Can Bearded Dragons Eat BlackBerries? 7 Benefits| Full Guide

According to popular belief, bearded dragons are the best choice for a pet reptile. However, these creatures that appear simple to handle require a lot of upkeep regarding their food and diet.

If you own a bearded dragon, you already understand how important it is to give it a nutritious meal daily. Bearded Dragons love fruits; one fruit you might want to feed is blackberries. But can bearded dragons eat blackberries? Blackberries are wonderfully delicious and would help to add some variety to your bearded dragon’s diet. 

It is always a good idea to verify before introducing something new to your bearded dragon’s diet because not all fruits are safe. As with all fruit, blackberries are a good option for a change in your pet’s diet, but in moderation and occasionally.

Can Bearded Dragons Eat BlackBerry?

Yes! Blackberries, delicious addition to any diet, are edible to bearded dragons.

However, it is essential to consider the amount, when, and how it should be given. Berries may be full of nutrients that a bearded dragon would wish for, but eating out of the diet may cause more loss than thought.

So, when it comes to feeding blackberries to the bearded dragon, it’s crucial to understand the benefits and potential risks of blackberries to bearded dragon’s life.

How Often Can Bearded Dragons Eat Blackberries?

You should feed your bearded dragon blackberries no more than once every other week at maximum. Even though the blackberries are chock full of nutrients, limiting the number of berries is good.

You should only give two or three berries during frequent feedings.

You might find it tempting to regularly include blackberries in your lizard’s diet, given all the healthy vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants they contain. However, doing so will simply produce a host of health issues that could perhaps reduce the lifespan of your bearded dragon.

Like strawberries and blueberries, blackberries are sweet and packed with nutrients but also have a few unpleasant traits. And the unpleasant traits may harm the dragon when overfed.

7 Benefits of Blackberry for Bearded Dragons

Most bearded dragons are happy to consume blackberries, a sweet, juicy, and tart delicacy. Since these lizards love fruits, many herpetology enthusiasts like to add them to greens as decorations.

1: Fiber for Healthy Digestive system 

Blackberries include fiber, which is essential for a healthy digestive system. Dragons benefit greatly from fiber in the right amount, but too much fiber can lead to diarrhea and other digestive problems.

2: Vitamins for a Better Immune System 

Vitamins A, C, and K are abundant in blackberries. Thus, a few blackberries now and then can help your bearded dragon’s blood, organs, tissues, bones, and growth, immune system, and vision. 

Beardies require a variety of vitamins, but vitamin D is the most important. Blackberries have all the necessary B vitamins that support healthy energy levels, metabolism, and brain function but lack vitamin D.

3: Antioxidants Prevent Oxidation 

Antioxidants prevent oxidation, a chemical process resulting in free radicals and cascade events that could harm an organism’s cells.

Blackberries are among the berries known for their high antioxidant content, and these anti-inflammatory compounds can guard the cells of your bearded dragon.

4: Minerals Boost Metabolism 

Along with their vitamin content, blackberries also contain essential minerals. These include manganese and zinc, which helps to keep the bearded dragon’s metabolism and immune system in great shape.

The other minerals include phosphorus and calcium, which are necessary for healthy bone growth if found in the proper ratio and healthy range for your bearded dragon.

A few blackberries can give bearded dragons an extra dose of these minerals now and then.

5: Calcium to Phosphorus Ratio for Strong Bones 

The importance of the calcium and phosphorus ratio in establishing food safety for bearded dragons cannot be neglected. Blackberries are within the healthy range with a calcium to phosphorus ratio of 1.3:1, which makes blackberries safe to eat for bearded dragons if given caution. 

6: Water Level is Good for Hydration

The high water content in blackberries makes them a good choice for occasional treats for bearded dragons, and it also prevents the problem of constipation. So, blackberry can be a healthy option than any other snack item.

7: Nutritional Fact Makes it Healthy Option

Blackberries are rich in nutrition, so the good value of carbohydrates, protein, fats, copper, selenium, folate, and choline makes them a good choice for bearded dragons. But it’s important to note that any such nutrition can have adverse effects when given above moderation. So, it’s preferred that bearded dragons should be offered blackberries in moderation.

3 Risk of Feeding Blackberries to Bearded Dragons 

Even though your dragon will adore them, blackberries are not the best choice for the main food for a variety of reasons:

1: Sugar Causes Obesity 

Like mango and grapes, blackberries are also rich in sugar content. Blackberries contain approximately 7g of sugar per serving, which can be a considerable amount for a bearded dragon. Having your beardie on a low-sugar diet is crucial to avoid the danger of obesity, heart failure, blood pressure problems, or other health issues.

2: High Water Level Lead to Diarrhea 

Blackberries contain up to   88% of water, which can be proven wrong and right solely upon how many blackberries your bearded dragon eats. A few yummy blackberries per occasion can provide an effective hydration boost to keep your bearded dragon hydrated. Still, too many can lead to diarrhea which can dehydrate your little bearded pet very quickly.

3: Oxalates Cause Muscle Bone Disease 

Blackberries are safe for bearded dragons as long as given with a proper diet plan as it contains oxalates that can be dangerous if given in excessive amounts. It is so because excess oxalates interupts calcioum absorption to the body.

What are Oxalates?    

Oxalates are the organic compounds found in many plants and fruits; they bind to many minerals, including calcium, and prevent the body from observing them.

The bearded dragons must consume calcium for strong bones and avoid contracting diseases like any other reptile.

Metabolic Bone Disease is a terrifying condition that affects many pet dragons but can be avoided with the proper treatment. It’s distressing to see your bearded dragon lying there immobilised or struggling to move with reduced limbs.

How to Prepare Blackberries for Your Bearded Dragons?

Typically, the bearded dragon can consume the blueberries and as a whole by bearded dragons. On the other hand, blackberries can occasionally be trickier and more challenging for a beardie to mash up in their mouth. 

Wash the Berries Thoroughly

Before letting your bearded dragon consume the blackberries, wash them thoroughly, and take extra care to inspect any residue or debris. All that should be offered is the tender berry, which implies that you will remove any remaining stem pieces and leaves. Bearded dragons can theoretically consume blackberry leaves. But they contain relatively few nutrients (making them not worth the trouble).

Chop If in Doubt 

Blackberries can typically be consumed whole by bearded dragons, and it shouldn’t be a problem handling bits of average size.

Larger blackberries, however, could require a little bit more processing. The same is true for younger baby bears that you feed tougher treats like berries. Just cut the blackberries in half if they seem a bit large.

Source Organic Berries 

Organic source-bought berries should be your priority and your best option.

Also, blackberry compotes, jams, and other processed foods should not be given to your bearded dragon. While cooked and processed berries have a comparable flavor, they don’t have the same nutritional value, and they could equally be calorie-free. Moreover, sugar is usually added to prepared foods!

Extra Servings May Cause Nausea

Bearded dragons will admire the plain blackberries and won’t require much of your effort. More than enough to lure them in is the aroma!

You can incorporate them into a greens mixture if you like. By doing this, you can enhance the flavor of the entire dish, encouraging your bearded dragon to consume every morsel.

Keep a watch on your bearded dragon in the days that follow, significantly if you recently added this fruit to their diet. If they aren’t used to eating blackberries, they can feel nauseous. If that’s the case, start low and work up to the suggested dose.

Thaw Before Feeding Frozen Food

If you decide to use frozen blackberries, ensure they are sufficiently thawed and at room temperature but never give your bearded dragon too many blackberries.

Conclusion 

So, when it comes to can bearded dragons eat blackberries, the answer is yes. You can feed blackberries to your pet dragon if you keep an eye on its consumption and take a little time to prepare the fruit. Blackberries are a great snack to include in their diet if you can achieve that.

It is important to remember that blackberries are full of water and can be used to hydrate a bearded dragon. 

Do not neglect the importance of having the appropriate quantities of calcium, phosphorus, and high water content. But excessive use can cause health problems, diarrhea, and ultimately dehydration. Therefore, offering blackberries a few times every other week is good.

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