Can bearded dragons eat plums?

Yes! If you’re wondering “Can bearded dragons eat plums?” the answer is a qualified yes, bearded dragons can eat plums, in moderation. While beardies enjoy eating plums in the wild, it shouldn’t be fed to them daily.

In this article, we’ll explore the nutritional value of plums for bearded dragons and how to feed them properly. As well, see our full guide to What fruit can bearded dragons eat?

Table Of Contents

Plum Nutritional Value for Bearded Dragons:

Plums contains a lot of vitamins and minerals like:

Protein
Fiber (great for bearded dragon’s digestion)
Calcium
Vitamin C
Vitamin A
Vitamin K
Phosphorus
Potassium
Folate

Source: Web MD

How often should you give plums to your beardie?

A good rule of thumb is one slice of plum at most twice a month. If you’re feeding a baby or juvenile bearded dragon, you can aim for one slice every month.

Why can’t I feed my bearded dragon plum daily?

Plums have a high phosphorus to calcium ratio. In bearded dragons, it’s important to be aware of the phosphorus and calcium content in food you feed them. Why? Bearded dragons need a good amount of calcium to grow and to maintain bone and muscle health in adulthood. However, phosphorus inhibits the absorption of calcium if there’s too much of it, relative to the calcium amount.

You should aim for a 2:1 ratio of 2 parts calcium to 1 part phosphorus. We’ve outlined ways to increase your beardie’s calcium intake below as well.

Another reason beardies shouldn’t eat plums, or fruit in general, daily is that the sugar content is usually quite high in fruit, and this can lead to obesity and even diabetes in bearded dragons. This is especially true since most bearded dragons that are raised as pets don’t get as much exercise as they would in the wild. Their sedentary lifestyle doesn’t allow for daily fruit intake since they’re more prone to obesity from not moving as much as they usually would.

How to feed plums to your bearded dragon:

Cut your plums into small slices, removing the pit. It’s fine to feed your beardie plum skin.
Mix the slices into their vegetable bowl.
Observe your dragon to monitor for weight gain and obesity over time. Reduce all fruit intake if you notice this.

Can I feed my bearded dragon prunes?

Prunes, or dried plums, shouldn’t be fed to your bearded dragon. Dried fruit in general has more sugar and less nutrients than their non-dried counterpart. Too much sugar is bad for bearded dragons, who are already prone to obesity.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

What fruit is toxic to bearded dragons?

High acid fruit like citrus should never be fed to your bearded dragons. This includes lemons, limes, oranges, grapefruits, and kumquats. As well, avoid feeding them avocados!

What fruits do bearded dragons love?

Bearded dragons are drawn to fruits like melons, watermelons, peaches, strawberries, grapes, and apples (including applesauce). It’s hard to say what their favorite fruit is as each bearded dragon has their own individual tastes. Try out different fruits to see which one your dragon responds most enthusiastically towards.

Can bearded dragons eat nectarines?

Yes! Beardies can eat nectarines, although they should only do so in moderation. Read more about feeding a bearded dragon nectarines here.

Can bearded dragons eat peaches?

Yes, bearded dragons can eat peaches, and they’re considered one of the safer fruits to feed your beardie regularly.

Can bearded dragons eat apricots?

Bearded dragons can eat apricots, although they should eat them occasionally. Read more about feeding bearded dragons apricots here.

Can bearded dragons eat bananas?

While bearded dragons can eat bananas, they shouldn’t be given them regularly. There are other fruits with much higher nutritional values for beardies.

Can bearded dragons eat apples?

Yes, bearded dragons can eat apples, roughly once a week. Apples are actually one of the safer fruits to feed them regularly, as they provide a lot of nutrients that are great for bearded dragons. Make sure to remove the inner seeds and the outer skin of an apple, and to cut the fruit up into smaller chunks easier for your beardie to chew.

Can bearded dragons eat oranges?

No, bearded dragons should not eat oranges, or any citrus. The oxalic acid could seriously harm their digestive system.

Foods bearded dragons can eat:

If you’re wondering what you should feed a bearded dragon, read our guidelines below. Bearded dragons are insectivores, which just means they thrive on insects as well as plant materials.

If you have a juvenile bearded dragon (between six and eighteen months old), give them about 80% vegetables and 20% live insects.

As your bearded dragon transitions into adulthood, give them the inverse, so 20% plant materials and 80% insects.

Getting your bearded dragon calcium:

Calcium is especially vital to a bearded dragon, especially a young one that is still growing. There are several ways to introduce more calcium into your beardie’s diet:

Add in more high calcium vegetables like dandelions, bok choy, and collard greens.
Dust calcium powder over their insects and vegetables to increase calcium levels.
Make sure they’re getting their 12 hours of UVB exposure as they need this light to be able to properly absorb nutrients.

Vegetables to feed your bearded dragon:

Peas
Dandelion
Green beans
Cabbage
Zucchini
Pumpkin
See our full list of vegetables to feed your bearded dragon

Note: Bearded dragons can also eat fruit in moderation. See here for a complete list of fruits bearded dragons can eat.

Insects to feed your bearded dragon:

Crickets
Kingworms
Waxworms
See our full guides to insects you can feed your bearded dragon and worms to feed your bearded dragon

Quick note: Live insects raised by you or bought from the pet store are best because they’re definitely pesticide free.

How often should you feed a bearded dragon?

During the first 3-6 months of your beardie’s life, try to feed them four to five times a day by giving them as many insects as they’d like in 10 minutes. They’re growing and need lots of protein during this stage.

Reduce the number of feedings to about two to three times a day when they’re growing into their juvenile years (between six and eighteen months).

As they become an adult, you can feed them once daily.

What should a bearded dragon not eat?

Avoid feeding your bearded dragon:

Onions
Leeks
Chives
Mushrooms
Garlic
Acidic fruit like oranges, lemons
Rhubarb (can be toxic to them)
Avocados (surprisingly, these make them ill)
Eggplant
Insects caught in the wild (there may be pesticides covering them)
Venomous insects
Dairy of any kind
Rice and grains of any kind
Frogs or toads
Ham or other processed meats

Recap: Can bearded dragons eat plums?

Yes, bearded dragons can eat plums.
However, they shouldn’t eat plums daily. Feed them plums twice monthly at most.
Cut up a small slice, and sprinkle it into your beardie’s vegetable bowl.

For our full list of food to feed a bearded dragon, see our guide here.