Can bearded dragons eat raspberries?

If you’re wondering “can bearded dragons eat raspberries?” the answer is yes! You can feed bearded dragon raspberries, although give it to them as a treat, in moderation. 

In this article, we’ll explore the nutritional value of raspberries for bearded dragons and how to feed them properly. As well, see our full guide to what berries bearded dragons can eat here. 

Can bearded dragons eat raspberries?

Raspberry nutritional value for bearded dragons: 

Raspberries contain: 

• Water 
• Vitamin C (great for beardie’s immune system) 
• Vitamin K 
• Vitamin E 
• Magnesium 
• Iron 
• Fiber (helps with their sensitive digestive tracts) 
• B Vitamins 
• Potassium
• Copper

Source: Healthline 

How often should I give my beardie raspberries? 

You should give your bearded dragon one to two raspberries once or twice a month. Raspberries have a lot of phosphorus, which should not be given to them regularly. Why? It’s important to limit the amount of phosphorus rich foods, like raspberries, in a beardie’s diet. 

Phosphorus can inhibit the absorption of calcium in your bearded dragon’s body. Calcium is probably the most important nutrient for your bearded dragon to get, both when they’re growing juveniles and as they mature into adulthood. It’s good to have a ratio of 2:1 as in two parts calcium to one part phosphorus in their diets. Raspberries have more phosphorus than they do calcium, so too much of it can inhibit their calcium absorption. More on calcium rich foods and best practices below. 

Why can’t bearded dragons eat raspberries or fruit daily?

Fruit and blueberries have too much sugar for bearded dragons to eat regularly. Too much sugar will lead your dragon towards obesity, health problems, and possibly even diabetes and a shorter lifespan. 

Bearded dragons are a lot like humans in that too much sugar hurts them. Your pet is also the beardie equivalent of a couch potato, because they’re likely kept inside most of the day instead of in the wild, roaming and burning calories all day. This is another reason to closely monitor their sugar and fruit intake. 

How should I feed my bearded dragon raspberries? 

First, make sure your raspberries aren’t going off. Rotten raspberries can severely affect your beardie’s stomach. Wash them, and then drop them whole into your bearded dragon’s food bowl. You can mix the raspberries in with other vegetables and insects if you’d like. If you’re feeding a baby or juvenile bearded dragon, you can cut up the raspberry into smaller pieces that will be easier for them to chew. 

Should I feed my beardie frozen blueberries? 

Frozen fruit in general has less nutrients than fresh fruit. So it’s best to feed your beardie fresh raspberries. However, they can eat frozen raspberries in a pinch. It’s always best to buy organic produce, whether frozen or fresh, to ensure no pesticides get into your little beardie’s body. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): 

Can bearded dragons eat raspberries with seeds? 

Yes, bearded dragons can eat raspberry seeds. The seeds themselves are tiny and easy to digest and actually nutritious. 

What is a bearded dragon’s favorite fruit? 

Bearded dragons are drawn to fruits like melons, watermelons, peaches, strawberries, grapes, and apples (including applesauce). 

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! 

Can bearded dragons eat everyday?

Yes, growing bearded dragons should eat multiple times a day as you figure out their appetites and eating patterns. As bearded dragons grow into adulthood, they can eat daily or every two to three days. 

How often do you bathe a bearded dragon?

You can bathe your bearded dragon weekly or daily, it just depends on how much they enjoy baths and their hygiene level. If your bearded dragon is often dehydrated, baths are a great way to help hydrate them. 

Can bearded dragons eat blackberries? 

Yes, bearded dragons can eat blackberries. They should eat one to three blackberries every two weeks at most. 

Can bearded dragons eat strawberries? 

Yes, bearded dragons can eat strawberries, but they aren’t the most nutritious fruit for bearded dragons. Stick to giving them a small cut up strawberry every three or four weeks, at most. 

Can bearded dragons eat grapes?

Yes, bearded dragons can eat grapes, sparingly. Although high in calcium, they are also high in oxalates, which can harm a beardie’s digestion and overall health. Stick to feeding them grapes every few weeks at most. 

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 raspberries? 

• Yes, bearded dragons can eat raspberries. They have a host of health benefits for them. 
• However, don’t feed them a few raspberries more than twice a month. There is too much sugar and phosphorus for it to be a staple in their daily or even weekly diets. 
• Keep them on a steady diet of insects and plant matter, with a lot of calcium mixed in. 

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

Related articles: 

• Can bearded dragons eat cranberries
• Can bearded dragons eat blueberries