Can Bearded Dragons Eat Grapes? 3 Benefits | Full Guide

Bearded Dragons

can bearded dragons eat grapes
05 Jun, 2024

The common name for this reptile is the bearded dragon, and its scientific name is Pogona vitticeps. If you dig a little deeper into the taxonomy of this reptile, you’ll discover that it belongs to the Agamidae family and is classified as ‘Reptilia.’ The scientific name for this animal is a combination of the Greek words Pogona (Pogon), which means beard, and Vitticeps, which means striped beard.

Bearded dragons are native to Australia’s central and southern regions. They are omnivores with a lifespan of 15 years or more, and as cold-blooded creatures, the bearded dragon needs warm climates to survive. Due to its affection and curiosity, this reptile is a beloved pet.

As an omnivore, the bearded dragon has no particular dietary preferences. They consume insects like locusts, crickets, and cockroaches, and they will also munch on fruit, leaves, and flowers. Your beardie loves to snack on fruits, but can bearded dragons eat grapes? In this article, we’ll find out.

Can Bearded Dragons Eat Grapes?

Grapes are safe for bearded dragons to eat (under certain conditions). Grapes are a simple option for children and adults looking for a quick, wholesome treat. But are they also safe for your bearded dragon? These reptiles can eat various fruits, grapes being just one of them.

Bearded dragons typically prefer fruits over vegetables and greens. A bearded dragon can eat grapes with or without the skin, but not grape seeds. You’ll have to check each grape for seeds before giving it to them.

Can Bearded Dragons Eat Grapes

How Often Can Bearded Dragons Have Grapes?

Grapes should only be given to bearded dragons as a treat on occasion. Your bearded dragon’s health will determine how frequently you can feed it.

It should be safe to give your dragon one or two grapes once a week if he does not have diabetes, obesity, or any other health issues. 

Feeding your dragon once a month is safer if your dragon has any health problems. Of course, you should consult your veterinarian first to ensure they won’t hurt your dragon, even in a small amount.  

Can Bearded Dragons Eat Green, Purple, and Red Grapes?

Yes, bearded dragons can eat green, purple, and red grapes, and the nutritional values of various grape colors don’t differ all that much.

The primary distinction is that red and black grapes contain the antioxidants known as anthocyanins, giving them their color. Although green grapes lack these antioxidants, they contain other chemicals that may be missing from red or black grapes.

The best action plan is to change the grape color weekly to ensure that your bearded dragon consumes all the various micronutrients.

Why Can’t Bearded Dragons Have Grapes All the Time?

Adding grapes frequently to the bearded dragon’s diet can harm their health. The key explanations are listed below.

Risk of Choking 

Ensure that the grapes you give your dragon are seedless. Seeds can be fatal to your beardie, and they are not only a choking hazard but can also cause gut impaction if swallowed, which means they will block your beardie’s digestive tract and make defecation impossible. It can lead to severe problems and even death if not addressed immediately.

Excessive and Inadequate Hydration 

Fruits that are mostly water, like grapes, can cause severe dehydration in pets if consumed in large quantities. It is because excessive hydration can lead to diarrhea, which in turn can cause your pet to become severely dehydrated.  

Bearded dragons are native to the Australian deserts and accustomed to experiencing prolonged dehydration. However, they are not accustomed to severe and ongoing dehydration.

MBD (Metabolic Bone Disease) 

Believe us when we say that no pet owner wants to deal with metabolic bone disease because it causes your beardie excruciating pain and, in severe cases, can result in paralysis and death! 

3 Benefits of Grapes for Bearded Dragons

Grapes, like most fruits, contain various nutrients and minerals that can benefit a bearded dragon. Here are three benefits of grapes for bearded dragons:

1: High Fiber Content Prevents Constipation

Grapes are rich in fiber, which is very important for your beardies’ gut health. Fiber, especially soluble fiber, can lower blood sugar levels by slowing the absorption of sugar, and it prevents constipation and makes defecation easier for your bearded dragon.

2: Low Acidic Content Doesn’t Damage the Stomach Lining

Grapes are acidic, just like the majority of fruits. The pH of grapes ranges from 3.5 to 4.5, making them less acidic than other fruits. Grapes are acidic, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re bad for your beardie, even though the pH can vary depending on the variety or method of consumption.

3: Antioxidants Save from Inflammation

Antioxidants, particularly those found in the skin of red grapes, can lower the risk of heart disease, reduce inflammation, and even keep your dragon from developing allergies.

3 Dangers of Feeding Grapes to Bearded Dragons

Grapes can be harmful to your bearded dragon for a few different reasons. Let me explain why.

1: Grapes are High in Oxalate

Minerals in the body, including calcium, are bound by oxalates. Oxalates’ ability to bind to calcium and prevent your beardie’s body from absorbing it can negatively affect their health. Even though grapes don’t have a lot of oxalates, feeding bearded dragons an excessive amount of them can cause calcium deficiencies.

2: Grape Seeds Can be Harmful 

The seeds in grapes can cause impaction, which means that your beardie will be unable to defecate. If your beardie cannot defecate for an extended period, they may become very ill or even die.

3: Grapes Have a High Water Content

Bearded dragons are native to hot desert climates and do not require much water to survive (though you should still provide your beardie with a water bowl).

However, most of the water that bearded dragons require comes from their diet. Your beardie may get diarrhea if they drink too much water. Diarrhea can cause dehydration, which can lead to a variety of health issues.

How to Prepare Grapes for Your Bearded Dragons?

There are several ways to feed grapes to your bearded dragon. Even if you buy seedless grapes, ensure they are all seedless before giving them to your beardie. Remove any seeds you come across to avoid impaction.

You can feed your bearded dragon grapes with the skin on. Bearded dragons easily digest grape skin.

Before serving your beardie, cut each grape into four smaller pieces. Your beardie will find it easier to grab and eat smaller grape pieces with their tongue. You can give your lizard grapes by themselves as a treat or serve them with vegetables to encourage your bearded dragon to consume more of their greens.

Although you shouldn’t give your bearded dragon frequent access to grapes, you can provide them with grape leaves whenever you like. Grape leaves are a fantastic food source for your lizard because they are high in calcium and protein and have a low phosphorus content.

Conclusion

Grapes are safe for a bearded dragon to eat, but you should only give them occasionally because of their high oxalate content. You should always remove any grape seeds because they could result in impaction if consumed.

A bearded dragon can be fed grape plant leaves more frequently than grapes because they are a superior source of calcium and protein.

Understanding the appropriate foods for your bearded dragon is a surefire way to guarantee your pet’s health and happiness. So, can bearded dragons eat grapes? Yes, you can undoubtedly give your bearded dragon grapes once in a while. Just watch out not to go overboard.

FAQs

Why should you limit the amount of grapes they eat?

Because oxalates bind calcium, grapes will deplete some of it even if you give your bearded dragon plenty of calcium daily. Also, grape seeds have the potential to impact bearded dragons, rendering them incapable of eliminating their waste until they receive medical attention or pass away.

Can bearded dragons eat grape skin?

Grape skin is simple to digest, so bearded dragons can eat it without issues because they can easily swallow it. However, that does not imply that bearded dragons should consume a lot of grapes every day.

Can bearded dragons eat grape leaves?

Grape leaves have high calcium and protein content while being low in phosphorus. Bearded dragons can get a lot of their nutrition from grape leaves.

Can bearded dragons eat grape seeds?

No, your beardie shouldn’t eat grape seeds. Grapes are high in nutrients in all parts, including the seeds. On the other hand, the seeds can cause compaction in the bearded dragon’s stomach, preventing it from pooping.

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