fbpx

Can Bearded Dragons Eat Bananas?

Bananas are a favorite of bearded dragons, on the other hand, can bearded dragons eat bananas? Or should you keep them away at a safe distance? Now let’s jump right away into the article for these questions to be answered.

Bearded dragons can eat bananas. Occasionally, bearded dragons will indulge in a banana, but only as a special treat. Their high calcium-to-phosphorus ratio makes them unsuitable for bearded dragons, as does their high sugar content, significantly when overripe.

Do bearded dragons have the ability to consume bananas?

Choosing the proper diet for your bearded dragon can be a challenge because some items that seem harmless and even extremely healthy can be hazardous and even fatal to your bearded dragon.

can bearded dragons eat bananas

If you’re worried about feeding your bearded dragon bananas, there’s good news. According to VCA Hospitals, bearded dragons can safely eat bananas with various vegetables, greens, herbs, and high-protein insects as part of a diversified diet.

Bananas Are Beneficial For Bearded Dragons.

Fruits that bearded dragons like include bananas. The fruit has a smooth texture and a sweet taste, which beardies seem to appreciate. Add fruit such as chopped bananas to a nutritious salad of vegetables and greens, and your bearded dragon will gladly come over and devour it. He’ll also consume a lot of vegetables and gardens as a result.

A little-known truth about bearded dragon nutrition is that bearded dragons can safely eat the skin of bananas; hence there is no wastage, and your bearded dragon will receive additional nutritional benefits.

Bananas are suitable for a “bearded dragon diet” for five reasons.

Source of Calcium

A banana has five milligrams of calcium per 100 grams. Exactly. Because of their high phosphorus levels, beardies are low in calcium, which might result in calcium deficiency.

Source of vitamins

Bananas include vitamins A and C, as well as potassium, which are all beneficial to the body. Their bodies are engaged in a range of bodily processes. In addition to benefiting the immunological and reproductive systems, overall visual development and growth can be positively impacted by the use of these supplements.

Banana

Source of Potassium

Potassium is abundant in bananas, with 100 grams of the fruit containing 358 milligrams of the mineral. It aids in a variety of bodily functions. Potassium, for instance, aids kidney function, regulates fluid levels, and promotes healthy muscle activity, among other things.

Other minerals and antioxidants

The banana contains antioxidants such as dopamine, catechins, and polyphenols to help lower cholesterol and minimize heart disease and stroke risk.

Every 100 grams of banana contains 0.26 milligrams of iron and 27 mg of magnesium, which help to maintain your beardie’s tissues and bones healthy and strong.

 In addition, it encourages them to eat more greens.

When it comes to eating healthy green leaves, bearded dragons aren’t always in the mood. On that point, you’ll be able to relate to them if you’re anything like me. Most likely, once they get going, they’ll eat the rest of their meal bowl, bland greens and all!

A Banana Feeding Too Often Can Be Dangerous.

According to the USDA, even though your bearded dragon is likely to enjoy bananas, they are only suitable as a treat on rare occasions. Mainly because of their high phosphorus content in comparison with calcium.

Bearded dragons require a calcium-to-phosphorus ratio of 1.1 to 2.1, depending on their size. For example, if your dragon consumes too much phosphorus compared to calcium, it can develop significant health problems such as MBD (metabolic bone disease).

As bananas have more phosphorus than calcium, thus they shouldn’t be part of your bearded dragon diet.

In bearded dragons, according to Pet-MD, poor diet is one of the most common causes of metabolic bone disease (MBD). However, this does not mean that you can’t give your beardie bananas as part of a balanced diet. So much so that the experts at VetMed recommend that you supplement your bearded dragon’s diet with calcium to ensure that they obtain the proper quantity.

Bearded dragon eating insect

This is because it is exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, to provide your beardie with enough calcium through their diet alone, and calcium supplements are an easy method to ensure they stay fit, healthy, and free of MBD.

There’s more to worry about when it comes to overfeeding bananas. Because bananas contain a lot of sugar, they can easily lead to your bearded dragon being overweight if they are regularly eaten. Also, as bananas ripen and turn yellow to brown, their sugar content increases.

In addition, too much sugar can damage your dragons’ teeth. Sugar can destroy a bearded dragon’s teeth, just like it does in people if it is ingested too regularly.

Bearded dragons have tiny stomachs, so don’t stuff them full of food that isn’t exceptionally nutritious. Baby and juvenile beardies, who are overgrowing and relying on every meal, are particularly vulnerable.

Bananas are bad for bearded dragons for five reasons.

Calcium deficiency and metabolic bone disease.

Bearded dragons are prone to MBD, which is one of the most common health issues they face. As a result of a bad diet that is low in calcium and rich in phosphorus, it affects young bearded dragons (2 years and younger). Loss of density and softening of bone tissue are symptoms of calcium deficiency. Numerous bearded dragon owners are aware that their pet’s diet must include calcium supplements.

However, not everyone is aware of the need for calcium and phosphorus in maintaining a healthy balance. MBD occurs when a beardie’s body doesn’t obtain enough calcium in its food, causing it to be removed from the bones by the body. Consuming too much phosphorus will also limit the absorption of dietary calcium.

A 2:1 calcium-to-phosphorus ratio is recommended for your beardie’s diet to keep him healthy and happy. It is estimated that bananas contain four times as much phosphorus as calcium. The calcium ratio is far from ideal. Consumed in large quantities, this will very certainly cause a bearded dragon to acquire metabolic bone disease.

Obesity

Beardies eat many leafy green vegetables, insects, and bananas, which are relatively high in calories and sugar. Many animal species, including bearded dragons, suffer from health problems as a result of weight growth. Extra weight stresses the body’s organs, leading to deadly system failures or a shorter lifetime.

Choking

While the banana’s soft, mushy interior poses a minimal challenge to beardies, the banana’s fibrous peel presents a more significant challenge. Slice the banana into smaller pieces such that it should be smaller than your bearded dragon’s eye. This will help reduce the risk of choking to a minimum. Bearded dragons don’t chew their food, so it’s vital to get it right.

Constipation.

Having a lot of sugar in your diet isn’t just a problem for weight gain. Reptiles who eat a lot of sugar may have digestive issues. As an example of dehydration, diarrhea is one of the most common.

Dental health

This time it’s the sugar. The oral health of your bearded dragon can suffer in the same way you would if you ate too many sweets. When a bearded dragon’s diet contains too much sugar, it can cause tooth damage and mouth rot.

Banana Peels and Leaves: Are They Safe for Bearded dragons?

Banana peel in front of a bearded dragon: can bearded dragons consume banana peels?

My bearded dragon eats a lot of banana peels. This is possible.

For your bearded dragon, banana peels are a healthier alternative to bananas.

Instead of sugar, they contain more fiber while still being a good source of vitamins and minerals. There is only one drawback: the banana peel is more likely to choke on. It won’t be a problem if you chop it small enough.

Instead of just feeding the banana peel, try slicing it while it’s still on to give the treat more texture.

Can bearded dragons eat banana leaves?

Not a single veterinarian on record has addressed this question.

Numerous publications have proposed feeding bearded dragon banana leaves is OK. They only find banana leaves harmless, but they find them helpful to their health. Vitamin B6 helps to regulate weight and fat, and protein metabolism. The anti-inflammatory properties of artichoke extract also support a healthy immunological and neurological system.

Banana chips are a popular snack for bearded dragons.

It is safe for bearded dragons to eat banana chips, although it is not healthful. Aside from the high sugar content, these foods contain added sugar. Most banana chips contain honey and other preservatives. As a result of this, the chips will remain crispy and flavor-locked. Banana chips have salt in addition to sugar. Too much salt is also hazardous for a bearded dragon’s health.

Once a month, if you genuinely want to feed your bearded dragon banana chips, you can do so. As a treat, give them one or two chips.

Bearded Dragons: Can They Eat Bananas All Day Long?

You’ve undoubtedly figured out by now that your bearded dragon shouldn’t be fed bananas daily. However, this shouldn’t stop you from offering them to your bearded dragon as a treat once in a while.

It is best to serve them as a salad topper or in tiny portions every 1-2 months.

If you stick to this schedule, the high phosphorus-to-calcium ratio shouldn’t be a problem as long as you’re giving high-quality food, as we’ve discussed.

To Prepare Bananas for Your Bearded Dragon

If you’re going to feed your bearded dragon bananas, it’s preferable if they’re organic. Bananas must be organic to ensure that they are free of pesticides and herbicides if you plan to let your dragon eat the skin. Even if you don’t want to supply the peel, organic bananas are always preferable. Cooking bananas will reduce their nutritious value since they are relatively mushy fruit.

The banana should be cut into small pieces and then quartered so that it can be gulped. Providing the skin requires it to be cut up into tiny pieces (nearly bits sized), as it is considerably rougher and more challenging to digest.

Any salad should be served in a bowl that your bearded dragon can quickly eat from. As a result, if they can’t eat anything after the top third of the bowl, they’re more likely to abandon it out of irritation and take fewer nutrients.

Final Thoughts

Bananas, as you can see, are an excellent food for your bearded dragon to eat. Reptiles enjoy them because they are nutrient-rich and pleasant. However, they should only eat bananas in tiny quantities. If they receive this delicious fruit on occasion, the bearded dragons will be healthy and happy.

Can bearded dragons eat bananas?

  • Bananas are rich in minerals, vitamins, antioxidants, and potassium.
  • Too much of a good thing, on the other hand, might have unintended side consequences.
  • MBD can occur if you feed your bearded dragon too much banana.
  • Insufficient calcium causes soft, misshapen, and weak bones.

Veterinarians advise putting the banana in the diet a couple of times a week. Be aware that your bearded dragon could eat bananas on occasion, which are both nourishing and tasty.

 FAQ

To what extent is it safe to feed my bearded dragon bananas?

Vets recommend feeding your bearded dragon only a tiny bit of banana. The recommended upper limit is one slice of banana at a time, once or twice a month. Preadolescent bears should only receive this treatment once a month.

Can a baby bearded dragon can eat bananas?

Although banana is not harmful to a bearded baby dragon, it can harm their bone development and overall health. If your bearded dragon is under two years old, it’s better to limit this treat to once a month.

About the author

I'm Gulshan, a passionate pet enthusiast. Dive into my world where I share tips, stories, and snapshots of my animal adventures. Here, pets are more than just animals; they're heartbeats that enrich our lives. Join our journey!