Can Bearded Dragons Eat Raspberries? beardeddragongeek.com

Can Bearded Dragons Eat Raspberries? Facts and FAQs

by

Raspberries, a sweet and tart-tasting fruit, are used in smoothies, salads, and desserts. This famous fruit is easily available at grocery stores. Like humans, lizards also love to eat it. But can bearded dragons eat raspberries? Is it safe for bearded dragons? What are the benefits and side effects of raspberries for bearded dragons?

To know it all, you need to read it all.

Raspberries And Bearded Dragons – FAQs

Can Bearded Dragons Have Raspberries?

The short answer is:

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

Bearded dragons need a varied diet filled with plants, greens, insects, and fruits for their better health. Raspberries are a great fruit to add to a bearded dragon’s diet as a snack, topper, salad, etc. However, they can’t eat it daily, so raspberry consumption should be in moderation.

What Are The Benefits Of Raspberries For Bearded Dragons?

Raspberries are sweet, and nutritious and offer a vastly different flavor to bearded dragons and they love to eat it. But are raspberries beneficial for bearded dragons? Raspberries are not only sweet, but they also offer many micronutrients to support bearded dragon’s health.

Vitamins:

Raspberries contain multiple Vitamins such as Vitamin C, K, and E. Vitamin C is vital for reproduction, tissue repair, organ development, and overall health. Vitamins K and E are responsible for blood clotting and cellular health.

Minerals:

Raspberries contain several minerals such as manganese, magnesium, iron, and potassium.

  • Manganese strengthens the metabolism.
  • Magnesium maintains blood sugar levels.
  • Iron strengthens bones and oxygenates the organs.
  • Potassium regulates blood pressure and nerve function.

Fiber:

Like all berries, raspberries are high in dietary fibers which promotes smooth digestion.

Carbohydrates:

They offer needed energy to bearded dragons.

Water:

Raspberries are 87% of water, making them an excellent source of hydration for bearded dragons.

Antioxidants:

All berries are rich in antioxidants. These antioxidants help bearded dragons to prevent cell oxidation and damage caused by free radicals.

How Often Should Bearded Dragons Eat Raspberries?

Raspberries may be choke-full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, but their consumption for bearded dragons should be in moderation.

A healthy bearded dragon can eat one to two (1-2) raspberries, every other week.

Bearded dragons need a well-balanced, calcium-rich diet for their well-being and raspberries can be a part of this varied diet. But it’s vital to make raspberries an occasional treat rather than a staple diet. Frequently consuming raspberries can cause many health issues for bearded dragons.

Why Can’t Bearded Dragons Eat Raspberries All the Time?

Raspberries have many nutritional benefits and are not generally harmful to bearded dragons but they still have some health concerns or side effects for bearded dragons.

Raspberries have the following health concerns:

Oxalates:

A cup of raspberries contains about 48 mg of oxalates, a moderate amount. Oxalic acid and oxalates bind with calcium during digestion and form calcium oxalate. Now, will not be absorbed by the bearded dragon’s body. Frequently consuming oxalates will cause calcium deficiency in bearded dragons which will further cause many health issues such as weaker bones, broken tissues, or even metabolic bone disease (MBD), which can also become fatal.

As raspberries only contain a moderate amount of oxalates, so, they are good as an occasional treat. They will only cause calcium deficiency if they are consumed frequently. That’s one of the main reasons to limit the amount of consumption of raspberries.

Poor Calcium To Phosphorous Ratio:

While selecting any food for bearded dragons, the calcium-to-phosphorous ratio is very important as bearded dragons need a lot of calcium and a very small amount of phosphorous for their overall well-being. Calcium is important for bearded dragons’ overall health, whereas, phosphorous stops the absorption of calcium in bearded dragon’s bloodstreams. If bearded dragons consume food that is high in phosphorous as compared to calcium for longer periods, it will cause calcium deficiency which can lead to many severe health issues including metabolic bone disease (MBD).

Raspberries contain more phosphorous than calcium with a poor calcium-to-phosphorous ratio of 1:1.2 (1 being calcium and 1.2 being phosphorous). So, frequently feeding raspberries to bearded dragons can cause calcium deficiency which will cause health issues.

To save your bearded dragon from MBD, you need to give him a well-balanced diet, calcium, and vitamin D3 supplements, a good tank setup including a good substrate, and heating, lighting, and humidity arrangements.

High sugar content:

Like all berries, raspberries are also high in sugar content. As bearded dragons need a very little amount of sugar in their balanced diet, so, any food with high sugar content is only fine in small doses as an occasional treat. Frequently consumption of high-sugar raspberries can cause obesity, heart problems, dehydration, diarrhea, blood pressure issues, tooth and gum decay, diabetes, or even heart failure. So, it is recommended to always limit the consumption of a high-sugar diet.

High Water Content:

Although the high water content of raspberries fulfills bearded dragon’s water needs. But consuming too many raspberries can cause overhydration which will cause diarrhea which will further cause dehydration.

How Can Bearded Dragons Eat Raspberries?

Like blueberries, bearded dragons can eat raspberries as a whole. You can consider the following points before feeding them to your pet bearded dragon:

  • Only choose fresh, raw, and organic raspberries. Avoid processed or cooked berries as they are less in nutrients and more in sugar content. Also, avoid aging or rotten raspberries can cause diarrhea to your dragon.
  • If you want to serve frozen berries, thaw them at room temperature. Frozen barriers are softer as compared to fresh barriers and can be messier. So, be prepared to clean the tank afterward.
  • Wash them thoroughly to clean dust and chemicals.
  • Remove leaves and stems.
  • Bearded dragons can eat the whole berries but if the barriers are larger than the distance between the eyes of bearded dragons, cut them into smaller pieces to avoid choking hazards.
  • Put the barriers into a food bowl and serve it to your bearded dragon.

You can add raspberries to greens and make an enticing salad for your bearded dragon. Raspberries can also be offered as an occasional training snack to your bearded dragon. After your dragon has eaten the barriers, make sure to clean the tank as barriers rot very quickly in a warm tank.

In case your dragon has running stool after eating barriers, you need to give him a warm bath. Sock your dragon into the water for 15 minutes so that he gets the required hydration. In case the diarrhea is not due to raspberries, you need to call the vet.

I hope all your questions have been answered. If you want to ask anything about bearded dragons, feel free to contact us.

Raspberries and Bearded Dragons – FAQs

Can Bearded Dragons Have Raspberry Seeds?

Yes, bearded dragons can eat raspberry seeds safely. A single raspberry has more than 120 seeds which are impossible to remove. These seeds are tiny and can easily pass through the pet dragon’s system without creating any hazard. Only feeding too many seeds will cause digestive issues which you will not face as you are feeding them raspberries as an occasional treat.  

Can Bearded Dragons Eat Raspberries Leaves?

Like the raspberries, bearded dragons can safely eat leaves in moderation. These leaves can’t take the place of standard greens.

Can You Feed Your Bearded Dragon Raspberry Jam?

As already answered, avoid cooked or processed raspberries as it is low in nutrients and high in sugar content.

Can Raspberries Cause Digestive Issues In Bearded Dragons?

Raspberries in moderation don’t cause any digestive issues. But frequently feeding them may lead to digestive upset.

Can Baby Bearded Dragons Eat Raspberries?

Yes, baby bearded dragons can eat raspberries in moderation as an occasional treat only.

What Are Alternatives Of Raspberries For Bearded Dragons?

Other barriers like blueberries or strawberries also offer the same amount of nutrients and are good alternatives to raspberries.

Can Bearded Dragons Eat Raspberries If They Are Undergoing Shedding?

Yes, Bearded dragons can eat raspberries during shedding.

Further Read

Leave a Comment