Can Bearded Dragons Eat Tomatoes? salad or taco can benefit from tomatoes’ vitamin and antioxidant content. Perhaps you’re wondering if your reptile can eat this fruit-like veggie. What are the nutritional requirements of bearded dragons? Can they eat tomatoes?
Indeed, bearded dragons can safely eat tomatoes… but it is served once a month for a modest amount.
What if bearded dragons eat tomatoes every day?
- Before we delve into the benefits of tomatoes, we need to look at whether they can be a staple food for your bearded dragon.
- Stomach-related problems and acidity. Tomatoes are extremely acidic, which makes your beard upset.
- There is beta-carotene found in tomatoes, which is made in vitamin A. This is not a problem in itself, but if you feed a lot of tomatoes (or other vitamin A-rich foods) a vitamin A supplement, you will notice different effects on your bearded dragon. Excess vitamin A has some strange effects. Weakness, weight gain, and diarrhea.
- Bearded dragons really need calcium for a happy and healthy life. Tomatoes are a poor source of calcium that doesn’t benefit bearded dragons who need regular calcium. Low-calcium foods will not feed your bearded dragon.
- Excess phosphorus. Phosphorus is like its enemy in bearded dragons. Phosphorus binds calcium to the body and interferes with bearded dragons’ blood circulation.
- Bearded dragons need calcium to thrive, so if they eat too many foods high in phosphorus, they can develop the metabolic bone disease (MBD). If left untreated, the disease can paralyze and kill dragons. But it’s not just the phosphorus content that makes tomatoes dangerous for regular nutrition. Tomatoes have less calcium … but phosphorus is about six times more
When should your bearded dragon eat tomatoes?
- Despite the downsides of tomatoes, bearded dragons are not that dangerous. A small piece of tomato brings many benefits to the bearded dragon.
- Despite being a fruit, tomatoes are low in sugar, which supports your dragon’s heart health.
- Tomatoes are a unique source of vitamin A, which in the right doses can help strengthen and maintain the immune system, eyesight, reproduction, and beard growth.
- Tomatoes don’t have a lot of oxalates.
- Oxalates are similar to phosphorus in that they absorb calcium and can cause MBD and other health problems. Tomatoes contain lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that contributes to their red color. Lycopene may help prevent cancer, reduce inflammation, and promote healthy skin and heart.
How should you feed your bearded dragon a tomato?
Bearded dragons https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pogona can eat a quarter of a tomato.
- Wash and clean the tomatoes well.
- Remove the seed.
- Cut the flesh of the tomato quarters into small pieces.
Do bearded dragons eat tomato leaves?
Stems, leaves, flowers, and vines contain alkaloids that are very poisonous. Don’t give any of these to your bearded dragons!
What other foods can bearded dragons eat besides tomatoes?
Acorn squash, Apples, Bell peppers, Broccoli, Green beans, Mango, Sweet potato, Yellow squash
The best type of tomato for your bearded dragon is cherry tomatoes. Healthy tomato for your bearded dragon includes leafy greens amount of vitamin C, calcium to phosphorus ratio, metabolic bone disease, immune system, and cherry tomatoes.