Usually, bearded dragon owners prefer giving their pets food or fruits that are comparatively small in size. After all, the bigger pieces will always raise the chance of choking. But what about eating grapes? Can bearded dragons eat grapes in the first place if the size is kept apart?
Bearded dragons can eat grapes, but they’re only good as occasional treats. Due to being high in sugar, their regular consumption can lead the pet to obesity. On top of that, the oxalates in them can cause MBD or Metabolic Bone Disease.
Now the question is – should you cut off grapes totally from your beardie’s food list? No, you shouldn’t. But why? Don’t worry, you’re about to find out the answer right in our next segment.
Why Shouldn’t You Skip Feeding Grapes to Your Bearded Dragon?
Let’s put some light on the good sides first. After all, there’s no way to deny that grapes surely do some good to lizards like bearded dragons, and here’s the list.
1. Smooth Digestion And Prevents Constipation
Grapes are an excellent source of fiber, and FYI, this is necessary for the beardie’s optimal digestion. The thing is, Grapes’ high fiber content can assist in the regulation of bowel movements and the prevention of constipation. Needless to say, both of these are typical problems for pet reptiles.
2. Low Acidity
Grapes, in contrast to citrus fruits or any other acidic foods, have a low amount of acidity. This means bearded dragons are free to consume them without risk of gastrointestinal upsetness. The problem with high-acid foods is they can be extremely irritating to the digestive system and cause pain.
3. Antioxidants
Grapes, particularly red grapes, are rich in anti-inflammatory antioxidants, including flavonoids, quercetin, and resveratrol. So, eating them regularly can help to lessen and even avoid inflammation throughout the body.
By the way, there is a connection between inflammation and a number of different health conditions, such as arthritis and heart disease. Thanks to the high antioxidant content in grapes, which are not only good at reducing the risk of heart disease but also protect beardies from developing allergic reactions.
4. High Water Content
Since grapes contain between 45 and 68 percent water, they’re good enough to be fed to bearded dragons to keep them hydrated. After all, like humans, beardies’ kidney health too relies on proper hydration.
5. Regulates Blood Pressure
Grapes are filled with potassium, an essential element for keeping the blood pressure of your reptile right on point. If you’re thinking about taking potassium intake lightly, then know this – your lizard needs that to prevent cardiovascular disease, stroke, along with other complications. After all, all of them are related to blood pressure.
Why Shouldn’t Grapes Be A Staple Food?
We guess you’re already convinced that you can let your beardie have a bite of the fruit. But it’s still forbidden to give it to your pet every day. Why? Well, here are the reasons.
1. Dehydration And Overhydration
Water-rich fruits, like grapes, can be extremely harmful if consumed in big quantities since they can easily trigger diarrhea, which further dehydrates your pet. In case you didn’t know, bearded dragons are native to Australia’s arid regions.
This means they are accustomed to spells of dehydration. However, they are not acclimated to the severe, ongoing dehydration that results from being over-hydrated.
2. Choking Hazard
If you really want your reptile to have grapes, make sure that you’re giving it the seedless ones only. That’s because seeds will do nothing but make things dangerous for your lizard.
Eating something like that can pose a choking risk, and if ingested, it can induce gut impaction. In such a situation, your beardie will be unable to defecate. FYI, if this isn’t treated quickly, it can lead to very serious complications or even death.
3. Oxalates
Grapes are packed with oxalates, and we guess you already know what they do. In case you don’t, these powerful little acids are capable of binding with calcium in your pet’s body. As these acids compete with calcium in the blood for absorption, which ultimately promotes MBD or Metabolic Bone Disease.
4. Phosphorus
When you’re keeping a bearded dragon as a pet, it’s a must to give them a diet high in calcium and balanced in phosphorus. This is because, similarly to oxalates, phosphorus also blocks calcium’s absorption into circulation. So, don’t even think about having grapes as a regular food since their phosphorus-to-calcium ratio is quite high, which is 5:1, to be exact.
5. High Sugar Content
The natural sugars found in grapes can be dangerous for your bearded dragon if you don’t pay enough attention to the consumption rate. Lizards that are fed too much sugar can later struggle with obesity, tooth decay, along with other health concerns.
6. Pesticides
Grapes, like the majority of other crops, are frequently treated with pesticides to stave off diseases and unwanted insects. But none of those pesticides would do any good to your dragon’s health. So, the best thing you can do is try to avoid grapes with those toxic pesticides.
And if you’re unsure about the presence of pesticides, give the grapes a good washing before giving them to your lizard. There’s another option you can try out, and that is purchasing organic grapes.
What Kind Of Grapes Are Ideal For Bearded Dragons And How Much?
Bearded dragons are okay with grapes of all colors as they find all of them tasty. So, you don’t need to stick to a certain type, and feel free to try all these grape varieties. But don’t get surprised if you see your bearded dragon has a preference for one variety of grape over another.
In case you’re concerned about the consumption rate, then we’ll say don’t go for more than one or two. By the way, that’s once a week only. And to be on the safe side, it’ll be better if you can first slice them so that the reptile can swallow the fruit easily.
Before We Go….
If you’re wondering if grapes are safe for your bearded dragon, it’s only natural that you’d be interested in knowing the same thing about other fruits. No need to worry; our blog post titled “What Fruits Can Bearded Dragons Eat?” have you covered.
So, why wait? Hit the click and get the answer.
