A bearded dragon’s diet consists of gut-loaded insects mainly. However, there are certain human foods that you can feed to your beardie too if you don’t have anything. So, what about watermelon? Can bearded dragons eat watermelon?
Bearded dragons can eat watermelon, but feeding it to them should be a rare occurrence for these lizards – once a month or less. The fruit does not provide any nutritional benefits for bearded dragons, hence it is better to go for some other fruit.
If you want to learn more about feeding watermelon to your beardie, read on!
Can My Bearded Dragon Eat Watermelon?
Yes, your bearded dragon can eat watermelon. It is a healthy fruit and provides many nutritional benefits to your pets. However, watermelons have high water and sugar levels, which can cause problems like diarrhea and diabetes in your pet when given very frequently.
Watermelon should be given to your pet only once a month or so, in tiny, sliced pieces, as a safe amount.
Benefits of Feeding Watermelon to Your Bearded Dragon
There is no doubt that your bearded dragon will like watermelons and their sweet flavor. They will love it a lot, but it is this very sweetness that is dangerous for them.
Although watermelon can cause problems for your bearded dragon, it is also not wise to completely scrap it off your pet’s diet, as it does have its many benefits. It is a good source of hydration for your dragon and has the following nutrients:
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Vitamin C
Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is a protector of cells and is necessary to maintain healthy blood vessels, bones, and cartilage. Beta carotene, which is present in Vitamin C, also lowers the risk of heart disease and cancer. It strengthens your bearded dragon’s immune system, eyesight, bodily functioning, and growth.
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Magnesium
Magnesium has many anti-inflammatory benefits that help support a good gut. It also maintains blood sugar levels and is good for the functioning of the heart. It also helps your bearded lizard’s metabolism improve, and can prevent inflammation from happening.
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Potassium
Potassium is important for the proper functioning of muscles and nerves and the synthesizing of protein. It also promotes the generation of metabolizing carbohydrates and regulates the body’s blood pressure.
Limitations of Feeding Watermelon to Your Bearded Dragon
While watermelons are a very beneficial fruit, they should be fed to bearded dragons in a limited number. Even when feeding them, be sure to cut up the fruit into tiny pieces and not let them eat too much. The following are a few reasons why too much watermelon can harm these little creatures.
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Sugar Problems
Since bearded dragons can be really smart and lovable, we might tend to forget that they actually are as wild as they are domestic. Watermelons have high amounts of sugar, and you do not naturally come across this amount in the wild. As pets, too many sugary substances run a chance of obesity in these pets.
Your bearded dragon might get problems like diabetes, tooth decay, gum problems, liver problems, bone issues, and inflammation. The list is endless, hence it is best to give fruits to your pet at a moderate level.
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Depletion of Calcium
Many fruits and vegetables contain a certain amount of phosphorus and calcium, and watermelon contains more of the former. The phosphorus levels are high enough to cancel out the calcium since it binds with it and does not let it get absorbed into the bloodstream.
Hence, it is alright to feed watermelon to your bearded dragon once in a while, but in the long run, it can cause bone deterioration (metabolic bone disease) due to the lack of calcium. This is deadly to all reptiles and can cause dangerous problems.
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Stomach Problems
As you might already know, watermelon is 92% water, which is a lot to digest for your tiny reptile friend. If you feed it very frequently to your lizard, it might cause diarrhea, which in turn causes dehydration. Hence, it also cancels the point of hydrating them with watermelons.
How To Feed Watermelons to Bearded Dragons?
If you’re planning to feed watermelons to your bearded dragon, follow these steps.
Step 1: Remove the Seeds
You can feed both seeded and seedless watermelon to bearded dragons, but remember to get rid of all the seeds in it. The seeds of watermelon can be hazardous as they are not digested well, and can block the reptile’s digestive tract. This can lead to gut impaction, which can be fatal for your beardie.
Step 2: Slice the Fruit
After removing the seeds, remember to slice the fruit into small pieces before you feed it to your pet. Remember that bearded dragons can end up liking watermelon too much, so only feed them once a month or less.
If you want to treat your bearded lizard more often, you can try going for fruits like apples, figs, mangoes, papayas, and cantaloupe as their sugar levels are moderate enough to feed more frequently – like once a week.
Related Questions
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What Fruits Can Bearded Dragons Not Eat?
Bearded dragons should avoid eating onions, chives, mushrooms, celery, and other citrus fruits.
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What Is A Bearded Dragon’s Favourite Food?
Vegetables are a bearded dragon’s favorite food. Anything green like kale, zucchini, mustard greens, and collard greens is an enjoyable treat for your lizard pet.
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Can Bearded Dragons Eat Eggs?
Bearded dragons can eat hard-boiled as well as scrambled eggs safely. However, in the case of the former, no more than half an egg should be given to your pet. The eggs you make should be free of any additional ingredients.
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Can I Give Cucumbers To My Bearded Dragon?
Cucumbers are a good source of hydration but can be given to your bearded dragon every other week and such.
Final Thoughts
Bearded dragons have a lot of animal and plant-based options to choose and eat from. Hence, selecting those that will give your pet the nutrition it needs is better. While watermelons are a sweet treat, it is better to go for some other fruits.
When given in the right amounts, it can be a healthy treat. Remember to keep it as a dessert and not as the main dish. We hope that this article has been helpful in clearing out the doubts you might have had about feeding your bearded dragons.
