Can Bearded Dragons Eat Blackberries? Benefits and Risks
If you have too many blackberries in your fridge, you might wonder, “Can bearded dragons eat blackberries?” I’m happy to tell you that it’s okay to give your bearded dragon blackberries. Bearded Dragons can enjoy eating blackberries as a tasty treat sometimes.
It’s safe for bearded dragons to eat them because they’re not poisonous. But they have oxalates, which can stop calcium from being absorbed properly. Because of that one reason, you should only give blackberries to bearded dragons occasionally as a special treat.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Blackberries At All?
Blackberries are good for bearded dragons. They help keep them healthy in lots of ways. Blackberries have lots of vitamins, so they’re a great pick! Each bite has lots of Vitamins A, C, and K.
These vitamins help keep your reptile’s immune system strong. Meanwhile, Vitamin K helps keep tissues healthy and helps blood clot. Also, blackberries have important nutrients like Vitamin B6 and folate.
They make the central nervous system work better, speed up metabolism, and control how red blood cells are made. Blackberries have lots of good vitamins, and they also have many important minerals.
They contain a good amount of magnesium, zinc, potassium, and other important nutrients. Blackberries are well-known for having lots of antioxidants and are a good choice to stay hydrated.
Besides tasting good, the berries are made up of around 88 percent water. So, giving your bearded dragon one of these can help keep them well-hydrated. Bearded dragons need a lot of calcium to stay healthy.
Pet bearded dragons don’t get sunlight every day like wild bearded dragons do. Because of this, they can’t get Vitamin D3, which is important for their bodies to absorb calcium. Blackberries have more calcium than phosphorus.
Even after phosphorus has taken what it needs, there’s still calcium left. It falls within the safe spectrum for bearded dragons and poses minimal risk of contributing to metabolic bone disease.
Blackberries have lots of fiber. This helps your bearded dragon digest food regularly. Eating enough fiber keeps their tummy working well.
Do Bearded Dragons Like Blackberries?
Because blackberries taste slightly sour, some bearded dragons might like them, but others might not find them tasty. Before giving your bearded dragon more sliced blackberries, give them one or two small pieces to see if they like it or if it upsets their stomach.
As a good pet owner, it’s important to not give your bearded dragon too many blackberries every day, even if they really like them.
Nutritional Facts for Blackberries
Water | 88.2 grams (g) |
Carbohydrates | 9.61 g |
Fat | 0.49 g |
Protein | 1.39 g |
Fiber | 5.3 g |
Calcium | 29 milligrams (mg) |
Phosphorus | 22 mg |
Beta-carotene (converts to vitamin A) | 128 micrograms (µg) |
Energy | 43 kcal |
Dietary fiber | 5.3g |
Sugars | 4.9g |
Vitamin C | 21mg |
Vitamin B-6 | 0.03mg |
Vitamin A | 11µg |
Magnesium | 20mg |
Potassium | 162mg |
Lutein, zeaxanthin | 118µg |
Beta-carotene | 128µg |
Health Benefits of Blackberries for Bearded Dragons
- Fiber — eating more fiber helps your Bearded Dragons stomach digest food better. It makes food move through your bearded dragon’s body smoothly. However, eating too much fiber causes diarrhea. So, it’s important to eat the right amount.
- Antioxidants — these help protect against harmful particles called free radicals in the blood.
- Vitamins — bearded dragons need different vitamins, and vitamin D is super important for them. Blackberries don’t have vitamin D, but they have lots of important B vitamins. These B vitamins help with energy, metabolism, and keeping the brain healthy.
- Minerals — bearded dragons need different minerals to stay healthy. The most important ones are calcium and phosphorus. Blackberries have both, but they also have oxalates, which might not be good for bearded dragons.
- Water Content — bearded dragons don’t need as much water as some other pets, but they still need the right amount for their type. Fruits like blackberries, which have lots of water in them, help keep them hydrated.
Potential Risks of Blackberries for Bearded Dragons
Giving blackberries to your bearded dragon can be risky. Too many blackberries might make their stomach upset. They have lots of fiber which might not be good for their digestion and could give them diarrhea.
Blackberries have a bit of sugar, but not as much as many other fruits. This is good for bearded dragons because too much sugar can cause dental problems for them. So, blackberries are probably a good choice for them among fruits.
Blackberries can be dangerous for bearded dragons because they might choke on them if they’re not cut up before feeding. To keep your pet safe, just cut the food into small pieces before adding it to their salad.
This helps avoid any potential risks. In simple words, eating blackberries in small amounts is usually safe.
Blackberry Health Concerns
Overall, blackberries are good for your bearded dragon and don’t have many health risks. Blackberries are different from many fruits because they have more calcium and less phosphorus.
This is good for your bearded dragon. Blackberries have less sugar than lots of other fruits. The only small problem is their pH level.
Blackberry Acidity
Blackberries usually have a pH of about 4.1. This means they are a bit more acidic than most fruits. Too much sourness in food can make bearded dragons’ mouths and stomachs hurt.
It can also give them tummy troubles and make their digestion uncomfortable. Blackberries are small, so you can easily mix them with other foods to help balance their acidity and reduce any discomfort.
How Often Can You Give Blackberries To Your Bearded Dragon?
Give your bearded dragon blackberry treats no more than once every two weeks. When you feed them, only give two or three berries each time.
If you are giving them other fruits, you might want to give even less of those fruits! Bearded dragons that eat a lot of fruit should only have blackberries about once a month.
Because blackberries have many good vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, you might want to add them often to your lizard’s diet. But doing this can make your bearded dragon sick and may not let them live for a long time.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Blackberries Every Day?
Bearded dragons can like eating blackberries sometimes, but they shouldn’t eat them every day.
Eating lots of blackberries often can make your bearded dragon gain weight, hurt their bones, and cause stomach problems because they have lots of sugar, phosphorus, and oxalates.
Give your bearded dragon blackberries only once or twice a week. This helps keep their diet balanced and keeps them healthy.
Make sure to give different kinds of food to your bearded dragon that have important nutrients. Ask a vet for advice on what’s best for your bearded dragon.
How to Feed Blackberries to Bearded Dragons?
Bearded dragons can eat blackberries, but not too much because they are a bit acidic. So, give them just a little as a treat. You only need to give your bearded dragon blackberries once or twice a week. That’s enough for them.
Preparing Blackberries
Choose fresh blackberries. They’re usually clean and don’t have extra sugar like some frozen fruits you buy at the store. Before you begin getting the berries ready, make sure to wash them well.
This helps get rid of any dirt, bits that are loose, or pesticides they might have touched. Some blackberries might be bigger than you expect. Remember, bearded dragons sometimes eat food that’s too big for them to digest well.
So, it’s important not to give them berries bigger than the space between their eyes. Some people choose to cut berries in half to make them smaller, but this can get messy.
Instead, you could keep the big berries for yourself and give the small ones to your pet bearded dragon. Serve the berries with foods that aren’t acidic to help lessen any discomfort from the sourness of the blackberries.
How Can Bearded Dragons Eat Blackberries?
You can give blackberries to bearded dragons sometimes as a treat. Make sure they’re new, organic, and washed well. Cut the blackberries into small pieces that your bearded dragon can eat in one bite. Only give a little bit at a time, like a few pieces each time, and just once a week.
Watch your dragon closely for any signs of unhappiness and make sure it eats a balanced diet with leafy greens, veggies, and bugs. Avoid dried blackberries and blackberry juice because they have a lot of sugar.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Frozen Blackberries?
To avoid tummy problems, make sure you completely defrost frozen blackberries before giving them to your bearded dragon. To unfreeze frozen blackberries, put them in a container that’s safe for the microwave.
Then, heat them in the microwave for thirty seconds at a time until they’re no longer frozen. If you check the berries after each time you heat them and keep heating them until they are completely thawed, they will thaw quite fast.
Let the blackberries sit for around thirty minutes without putting them in the microwave. Simply allow them to warm up naturally.
If your bearded dragon has problems after eating food from the freezer, send a stool sample to an exotic animal vet to check for possible internal infections.
Can My Bearded Dragon Eat Dried Blackberries?
Dried fruits have more sugar than fresh fruits, so they are not good for bearded dragons. Dried blackberries are especially dangerous and should not be given to them.
Eating too much sugar can make bearded dragons get fat, have diarrhea, and get fatty liver disease.
Can Bearded Dragons Drink Blackberry Juice?
Because it has a lot of sugar, blackberry juice might make your pet bearded dragon gain weight or even get diabetes. The best way to keep them hydrated is to use water.
Can Bearded Dragons Have Wild-Picked Blackberries?
Even though natural food might seem healthier, you shouldn’t feed your bearded dragon wild blackberries. You can never know what chemicals or substances might be on the berries.
If something unknown is there, your bearded dragon could get very sick or even die. So, it’s better to stay away from it completely.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Blackberry Leaves?
Can blackberry leaves be eaten by bearded dragons? Blackberry leaves are okay for bearded dragons to eat, but they don’t have much nutrition. So, it’s not the best idea to feed them to your pet all the time.
Remember to include some blackberry leaves in your lizard’s food if you plan to feed them. These leaves don’t help bearded dragons much, so it’s better not to give them regularly.
Do Blackberries Kill Bearded Dragons?
Blackberries are safe for bearded dragons. You can sometimes give them as a treat without any worry. When you start giving new meals, it’s really important to remember these things:
It’s very unlikely that your bearded dragons will have an allergic reaction in this situation. But if they did, it could be very serious and even fatal sometimes. To stop small bearded dragons from choking, cut blackberries into tiny pieces before feeding them.
Do Bearded Dragons Eat Berries?
Yes, bearded dragons can eat berries. Fruits like strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries are good for bearded dragons. They have important vitamins and things called antioxidants that help keep them healthy.
It’s good to eat berries, but don’t eat too many because they have sugar. Remember to wash berries well and cut them into small pieces to make them easier to eat.
To avoid pesticides, don’t feed wild berries to your bearded dragon. Berries are a good treat, but they shouldn’t replace their main foods like vegetables and insects.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Blueberries?
You may be curious, can bearded dragons eat blueberries? Are they safe? Blueberries, along with strawberries, apples, and grapes, are some of the safest fruits for bearded dragons to eat.
Bearded dragons shouldn’t eat too much fruit, but it’s okay to give them a treat of a few blueberries once a week.
Berries Your Bearded Dragon Should Not Eat
Don’t give these berries to your bearded dragon because they might make them throw up, have diarrhea, drool a lot, get seizures, or have trouble breathing if they eat them:
- Baneberries
- Pokeberries
- Juniper berries
- Dogwood berries
- Mistletoe berries
- Gooseberries
- Salmonberries
- Holly berries
Other Healthy Fruits for Bearded Dragons
Here are some more good foods for bearded dragons:
- Slices of apple without seeds
- Chunks of mango
- Juicy peaches
- Seedless grapes
- Blueberries
- Pitted plums
- Sweet pears
- Slices of apricot with the pit taken out
- Fresh kiwi
- Raspberries
- Chunks of pineapple
Which Foods Are Not Safe for Bearded Dragons?
Some foods that are good for people can make your pet sick. Don’t give these foods to your bearded dragon:
- Macadamia nuts
- Almonds
- Pistachios
- Pecans
- Walnuts
- Garlic
- Chives
- Chocolate
- Milk
- Cooked bones
- Avocados
- Grapes
- Raisins
- Mushrooms
- Onions
- Tomatoes
- Coconut
Do Bearded Dragons Eat Apples?
Can bearded dragons eat apples? Great news: Bearded dragons can enjoy apples once a week! In reality, apples stand out as a safer option among fruits for dragons to consume regularly. But remember, bearded dragons don’t need fruit every day.
Do Bearded Dragons Eat Watermelon?
Bearded dragons also enjoy fruits such as apples, strawberries, watermelon, and peaches. In addition to enjoying delicious fruits and vegetables, dragons will consume nearly any moving insect.
But, it’s very important that the insects they eat are safe and don’t have any parasites or pesticides.
Do Bearded Dragons Eat Blackberries Raw?
Bearded dragons can indeed consume raw blackberries. These berries are safe for them and offer vital nutrients such as vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants.
Make sure the berries are ready to eat, washed well to remove any pesticides, and eaten in small amounts because they have natural sugars.
To stay safe, it’s a good idea to cut them into small pieces so they’re easier to eat and lessen the chance of choking. And when you give your bearded dragon new foods, watch out for any bad reactions.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Cherries?
Sometimes, bearded dragons can have cherries as a special snack. But it’s important to take out the seeds and only give them a little bit.
Eating lots of cherries, which have a lot of sugar, could make your bearded dragon gain weight or have tummy problems. Make sure you wash them well to get rid of any pesticides or chemicals.
Conclusion:
Bearded dragons can eat blackberries sometimes, but it’s better if you only give them this fruit once a week. Blackberries have something called oxalates. If your bearded dragon eats too many, it might make their body lose calcium.
So, it’s good to only have a little bit and not too often. Try giving your bearded dragon more than just blackberries to eat. There are lots of fruits that are safe for them to enjoy. If you make sure that each new fruit you bring is safe, you’re doing great!
FAQs
What is Beardie’s favorite fruit?
Best Fruits for Bearded Dragons:
1. Grapes (not green ones)
2. Apples
3. Berries (like raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries)
4. Sometimes tomatoes
What fruits can bearded dragons not eat?
It’s smart to avoid giving bearded dragons citrus fruits because they have a lot of acid, which isn’t good for them.
Can bearded dragons eat black raspberries?
You can give your bearded dragon blueberries, and you can also feed them raspberries. Both are good for them to eat.
Before giving raspberries to your bearded dragon, remember this: Only give them fresh raspberries. Letting raspberries get old, even if they’re not bad yet, can upset your dragon’s stomach and might make them sick.
Can a bearded dragon eat mangoes?
Bearded dragons really like eating mangoes because they find the sweet taste too good to resist. Giving your bearded dragon mango a few times each week helps them in many ways.
Mango has important Vitamins A and C. These vitamins are really important for keeping your bearded dragon healthy.