Can bearded dragons eat tomatoes?

If you’re wondering “Can bearded dragons eat tomatoes?” the answer is a qualified yes! Bearded dragons can eat tomatoes, although it shouldn’t be a staple in their daily diet because it can become toxic for them if they eat too many tomatoes. 

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

Can bearded dragons eat tomatoes?

Tomato Nutritional Value for Bearded Dragons: 

Tomatoes are a wonderful source of nutrients including: 

• Fiber (great for bearded dragon’s digestion) 
• Calcium (vital for beardie’s growth and bone health) 
• Vitamin C 
• Potassium
• Vitamin K1 
• Folate (vitamin B9) 
• Protein 
• Carbohydrates 
• Sugar 
• Phosphorus 

Source: Web MD

Tomatoes have a calcium to phosphorus ratio of almost 1:6. 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, so tomatoes 1:6 ratio is not great for bearded dragons. We’ve outlined ways to increase your beardie’s calcium intake below as well. 

How often should you give tomatoes to your beardie? 

You can safely give your beardie tomatoes 2 times a month, at most. Cut up a cube about the size of your thumb. It’s probably best to not feed baby or juvenile beardies tomatoes at all, since they’re growing and need as much calcium as they can get. 

Note: because of tomato’s calcium to phosphorus ratio, it’s important to feed them other leafy greens that have more calcium. To be safe, you can also sprinkle calcium powder on your tomato cubes to ensure your bearded dragon is getting enough calcium. 

How do I prepare tomatoes for my bearded dragon?

You can feed your tomato to your dragon, cooked or raw. However, it’s best to feed them raw tomatoes since you lose a lot of nutrients when you cook it. The skin is fine for them to eat, but make sure to cut off the stem and leaves as tomato vines are actually part of a family of plants called nightshade that can be seriously toxic to your little pet. 

Make sure to cut your tomato into a cube and then small chunks, so your bearded dragon doesn’t choke on it. 

Sprinkle the smaller chunks into your bearded dragon’s food bowl. If they have leftovers, remove them after 24 hours or when it starts to smell off. 

Potential risks of feeding tomatoes to your bearded dragon: 

Tomatoes don’t have the ideal ratio of calcium to phosphorus, and they are also quite high in sugar. That’s why we recommend you feed your beardie this vegetable a few times a week, and mix it in with other greens. 

If you were to only feed your beardie tomatoes daily with no other vegetables, they would suffer from a calcium deficiency and over time, it would harm their bone and muscle health. This could lead to brittle bones and even paralysis. 

As well, the high sugar content could become seriously harmful over time as dragons are already prone to obesity. This is especially true of dragons kept indoors instead of in their natural habitats out in the wild, roaming and burning calories. Monitor your bearded dragon for signs of weight gain and obesity and stop feeding them tomatoes and other fruits if you notice a change. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): Can bearded dragons have tomatoes?

Can my bearded dragon have cherry tomatoes? 

Yes, bearded dragons can eat cherry tomatoes in small amounts. You should cut up a cherry tomato (removing the leaves and vines) and sprinkle it into their vegetable mix every few weeks or so. 

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 a bearded dragon eat scrambled eggs? 

Yes, beardies can safely eat scrambled eggs. Remember not to mix in any additional ingredients that they can’t eat, and not to feed them more than roughly half an egg at a time. 

What fruit do bearded dragons like most? 

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 cucumbers? 

While bearded dragons can eat cucumbers and they enjoy this refreshing vegetable, they should only eat a small amount cut up, in moderation. Cucumbers don’t provide enough of the vital nutrients that bearded dragons need to thrive, so they should not be eaten as part of their daily diet. 

Can bearded dragons eat onions? 

No, bearded dragons can not eat onions because they are potentially toxic to their sensitive digestive systems. Onions have far too much acid to be given to bearded dragons safely. 

Can bearded dragons eat grapes?

Grapes are high in fiber and calcium, and make a wonderful snack for bearded dragons. So yes, bearded dragons can eat grapes, but only on occasion. They are also high in sugar and oxalates, which beardies should not eat daily. 

What berries can bearded dragons not eat?

It’s best to avoid feeding your bearded dragons wild berries because you never know if they are coated in pesticides or insecticides. As well, there are several types of berries that could poison your dragon. Stick to store bought or homegrown in your own backyard berries like blueberries or strawberries. 

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 tomato? 

• Although bearded dragons can eat tomatoes, they should only eat a small amount twice a month at most. 
• Tomatoes have too much phosphorus and sugar for beardies to eat regularly. 
• Make sure to cut off the vines as they are toxic to bearded dragons. 

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

Related articles: 

• Can bearded dragons eat avocados?
• Can bearded dragons eat acorn squash?
• Can bearded dragons eat olives?