blueberries or cut them into smaller sizes. The size of the largest piece of blueberries should be smaller than the distance between the eyes of your dragon.

Can bearded dragons eat blueberries whole?

Yes, bearded dragons can eat blueberries whole but to avoid choking hazards, it is recommended to cut them half into smaller pieces.

Can bearded dragons eat dried blueberries?

Yes, bearded dragons can eat dried blueberries but it is not recommended. Dried blueberries are high in sugar levels, pose a choking hazard, and lack hydration.

Can bearded dragons eat the skin of blueberries?

Yes, bearded dragons can eat the peel/ skin of blueberries as it is edible and contain some nutrients as well as fibers. However, feeding the skin is not necessary as skin is difficult for a bearded dragon to digest. But still, if you want to feed the skin along with blueberries, cut the berries in smaller sizes so that your dragon can easily eat them.

Can bearded dragons eat wild blueberries?

Wild blueberries have too many pesticides and other contaminants. So, it is wise to avoid those.

Can bearded dragons eat canned blueberries?

Canned blueberries have added sugars and preservatives. So, it is not a better option as compared to fresh or frozen blueberries for bearded dragons.

Can bearded dragons eat blueberries if they are suffering from metabolic bone disease?

Blueberries are low in calcium and high in phosphorous can cause calcium deficiency. In MBD, calcium is the main requirement of the bearded dragon. So, feeding blueberries during MBD is not recommended.

Further Read

Leave a Comment