The bearded dragon, scientifically known as Pogona vitticeps, belongs to the Agamidae family and the reptile class ‘Reptilia.’ Its name comes from the Greek words “Pogona” (meaning beard) and “Vitticeps” (meaning striped beard).
Native to central and southern Australia, bearded dragons are omnivores and can live for 15 years or more. As cold-blooded creatures, they require warm environments to thrive. Their friendly, curious nature makes them popular pets.
Bearded dragons don’t have specific dietary preferences. They eat insects like crickets, locusts, and cockroaches, as well as fruits, leaves, and flowers. If you’re wondering whether they can eat grapes, this article will provide the answer.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Grapes?
Grapes are safe for bearded dragons to eat, but only under certain conditions. While grapes are a quick, wholesome treat for both children and adults, you may wonder if they’re also safe for your bearded dragon. These reptiles can enjoy a variety of fruits, with grapes being one of them.
Bearded dragons generally prefer fruits to vegetables and greens. They can eat grapes with or without the skin but not the seeds. Be sure to remove any seeds from the grapes before offering them to your pet.
How Often Can Bearded Dragons Have Grapes?
Grapes should be given to bearded dragons only as an occasional treat. The frequency of feeding depends on your dragon’s health. If your dragon is healthy, one or two grapes once a week are generally safe, provided it has no diabetes, obesity, or other health issues. However, if your dragon has any health concerns, it’s safer to offer grapes just once a month. Always consult your veterinarian beforehand to ensure grapes are safe for your dragon, even in small amounts.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Green, Purple, and Red Grapes?
Yes, bearded dragons can eat green, purple, and red grapes, and the nutritional values of these grape colors are similar. The main difference is that red and black grapes have antioxidants called anthocyanins, which give them their color. Green grapes, on the other hand, lack these antioxidants but contain other beneficial chemicals that may not be present in red or black grapes. To provide your bearded dragon with all the necessary micronutrients, it’s best to alternate the grape color weekly.
Why Can’t Bearded Dragons Have Grapes All the Time?
Substituting grapes as part of their regular diet could pose risks to bearded dragons’ health, with multiple explanations provided below.
Risk of Choking
Ensure the grapes you provide for your dragon are seedless. Seeds pose a fatal risk to your beardie, acting as a choking hazard. If swallowed, they can cause gut impaction, blocking the digestive tract and preventing defecation. This can lead to severe health issues and even death if not addressed promptly.
Excessive and Inadequate Hydration
Fruits high in water, such as grapes, can lead to severe dehydration in pets if eaten in large amounts. The excess hydration can result in diarrhea, which may then cause your pet to become dangerously dehydrated.
Bearded dragons are native to the Australian deserts, where they endure extended periods of dehydration. Despite this, they are not adapted to severe or continuous dehydration.
MBD (Metabolic Bone Disease)
No pet owner wants to deal with metabolic bone disease. It causes your bearded dragon excruciating pain and, in severe cases, can lead to paralysis or even death.
3 Benefits of Grapes for Bearded Dragons
Grapes, like many fruits, offer several nutrients and minerals that can benefit your bearded dragon. Here are three key advantages of feeding grapes to your pet:
High Fiber Content Prevents Constipation
Grapes are high in fiber, which is essential for your beardie’s gut health. Soluble fiber helps lower blood sugar levels by slowing sugar absorption. It also prevents constipation and makes defecation easier for your bearded dragon.
Low Acidic Content Doesn’t Damage the Stomach Lining
Grapes are acidic, similar to most fruits. Their pH ranges from 3.5 to 4.5, making them less acidic than other fruits. While grapes are acidic, this doesn’t automatically mean they’re harmful to your bearded dragon, though the pH can differ depending on the variety or how they’re consumed.
Antioxidants Save from Inflammation
Antioxidants, especially those in red grape skins, help lower heart disease risk, reduce inflammation, and may prevent your dragon from developing allergies.
3 Dangers of Feeding Grapes to Bearded Dragons
Grapes may pose dangers to bearded dragons for several reasons. Allow me to elaborate.
Grapes are High in Oxalate
Minerals like calcium in the body can bind to oxalates. Oxalates prevent your bearded dragon from absorbing calcium, which can harm their health. While grapes have low oxalates, feeding them too many can lead to calcium deficiencies.
Grape Seeds Can be Harmful
Grape seeds can cause impaction in bearded dragons, preventing them from defecating. If your beardie cannot pass waste for too long, it may lead to severe illness or even death.
Grapes Have a High Water Content
Bearded dragons originate from hot desert climates and don’t need much water to survive. Still, it’s important to provide a water bowl for them. Most of their water intake comes from their diet. If your beardie drinks too much water, it could develop diarrhea. Diarrhea can lead to dehydration, which may cause various health problems.
How to Prepare Grapes for Your Bearded Dragons?
You can feed your bearded dragon grapes in a few different ways. Even with seedless grapes, double-check that they’re all seedless before offering them to your beardie. Remove any seeds to prevent impaction.
You can leave the skin on the grapes, as bearded dragons digest it easily. To make it easier for your beardie to eat, cut each grape into four smaller pieces. Your lizard can grab these with their tongue more easily. Grapes can be given as a treat on their own or paired with vegetables to help your bearded dragon eat more greens.
While grapes shouldn’t be a regular part of your beardie’s diet, you can offer grape leaves often. They’re a great food option because they’re rich in calcium and protein and have low phosphorus.
Conclusion
Grapes are safe for your bearded dragon in moderation due to their high oxalate content. Always remove the seeds to avoid impaction.
You can feed grape plant leaves more often than grapes. They offer a better source of calcium and protein.
Choosing the right foods for your bearded dragon is essential for their health and well-being. So, can they eat grapes? Yes, but only occasionally, and be sure not to overfeed.
FAQs
Why should you limit the amount of grapes they eat?
Grapes can deplete calcium in your bearded dragon, even if you provide enough calcium daily, due to the oxalates binding with the calcium. Additionally, grape seeds may pose a risk to your bearded dragon. They can prevent the dragon from eliminating waste, which may require medical intervention or could lead to death.
Can bearded dragons eat grape skin?
Grape skin is easy for bearded dragons to digest, allowing them to eat it without problems. However, this doesn’t mean they should have grapes in large amounts every day.
Can bearded dragons eat grape leaves?
Grape leaves are rich in calcium and protein yet low in phosphorus. Bearded dragons can obtain significant nutrition from grape leaves.
Can bearded dragons eat grape seeds?
No, your bearded dragon shouldn’t eat grape seeds. While grapes are nutritious, their seeds can cause stomach compaction. This may prevent your beardie from being able to poop properly.