Yes! If you’re wondering “Can bearded dragons eat pomegranate?” the answer is a qualified yes, bearded dragons can eat pomegranate seeds, in moderation. While beardies enjoy the taste of pomegranate, it shouldn’t be fed to them daily.
In this article, we’ll explore the nutritional value of pomegranate for bearded dragons and how to feed them properly. As well, see our full guide to What fruit can bearded dragons eat?
Can bearded dragons eat pomegranate?
- Can bearded dragons eat pomegranate?
- Pomegranate Nutritional Value for Bearded Dragons:
- How often should you give pomegranate to your beardie?
- Why can’t I feed my bearded dragon pomegranate daily?
- How to feed pomegranate to your bearded dragon:
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
- Foods bearded dragons can eat:
- Getting your bearded dragon calcium:
- Vegetables to feed your bearded dragon:
- Insects to feed your bearded dragon:
- How often should you feed a bearded dragon?
- What should a bearded dragon not eat?
- Recap: Can bearded dragons eat pomegranate?
Pomegranate Nutritional Value for Bearded Dragons:
pomegranate contains a lot of vitamins and minerals like:
- Fiber (great for bearded dragon’s digestion)
- Protein
- Antioxidants
- Vitamin C
- Folate
- Magnesium
- Phosphorus
- Potassium
Source: Healthline
How often should you give pomegranate to your beardie?
A good rule of thumb is to give your bearded dragon five to 10 pomegranate seeds at most twice a month. If you’re feeding a baby or juvenile bearded dragon, you can aim for five seeds every month.
Why can’t I feed my bearded dragon pomegranate daily?
Pomegranates 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 pomegranate, 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 pomegranate to your bearded dragon:
- Separate your pomegranate seeds from the skin.
- Measure out how many seeds you’d like to give to your dragon.
- Mix the seeds into their vegetable bowl.
- Observe your bearded dragon over time to watch for signs of weight gain or obesity. If you notice this, cut back on pomegranate and fruit.
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 fruit 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.
What is panacur for bearded dragons?
Panacur is a highly effective deworming medication. Use it if your bearded dragon gets a pinworm or other worm infection. Beardies are highly susceptible to parasites, and panacur will deworm the infection.
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 cheese?
No, bearded dragons should not eat cheese or dairy or any kind. See our guide to bearded dragons eating cheese here.
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 pomegranate?
- Yes! Bearded dragons can eat pomegranates in moderation.
- Remove the seeds from the skin and give an adult beardie five to ten seeds every few weeks.
- As always, monitor your bearded dragon for a reaction or for weight gain over time.
For our full list of food to feed a bearded dragon, see our guide here.
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