Bearded dragons can eat a variety of fruits including melons. Yes, bearded dragons can eat honeydew melon. It is a nutritious fruit with B6, folate, magnesium, vitamins, and minerals. But it should be given to them occasionally as a treat. For a good healthy food for bearded dragons, the calcium to phosphorous ratio should be balanced.
The only disadvantage with this is it has a higher water quantity and is slightly disproportionate which is not good for beardie’s health. It has a slightly higher amount of phosphorous than calcium which cannot allow it to make a staple food for the bearded dragons. So you have to be very careful while choosing food for your pet dragon and the most important is the calcium to phosphorous ratio.
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Nutritional facts of honeydew
Honeydew melon fruit is oval in shape with a pale center and does not contain sugar content but is high in fiber, vitamins, potassium, and other nutrients. This fruit is a perfect constituent for the health of bearded dragons. Here is a list of various nutrients present in the honeydew melon.
- Calcium – 6mg
- Sugars – 8.1g
- Energy – 36Kcal
- Water – 89.9g
- Phosphorous – 11mg
- Calories – 64
- Fiber – 1.5g
- Protein – 1g
- Vitamin C – 53%
- Vitamin B6 – 8%
- Potassium – 12%
- Vitamin K – 6%
- Magnesium – 40%
1. Water content:
One of the disadvantages of this fruit is the presence of high water content. For bearded dragons, too much consumption of water is not good for their health as it can lead to diarrhea and some digestive-related issues. Water is the only thing that does not make honeydew melon a staple food for bearded dragons.
2. Vitamins and minerals:
Honeydew melon contains lots of vitamins and minerals that are beneficial for the health of a bearded dragon. It contains magnesium, folate, chlorine, vitamin A and many more.
3. Calcium:
Calcium is present in a good amount in the honeydew melon and is a useful mineral for dragons that helps in the developing period. Lack of calcium can cause many health problems like a metabolic bone disease which makes the bones brittle which is a serious condition in bearded dragons. To keep your pet dragon healthy, you have to provide calcium in the proper amount in their diet.
4. Sugar content:
The presence of sugar content in the food is also one of the major factors. But honeydew melon contains a lot of sugar in it which is not safe for the health of bearded dragon. Therefore it is not safe to feed regularly it to the pet.
5. Phosphorous:
The amount of phosphorous is higher in honeydew melon than in calcium which is also not good for the health of bearded dragon. Honeydew melon has disproportionate calcium to phosphorous ratio. This is one of the reasons why honeydew melon is not a staple food for bearded dragons. For regular food, there should be a lower phosphorous value than calcium. The disproportionate ratio can cause many health problems in the bearded dragons.
Is honeydew melon safe for bearded dragons?
Honeydew melon is safe for bearded dragons as far as they should be serving occasionally as a treat. It is not toxic at all but poses some substances which are not safe for the health of your pet but they in moderation are safe. Also adding too many fruits to the diet of a bearded dragon is not good at all.
The various reasons that are not suitable for the pet’s health are the presence of a high amount of sugar and calcium to phosphorous is not balanced as per requirements of the bearded dragon. Another factor is the presence of higher water content and the consumption of a high amount of water; it can lead to stomach upset and diarrhea. Therefore feeding once o twice in a week is appropriate and safe for them.
How to prepare honeydew melon for bearded dragons?
- Serving fruits is not at all difficult for bearded dragons but you have to remember fruits that you are going to serve to the dragon must be fresh. You have to remove to seeds of the fruit before serving them because they can choke your pet dragon.
- Cut the honeydew melon into pieces and remove the flesh from the pieces. Feed them only the flesh of the fruit cause it is the most nutritious part of the fruit.
- The melon should be served in small pieces to the dragon as big pieces can choke the pet. Also, you can mix it with other fruits which can create variations in the diet and taste for the bearded dragons.
How often serve honeydew melon to the bearded dragons?
Honeydew fruit is safe for the dragons but I serve it in moderation. You can serve honeydew once or twice a week which is okay for their health. The reason why you cannot feed them regularly is the presence of a high amount of water, sugar, and phosphorous in the fruit.
An excess amount of phosphorous than calcium can bind the calcium and prevent it from being absorbed which is not a good thing for the health of bearded dragons because the lack of calcium can lead to various bone diseases like metabolic bone disorder. Therefore it is recommended to serve only in small quantities and in moderation.
Can baby dragons also eat honeydew melon?
Yes, baby dragons can also eat melons but again in moderation. Baby dragons need lots of protein in their diet while they are growing and for that reason, honeydew melon is good for them.
A baby dragon thy require almost 80% of insect-based protein and 20% plant-based proteins and melon has a good amount of proteins in them which is suitable for baby dragons too. Remember to feed fruits to the babies in small pieces so that can easily eat them without choking themselves.
Benefits of honeydew melon for bearded dragons
Honeydew is good and provides lots of nutrients to the bearded dragons and also has some health benefits.
1. A good source to hydrate dragons:
High amount of water content present in it helps to keep hydrating the dragon, especially in the summertime. But do not give too much of it as it can also cause diarrhea in the pet.
2. Improve bone health of bearded dragons:
The presence of a good amount of vitamin K and calcium helps to improve the bone density of dragons. Due to the deficiency of calcium, metabolic bone disorder can be caused.
3. Improve the immune system:
Being a good source of vitamin C helps dragons to boost their immune system but excess vitamin C can make them sick.
What fruits can bearded dragons eat?
Honeydew melon is not safe for the daily consumption of the bearded dragon but there are other many fruits that are helpful and make their diet nutritious and add variety. Following are the fruits that are suitable from the health point of view for bearded dragons:
- Papaya
- Blackberries
- Blueberries
- Mangoes
- Apples
- Cherries
- Figs
- Apricot
- Strawberries
- Grapes
- Cranberries
- Pears
- Watermelons
Avoid choosing the fruits that contain a lot of water in them as they can cause health problems in them. Also, rotate the diet daily so that there could be variation in their diet and they can enjoy it.
Wrapping Up
Yes, bearded dragons can eat honeydew melons in moderation but in smaller quantities is safe. It contains various minerals and vitamins in good amounts which provide nutrition for bearded dragons. But there are some actors who also which resist it from being a staple food to the dragon that includes lots of sugar, a higher amount of phosphorous than calcium, and the amount of water present in it. Otherwise, it is advisable to serve in moderation only.
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