Can bearded dragons eat nectarines? If you are asking the same question, then this article is for you. I will share some facts about nectarines below.
Nectarines are some type of peach fruits. These ones have smooth and right thin colored skin. The flesh is rich and firm. It is healthy for humans. But is it healthy for reptiles?
So, can bearded dragons eat nectarines?
Yes, bearded dragons can eat nectarines but only on an occasional basis. This is because nectarines have disproportionate calcium-to-phosphorus ratio, high sweetness, and acidity level.
When it comes to choosing healthy and safe foods for bearded dragons, there are many things that should be put into consideration. The most important requirement is the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio.
Unlike other animals, bearded dragons should have the correct and appropriate level of calcium and phosphorus in their diet, especially in captivity. The ideal ratio is 2:1.
As mentioned, nectarines have disproportionate calcium-to-phosphorus ratio. This means that these fruits should not be part of staple foods for beardies.
To understand more, let’s take a look at the table below.
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Table of Contents
Nutritional Value of Nectarines
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
| Name | Amount | Unit |
| Carbohydrates | 9.54 | g |
| Sugars | 8.39 | g |
| Dietary fiber | 1.5 | g |
| Fat | 0.25 | g |
| Protein | 0.91 | g |
| Thiamine (B1) (2%) | 0.024 | mg |
| Riboflavin (B2) (3%) | 0.031 | mg |
| Niacin (B3) (5%) | 0.806 | mg |
| Pantothenic acid (B5) (3%) | 0.153 | mg |
| Vitamin B6 (2%) | 0.025 | mg |
| Folate (B9) (1%) | 4 | μg |
| Choline (1%) | 6.1 | mg |
| Vitamin C (8%) | 6.6 | mg |
| Vitamin E (5%) | 0.73 | mg |
| Vitamin K (2%) | 2.6 | μg |
| Calcium (1%) | 6 | mg |
| Iron (2%) | 0.25 | mg |
| Magnesium (3%) | 9 | mg |
| Manganese (3%) | 0.061 | mg |
| Phosphorus (3%) | 20 | mg |
| Potassium (4%) | 190 | mg |
| Water | 87.59 | g |
As you can see in the table, nectarines also contain a high level of sugar. Sweet fruits are not good for bearded dragons.
Water content is also something to monitor. Most fruits are too watery for beardies and this includes nectarines. As indicated in the table, nectarines contain 87.59g of water.
As you might already know, bearded dragons are prone to diarrhea when ingested watery foods. So be careful. When feeding nectarines, make sure it is not more than a treat.
Lastly, nectarines also high in acid content. Beardies should not be fed with foods with high acid content. It could cause health issues in them.
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Can Bearded Dragons Eat Nectarines Skin?
I don’t recommend feeding beardies with nectarine skin. Like other peach varieties, nectarine skin may have a tougher texture. Bearded dragons have poor ability in chewing food thoroughly. It will only cause choking and other digestive issues in bearded dragons.
Therefore, I recommend that you remove the nectarine skin first before offering it to your beardie. But before peeling, make sure that the fruit is washed and rinsed thoroughly.
Remember that most fruits were sprayed with insecticides and other chemicals to protect them from pests. Washing alone may not enough to totally remove those chemicals.
In this case, peeling the nectarine may not only save the dragon from choking but also from harmful chemicals.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Dried Nectarines?
Well, first thing first. Bearded dragons eat fresh greens, fruits, and live insects in the wild. In captivity, their diet should also be composed of fresh foods.
Simply put, bearded dragons cannot eat dried foods. Dried foods may only cause digestive problems in beardies. This is because most dried fruits become hard and difficult to chew and digest.
Another reason why I don’t recommend feeding bearded dragons with dried nectarines is that dried fruits lose their essential nutrients. In fact, most fruits lose vitamin C and other important constituents essential for the dragon’s diet.
In other words, dried fruits have no nutritional value left for beardies. So what is the purpose of feeding dried fruits to your reptile?
Lastly, dried fruits have higher sugar content than fresh fruits. As mentioned, foods with high sugar content are not good for bearded dragons. To keep your reptile free from potential diseases, feed him/her with healthy and safe fruits and veggies.
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Can Bearded Dragons Eat Canned Nectarines?
Canned foods can be harmful to bearded dragons. In general, I don’t recommend feeding canned nectarines to your bearded dragon.
The main reason behind this is because canned foods, like cooked foods, lost their original nutritional value. They lost the essential vitamins and mineral throughout the process.
Secondly, canned fruits also contain preservatives that could also harm the dragon. As a rule of thumb, only offer your beardy with fresh fruits and greens as well as live animals.
What I recommend therefore is to always avoid canned foods for dragons. There are available healthy fruits and vegetables you can offer instead.
I heard some beardy owners do feed their dragons with processed foods on an occasional basis. But I don’t suggest the same. It is better to keep on the safe route and NEVER put your reptile in danger.
What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Feeding Bearded Dragons with Nectarines?
As you can see in the table above, nectarines are rich in essential vitamins and minerals needed in the beardies’ diet. Beardies can get a good amount of those nutrients if fed on an occasional basis.
Nectarines are high in vitamin C necessary for making healthy immune systems and other growth requirements. Aside from this, nectarines also contain a good amount of calcium something that young bearded dragons need for their healthy growth.
Calcium is essential for developing healthy and strong bones in beardies. This is the reason why most bearded dragon owners add calcium supplements to their beardies’ salad.
However, despite all these advantages, nectarines can be dangerous if fed on a regular basis. This is because these fruits have disproportionate calcium-to-phosphorus ratio.
Due to the higher phosphorus content than calcium, nectarines can cause calcium deficiency. This further explains why nectarines should not staple foods for reptiles.
The water content could also pose a considerable issue in beardies. Nectarines have high water content making it too watery for bearded dragons.
When bearded dragons consumed too much water, they may suffer from over hydration which could in turn cause diarrhea and other potential digestive issues.
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How Often Can Bearded Dragons Eat Nectarines?
There is no general rule as to how often should bearded dragons eat nectarines. But because it should be on an occasional basis, once a week can be okay.
A small amount like this will not harm your reptile. But always make sure that it should be a treat. More than that may already be harmful. So be careful.
How to Prepare Nectarines for Bearded Dragons?
Although preparing nectarines for your reptile is a simple process, there are things that I want to share with you. Each step is something to remember. These simple steps can be harmful if not done correctly.
That said, here are a few steps to follow to keep your reptile safe:
Step 1: Choose the fresh nectarine
When choosing fruit for bearded dragons, make sure that it is fresh and, if possible, have no chemicals. Do not pick fruits in the wild because you don’t know whether they are safe or not.
Step 2: Wash the fruit thoroughly
As mentioned, when preparing fruits for beardies, you should make sure that the fruit is safe from chemicals. And one way to do it is by washing the fruit before feeding.
Step 3: Peel the fruit
Washing the nectarine may not remove all the chemicals in it. Peeling will make sure the safety of your beardy.
Another good thing about peeling is that it removes the hard part of the fruit. As you might already know, bearded dragons don’t chew their food thoroughly making them vulnerable to choking and impaction.
Step 4: Chop the fruit into small bite sizes
After peeling the whole fruit, now you need to chop it into small bite pieces. Big chunks of foods could cause impaction.
The good thing about chopping fruits into small pieces is that it prevents the picky beardies to just choose their favorite part of the salad.
I also recommend that you mix nectarines with other greens and fruits. It will make the salad more colorful and enticing to eat for bearded dragons.
Final thoughts on Can Bearded Dragons Eat Nectarines
Nectarines are not totally toxic to bearded dragons. However, they are not good food for bearded dragons.
Nectarines contain disproportionate calcium-to-phosphorus ratio. This makes these fruits not good as regular foods.
Another thing that makes nectarines not good as staple foods is the water content. Watery fruits should be avoided because they could cause digestive issues in beardies.
Finally, when choosing foods for your bearded dragons, always go with the fresh ones. Avoid feeding your reptile with canned or processed foods.
I hope this helps. Thank you for reading.
