Apple fruit can be fed to bearded dragons on an occasional basis. But can bearded dragons eat applesauce too?
This is another very important question that I get from one of my readers. If you are a beginner, then you might also ask the same question.
So, can bearded dragons eat applesauce?
Bearded dragons can eat applesauce as long as there are no additives and sugar added. Beardies can taste applesauce in a small amount on an occasional basis.
It is very important to remember that applesauce is not really food for beardies. And if it has preservatives, it can bring harm to bearded dragons than good.
If you want to give applesauce to your beardie, make sure it is not sweetened. This is because the sweetened applesauce will have a laxative effect in beardies.
Related Article: Can Bearded Dragons Eat Ham?
Table of Contents
Should You Not Feed Applesauce to Bearded Dragons?
Applesauce is not totally toxic to bearded dragons. However, if ingested in large amounts it could cause health issues in beardies. This is due to its sugar and other preservative contents.
But applesauce is helpful for bearded dragons with impaction or constipation. Because of its laxative effect, applesauce will help beardies to poop.
In healthy beardies, you need to be careful if you feed them applesauce. It could cause diarrhea and other digestive issues.
What I recommend though is to choose a pure apple instead. This is to keep your beardies safe from any potential health problems.
Even apple fruits are not good staple foods for bearded dragons. If you offer apple, make sure that you chop it finely. Bear in mind that beardies are prone to choking and other digestive issues when ingested large chunks of foods.
What I always recommend though is to go on a safe route for your reptile. Choose healthier foods instead.
Related Article: Can Bearded Dragons Eat Papaya? (Is It Dangerous?)
Best Healthy Foods for Bearded Dragons
As mentioned, I rather stay with healthy and fresh foods for by beardies. However, if you are new to caring bearded dragons, it might be difficult for you to decide which foods are safe and healthy for your reptile.
This is because not all fruits that are safe for humans are safe for beardies too. In fact, many fruits that we can eat are not healthy for reptiles.
For years of having bearded dragons, I can provide a list of foods you can feed to your beardies too. The list below contains different types of foods depending on their feeding frequency.
I also included in the list some fruits and vegetables that should not be offered to bearded dragons. It is my hope that this post will help you make a good decision for your reptiles.
So, without further ado, let’s dive into the list.
Staple Greens for Bearded Dragons
There are a few greens that you can offer to your bearded dragons regularly. Some of them are the following:
- Collard Greens
- Dandelion Greens
- Endive
- Escarole
- Mustard Greens
- Turnip Greens
- Watercress
Staple Vegetables for Bearded Dragons
Aside from greens, vegetables are a very important part of the beardies’ diet. Below are some of the healthy vegetables you can feed to your reptiles regularly.
- Acorn Squash
- Butternut Squash
- Green Beans
- Okra
- Parsnips
- Snap Peas
- Sweet Potato
- Yellow Squash
Occasional Greens for Bearded Dragons
Not all greens can be fed regularly to beardies. There are some varieties that should only be fed occasionally. Some of them are listed below:
- Bok Choy
- Carrot Tops
- Celery Leaves
- Cilantro
- Cucumber (peeled)
- Kale
- Kohlrabi Leaves
- Parsley
- Swiss Chard
Occasional Vegetables for Bearded Dragons
Like greens, not all vegetables are good for regular feeding. There are some types of vegetables that should only be fed to beardies on an occasional basis. Below are examples of them:
- Asparagus
- Beets
- Bell Peppers
- Broccoli
- Carrots
- Cauliflower
- Celery Stalks
- Green Peas
- Pumpkin
- Zucchini
Greens and Vegetables that Should Rarely Feed to Beardies
There are some greens and vegetables that should only be fed to beardies rarely. These greens and veggies contain some nutrients that could harm the bearded dragons when fed regularly.
Examples of these greens and vegetables are:
- Beet Greens
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
Greens and Vegetables that Should NEVER Be Fed to Beardies
There are human foods that should never be fed to bearded dragons under any circumstances. These foods are extremely dangerous for beardies. Examples of these are:
- Avocados
- Rhubarb
- Lettuce
The common reasons why some greens, vegetables, and fruits are being ruled out as part of beardies’ staple foods are the oxalates content. This substance found in those fruits will bind calcium which in turn prevents calcium absorption.
If bearded dragons often consume these kinds of foods, they will suffer health conditions later on. The most common effect of calcium deficiency is a metabolic bone disease.
This is a very serious condition in bearded dragons. It potentially causes many behavioral problems in beardies including lethargy, loss of appetite, walking difficulty, etc.
Aside from oxalates, some greens and vegetables are too acidic for bearded dragons. So you need to be careful.
Staple Fruits for Bearded Dragons
Although most fruits should not be fed to bearded dragons regularly, there are some that can be part of the beardies’ staple diet. Some of them are:
- Mango
- Papaya
- Prickly Pear (Cactus Leaves)
Occasional Fruits for Bearded Dragons
Some fruits however can only be fed to beardies occasionally. The following are examples of fruits for occasional feeding:
- Apples (peeled)
- Bananas
- Blackberries
- Blueberries
- Cantaloupe
- Grapes
- Honeydew Melon
- Kiwi
- Peaches
- Pears (peeled)
- Raspberries
- Strawberries
- Watermelon
Fruits that Should NEVER Be Fed to Bearded Dragons
There are fruits that should not be fed to beardies. These fruits have a negative effect on beardies’ health. Examples of these fruits are the following:
- Grapefruit
- Lemons
- Limes
- Oranges
- Tangerines
- Citric Fruits
Citric fruits are too acidic for beardies. They could harm the bearded dragons in many ways. So it is very important that you avoid feeding citric fruits to your bearded dragons.
Staple Insects for Bearded Dragons
Insects are an important part of beardies’ balanced diet especially for baby and juvenile reptiles. Young beardies need more protein than adult beardies do.
Unfortunately, not all insects are safe for your reptile. But there are a few kinds of insects that can be fed regularly to beardies. Some of them are:
- Crickets
- Roaches
- Horn Worms
Occasional Insects for Bearded Dragons
As you can see, there are only a few insects that can be offered regularly. But there are more insects that can be fed to bearded dragons occasionally. Some of these insects are:
- Butter worms
- Earthworms
- Mealworms
- Phoenix worms
- Silkworms
- Waxworms
There are several reasons why these worms can only be fed occasionally to bearded dragons. Some of these are too fatty for beardies. So if fed regularly, they could cause harm to reptiles.
Another reason is size. Mealworms for instance are not only large but also have an exoskeleton which is difficult to digest if it can be digested at all.
I only recommend feeding worms of these kinds to adult bearded dragons. Bear in mind that large foods could choke your reptile and cause potential digestive issues.
Do not forget to consider the space between their eyes. The worms or any type of foods that you offer should be smaller than the space between the beardies’ eyes. This is to keep your reptile healthy and safe from health issues.
Related Article: Are Mealworms Bad for Bearded Dragons?
Insects that Should NEVER Be Fed to Bearded Dragons
There are insects that you should avoid feeding your beardies under any circumstances. Those insects are toxic and can kill your reptile. Example of those insects are the following:
- Fireflies
- Boxelder Bugs
- Wild-caught Insects
When feeding your beardies with insects, make sure that they are healthy. Do not feed your reptile with insects you caught in the wild. You don’t know if those insects have poisonous chemicals with them.
Overall, the balanced diet for beardies should include insects, greens, and fruits. But the percentage of how much they should take from these food categories depends on the age of the bearded dragon.
For younger beardies, the diet should compose of about 80% protein-rich foods such as insects and 20% of greens. In adult beardies, on the other hand, the percentage is the exact opposite. Adult bearded dragons should have 80% greens and 20% insects in their diet.
Related Article: Can Bearded Dragons Eat Ham?
Final Thoughts on Can Bearded Dragons Eat Applesauce
Applesauce is not a natural food for bearded dragons. But a small amount on an occasional basis will not harm them.
But to keep your reptile safe from potential health issues, I suggest that you choose fresh and healthier foods instead.
Bearded dragons can eat a variety of greens, vegetables, and insects. But you need to be careful especially if you are a brand new beardie owner. This is because not all greens, vegetables, and insects are safe for beardies.
As you can see from the lists above, there are foods that should only be offered occasionally while others should never be fed to bearded dragons at all.
I hope that this post helps you in making the right decisions for your reptiles. Thank you for reading.
