Can Bearded Dragons Eat Nectarines?

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Bearded dragons are voracious eaters. They can eat both bugs and vegetables because they are omnivores. But at times, it’s advisable to add something different–like a sweet treat–to their diet. 

If your bearded dragon is a sweet tooth, it will love devouring delicious nectarines. But if they don’t, make sure you give something else like mealworms as a treat. 

Keep in mind, every beardie is a different individual. The treats your bearded dragon loves eating, some other bearded dragons will hate.

Can Bearded Dragons Have Nectarines?

Yes. Bearded dragons can eat nectarines. And if your bearded dragon is a sweet tooth, it will love eating them. But make sure you don’t give your beardie nectarines every day. 

That’s because nectarines are made of sugar. Eating lots of sugar can make them obese. Some can also get cardiovascular problems. So, be cautious. Don’t give them food that can make them sick.

We all love our little bearded dragons. We even go to lengths to make them happy. But show tough love when it comes to bearded dragon’s health.

Even if you exercise your bearded dragon every day, it’s not healthy to give them nectarines every day. Sure. Nectarines contain vitamin C – which is also present in nectarines – but bearded dragons need calcium the most.

How Often Can Bearded Dragons Eat Nectarines?

Bearded dragon can eat nectarines on weekly basis only. That’s because nectarines contain high amount of acid that can seriously hurt your bearded dragon’s stomach. In the worst case, increased consumption of nectarines can also give diarrhea to your bearded dragon. In the long run, your bearded dragon can get dehydration.

What are the Nutrients in Nectarines?

Sure. Nectarines aren’t the right fruit that can be given to your bearded dragon daily. But if you are giving them on a weekly basis, never feel guilty or even bad about it. First, bearded dragons love eating nectarines. Second, it’s packed with rich-nutrients like:

Dietary Fibers

To keep your bearded dragon’s digestive system healthy, the vet always recommends giving beardies high dietary fiber containing foods. And good news is that nectarines contain 1.5 g of dietary fiber. So rest assured – nectarine is not only a great addition to a bearded dragon’s diet, it’s also one healthy treat.

Phosphorus 

Phosphorus is bad for bearded dragons. Yes. That’s true. But a small amount of phosphorus is not bad for bearded dragons. Only those fruits in which phosphorus is higher than calcium are bad for bearded dragons. That’s because phosphorus binds with calcium, leaving insufficient calcium for absorption in the bones. In nectarines 20mg of phosphorus is present. This is almost a quarter of the calcium – 6 mg of calcium is present in nectarines.

Calcium 

Out of all the nutrients, bearded dragons need calcium the most. That’s because calcium helps in bone growth, muscle contraction, and egg development (female) in bearded dragons.

Sugar

Nectarines have almost 8.39 grams of sugar. That’s a lot. Bearded dragons don’t need this much sugar. Eating sugary fruits can make them diabetic. Fatty liver disease is also reported in some bearded dragons that eat sweet food every day. 

Vitamin C 

Sure. Bearded dragons need vitamin C. That’s good for their skin. And in nectarines, 6.6 mg of vitamin C is present. Your bearded dragon can also suffer from mouth rot because of inadequate vitamin C in their diet. But like any other nutrient, too much vitamin C is bad. 

Iron

In nectarines, almost 0.25 mg of iron is present. Beardies need nectarines for growth and development.

Vitamin B6

0.025 mg of vitamin B6 is present in nectarines. Vitamin B6 helps create red blood cells in bearded dragons. 

Water

In nectarines, water is 87.59 g.   So, if your bearded dragon doesn’t drink water or he or she is dehydrated, nectarines are a good treat.

Choline

6.1 mg of choline is present in nectarines. And that’s a good amount of choline in any fruit.

Choline helps regulate the bearded dragon’s metabolism. It is also seen uplifting your beardies mood. So, if your bearded dragon is feeling sad, consider giving them nectarines.

Why Can Bearded Dragons Eat Nectarines Only As a Treat?

Nectarines have more phosphorus than calcium. And for beardie, it’s always recommended to avoid giving fruits with this ratio. That’s because when there is more phosphorus than calcium in a body, phosphorous binds with calcium. Consequently, not much calcium is left for absorption. That’s why owners who give a high amount of phosphorus-containing fruits to their beardie risk giving their beardies metabolic bone disease.

How to Give Nectarines to Your Bearded Dragon?

Okay, so you have decided to treat your bearded dragon with nectarines. But how should you serve it? Should you peel it or left it unpeeled? What about serving them by slicing or mashing it? Well, there isn’t any one best way.

Just make sure to remove the seed from the nectarine. Seeds can stuck in bearded dragon’s digestive tract. In fact, anything that’s bigger than the space between a bearded dragon’s eyes shouldn’t be given to them. Some options you can try include:

1.  Peel and Slice – Nectarine peel can be hard for a bearded dragon to digest. So, make sure you remove it. Further, cut nectarines into small size.
2. Slice but Don’t Peel it – Nectarine’s skin is nutrients rich. So, it’s advisable not to remove it. Just ensure you cut nectarines into small pieces.
3.  Human Way – If you want to bond or tame your bearded dragon, take bit-sized nectarines in your hand and enjoy your bearded dragon eating directly from your hand.

Just make sure you wash nectarines thoroughly before giving them to your bearded dragon. Make sure you give organic nectarines to your bearded dragon. They are free of pesticides, fertilizers, and other chemicals. But we understand. Organic products can be expensive. Inorganic nectarines are also another option. Just make sure to thoroughly clean nectarines.

Can You Give Dried Nectarines to Bearded Dragon?

No, dried nectarines are concentrated. Water is almost gone. They become like candies – high in calories and sugar. Your bearded dragon can quickly become obsessed after eating dried nectarines.

What Fruits and Vegetables Can Bearded Dragons Eat Daily?

It’s best to add some fruits to a bearded dragon’s diet. Because, let’s face it – our bearded dragons can get bored eating the same food every day. Just make sure whatever fruit you add to your bearded dragon’s diet, it’s not harmful. Oranges, tomatoes, lemons, and pineapples are some foods that contain a very high amount of acid. And acidic fruits can cause stomach issues. Fortunately, some fruits are completely non-toxic. And your bearded dragon can eat them daily. Some of these fruits include:

1. Alfalfa – Bearded dragons need protein in their diet. Alfalfa is one of the fruits that has high protein. There are 3.99 grams of alfalfa present in nectarines. Apart from proteins, a significant amount of calcium is also present in alfalfa. Though phosphorus is also present in your bearded dragon’s diet, there is a 5 to 1 ratio of calcium in alfalfa. So, it’s a good fruit to give to your bearded dragon.
2. Butternut Squash – Butternut squash has a high amount of antioxidants, which helps strengthen your bearded dragon’s immune system. It’s also high in vitamin A and carbohydrates. Just make sure you cut it in a size that’s easily eaten by bearded dragons.
3. Collard Greens – Another fruit that contains a high amount of calcium is collard greens. About 23% of calcium is present in collard greens. They are also rich in Vitamins A, C, and K – all of which are important for bearded dragons’ immune systems, reproduction, vision, and growth. Vitamin E helps prevent inflammation in bearded dragons.
4. Dandelion Leaves – They have a high amount of calcium. Even though they do have phosphorus, its ratio isn’t much.
5. Endive – Endives are a good addition to a bearded dragon’s salad because it has higher calcium than phosphorus. 52 mg of calcium is present in endive. Phosphorus is about 28 mg in endive. About 1.25 g of protein is present in endive. That’s a good but not an adequate amount of protein. Baby bearded dragons need more protein than greens, so you might have to consider giving them bugs as well. But since adult bearded dragons need a lesser amount of protein, you can give one or two fewer insects to your bearded dragon in case you are giving endive to them.
6. Mustard Greens – Bearded dragons love eating mustard greens because of their peppery taste. They are also high in calcium, vitamin A, C, and K.
7. Turnip Greens – Like phosphorus, oxalates also binds with calcium. But fortunately, there are ways to offset oxalate: add calcium-rich but oxalate-free greens like mustard greens.

What Fruits are Loved By Bearded Dragon?

Bearded dragons should be given both fruits and vegetables. Just bugs aren’t enough. But the problem is some fruits and vegetables are bad for your bearded dragon. So, make sure you do proper research before adding anything to their diet. Now, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make an effort to find out what fruit your bearded dragon loves eating.

Some fruits that your bearded dragon loves eating are:

1. Apples
2. Apricot
3. Blackberries
4. Bananas
5. Grapes
6. Strawberries
7. Raspberries
8. Oranges
9. Grapefruit
10.  Kiwi
11.  Papaya
12.  Mango
13.  Peaches
14.  Figs
15.  Plums
16.  Passion fruit

Keep in mind this is the list of fruits that bearded dragons can’t eat daily. That’s because some have a really high amount of phosphorus and sugar, while others have oxalates in high quantities.