Can Bearded Dragons Eat Apricots? Vet-Approved Benefits, Risks, & FAQ

Variety is the main target when formulating a wholesome routine in your Bearded Dragon. With fruits being such a marginal a part of your lizard’s eating regimen and sure varieties being unsafe in any quantity, discovering the healthiest strategy to reward your pet generally is a bit nerve-wracking. In case you want an incredible place to begin, apricots may very well be the reply. Carefully, apricots generally is a flavorful and rewarding a part of a Bearded Dragon’s diverse eating regimen.

Although it’s one of many higher fruits to feed your Bearded Dragon, apricots aren’t an ideal match for his or her wants. Learn to safely add this satisfying deal with to your pet’s eating regimen as we focus on whether or not Bearded Dragons can eat apricots.

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Can Bearded Dragons Eat Apricots?

Be at liberty so as to add apricots to your routine of Bearded Dragon treats. As an excellent supply of nutritional vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, apricots can promote your Beardie’s well being in a number of methods whereas delighting the style buds.

Bearded Dragons are omnivores and may have a eating regimen primarily made up of a wide range of bugs and leafy greens. Fruit ought to solely make up about 10–15% of a Bearded Dragon’s eating regimen, apricots have a number of perks over different choices within the class. To know why, we’ll have a look at a number of key causes fruits shouldn’t be a central function in your Beardie’s eating regimen.

Sugar

The first issues with fruits are the excessive sugar content material and its results on Bearded Dragons. Extra sugar can wreak havoc on a Bearded Dragon’s digestive system. As sugar shouldn’t be excessive of their pure eating regimen, they’ll expertise issues like diarrhea. Weight problems, diabetes, and numerous debilitating ailments could finally outcome from a persistently high-sugar eating regimen.

Contemplating sugar’s influence, apricots make a superb possibility to supply as a candy deal with to your Bearded Dragon. Apricots have decrease sugar ranges than most fruits, solely containing 3–4 grams per fruit. Within the small parts you’ll provide your pet, the content material possible received’t have an effect on something however their style buds.

Oxalates

Oxalates might be detrimental to a Bearded Dragon as a result of they bind to calcium, stopping its absorption into the bloodstream. By depleting the Bearded Dragon’s potential to make the most of the all-important nutrient, oxalates may cause extreme circumstances like metabolic bone disease (MBD), which is a painful weakening of the bones. Thankfully, whereas oxalates are frequent in numerous leafy greens, fruits, grains, and nuts, they seem in low quantities in apricots.

Drawbacks to Apricots

Bearded Dragons get pleasure from a number of advantages from apricots in comparison with different fruits, however they’re removed from good. Two major downsides to apricots highlighting the necessity for moderation embrace the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio and water content material.

Poor Calcium to Phosphorus Ratio

Like oxalates, phosphorus can negatively have an effect on calcium steadiness, resulting in a deficiency and probably life-threatening well being points like MBD. To maintain a Bearded Dragon in peak situation, the perfect calcium-to-phosphorus ratio is round 2:1. After they’re younger, Bearded Dragons want a good greater ratio to accommodate their rising bones.

Apricots received’t do your lizards any favor on this regard. With about 23 grams of phosphorus for each 13 grams of calcium, apricots have nearly the alternative of what you need in a correct calcium-to-phosphorus ratio in your Bearded Dragon. Whereas it’s unlikely to trigger undue stress when provided sparingly, it is a wonderful instance of why you need to take into account each meals you embrace in your pet’s eating regimen.

Excessive Water Content material

In comparison with different fruits, apricots have a excessive water content material of as much as 86%. Though we would discover that extra-refreshing on a summer time day, Bearded Dragons get little profit from it. As an alternative, overly watery meals can result in free stools and dehydration. Although it’s normally not a long-lasting concern, it might probably nonetheless trigger your Bearded Dragon delicate discomfort.

How A lot Apricot Can Bearded Dragons Eat?

Apricots needs to be one of many diverse fruits to incorporate in a Bearded Dragon’s eating regimen, so that you don’t want to supply it greater than as soon as weekly. At all times reduce it into tiny, bite-sized chunks they’ll simply handle and take away the stone. Since they aren’t robust chewers, you need to hold the parts manageable sufficient for them to swallow.

Which Different Fruits Can Bearded Dragons Eat?

Whereas some fruits ought to keep off the menu in any quantity, like avocados or acidic citrus fruits, most are protected in your Bearded Dragon to devour to some extent. In style fruits to incorporate in a well-rounded month-to-month eating regimen embrace:

Natural produce is preferable to forestall pesticide contamination. Flowers additionally make wholesome options as Bearded Dragon treats. Appropriate varieties for your Bearded Dragon include dandelions, hibiscus, geraniums, and roses. Although simple to develop at residence, you may also test with a neighborhood florist to see if they’ve any undesirable or unusable flowers they could provide.

Closing Ideas

Though your Bearded Dragon will happily munch on their regular diet of veggies and insects, they love a candy piece of fruit to interrupt up the monotony. Apricots are one deal with you’ll be able to be ok with feeding. Although no fruit is right for a Beardie’s delicate metabolism, apricots are a few of the extra nutritious fruits to perk up your pet with out risking any uncomfortable uncomfortable side effects.

Featured Picture Credit score: Ilona Frey, Unsplash