Bearded dragons can eat different kinds of food and fruits but not all fruits are safe for them. There are some fruits that a bearded dragon can eat and kiwi is one of them. The answer to the question of pet owners that bearded dragons can eat kiwi is yes. Bearded dragons can eat kiwi but on an occasional basis. Various reasons make kiwi not a staple food for bearded dragons.
Some of the chemicals are not safe for daily consumption like the presence of the high amount of oxalate content and sugar present in it. There are many benefits of kiwi for bearded dragons including the presence of vitamin C which is essential to boost the immune system.
Excess consumption of kiwi can create health problems including being overweight in bearded dragons. Therefore it is clear that kiwi is beneficial for the health of bearded dragons when it is served in moderation.
Contents
Nutritional aspects of kiwi for bearded dragons
Kiwi is a fruit having lots of nutrients present in it. For bearded dragons, the various nutrients that a kiwi offers are listed below.
- Carbohydrates – 14g
- Protein – 1.15g
- Energy – 61kcal
- Fiber – 9g
- Calcium – 34mg
- Phosphorous – 34mg
- Calories – 42
- Vitamin A – 122µg
- Vitamin C- 92.8mg
- Vitamin E1.4mg
- Vitamin K – 40.2µg
- Iron – 0.32mg
- Water – 82g
- Potassium – 83g
- Sugars – 9g
From the table, it is clear that kiwi contains lots of nutrients but it should also be remembered that all the nutrients present in the kiwi are not safe for the health of your pet dragon.
1. Carbohydrates:
For pet bearded dragons, physical activities are not very much so in that case, they do not need carbohydrates-rich food, and the presence of carbohydrates is also low in the kiwi. Failure in the consumption of carbohydrates turns them into sugar which is bad for the bearded dragon’s health.
2. Protein:
Young and juvenile pet dragons require high proteins in their food for proper body growth but kiwi is low in protein content. Therefore you need to add some protein-rich food with kiwi while serving to the dragon.
3. Energy:
Kiwi is good in the amount of energy content present in it not too high or not too low. Therefore proves good from an energy point of view for bearded dragons.
4. Fiber:
The presence of the high amount of fibers is too hard to digest for pet dragons and kiwi is low which again makes it perfect for bearded dragons.
5. Vitamin A:
Vitamin A is essential for the good health of bearded dragons but kiwi is very high in Vitamin A content which can affect the health of your pet. Therefore owners should monitor the Vitamin A consumption of their pets.
6. Vitamin C:
The presence of a high amount of Vitamin C is beneficial for the good health of bearded dragons and kiwi is very high in the Vitamin C amount. It boosts the immune system of bearded dragons and helps them to fight against various diseases.
7. Water Content:
This is one of the reasons why do not make kiwi a staple food for bearded dragons. The high amount of water content can lead to diarrhea in the pet therefore avoid watery food.
8. Calcium:
It is low in the kiwi which is not a good sign as deficiency of calcium causes a metabolic bone disorder that makes bones brittle and weak.
9. Phosphorous:
It is present in a good amount in kiwi and equal to calcium. For a healthy food for bearded dragons, the calcium to phosphorous ratio should be 2:1 but still, this is healthy so can offer it to bearded dragons.
10. Potassium:
The presence of potassium is 83g in kiwi which is good content and it is also essential for the body functioning of pets kiwi proves to be a good source of potassium for bearded dragons.
11. Oxalates:
Kiwi is high in oxalic acid which causes the deficiency of calcium and also kiwi is low in calcium content which can cause an adverse effect on the health of the pet dragon and make the pet prone to many other diseases. It is advisable to avoid oxalate-rich food for the dragon.
How often can bearded dragons eat kiwi?
Knowing about the presence of the high amount of sugar and oxalates it is recommended to feed occasionally as a treat to the bearded dragons. It is better to feed kiwi once a month. Though it is high in vitamin C other factors are more prominent and are not safe for their health. Therefore cut the kiwi into thin slices and offer bearded dragons calcium-rich food.
Best ways to prepare Kiwis for bearded dragons
Different food served to bearded dragons have slightly different ways prepared. Here are a few steps you need to know as a pet owner before serving the bearded dragon.
- Always try to purchase organic fruits free from pesticides.
- Remove the outer skin of the kiwi before serving to the dragon.
- Kiwi is soft and does not require any kind of cooking, so directly cut into thin slices in order to prevent the pet from choking and some kinds of digestive issues due to large chunks.
- The best way is to serve kiwi with some other highly nutritious greens as a salad.
Can bearded dragons eat kiwi seeds and skin?
Kiwi seeds are small compared to other fruits and easily digested. Therefore it is safe and bearded dragons can eat them. Talking about the skin of kiwi, it is not safe at all and should not be offered to kiwi with the skin. The reason is kiwi skin is hard to digest for the dragons therefore better to feed by peeling off the skin and offering only a soft part of the fruit.
Health benefits of kiwi for bearded dragons
Here are some of the health benefits of kiwi for your pet dragon.
1. High in Vitamin C:
Kiwi is very high in Vitamin C which is beneficial for the health of bearded dragons. It helps to improve the immune system of the pet. It is also rich in many other nutrients which promote the good health of the pet.
2. Calcium to Phosphorous ratio:
Bearded dragons require calcium to phosphorous ratio of 2:1 for ideal food but kiwi has a 1:1 ratio which can be acceptable to some extent. But high phosphorous ratio present in the food prevents to absorb of the amount of calcium in the dragon’s body. Therefore high consumption of phosphorous is not healthy for the pet.
Health risks of kiwi for bearded dragons
1. Low calcium level:
Though kiwi has good calcium to phosphorous ratio low amount of calcium is not acceptable at all. The deficiency of calcium leads to metabolic bone disease and brittleness in the bone which makes them weak.
2. Presence of high oxalates:
High amount of oxalic acids is not safe for the health of the dragon as it binds the calcium and other vital minerals and stops them from being absorbed by the bearded dragon’s body.
3. High sugar and water content:
The presence of a high amount of sugar and water content can lead to obesity and diarrhea in the bearded dragons and both the contents present are not safe for the health of bearded dragons.
Conclusion:
Yes, bearded dragons can eat kiwi but only in moderation as a treat. There are many reasons which restrict kiwi from being stapled food to bearded dragons. The various factors include are high amount of oxalates, sugar, and water content mainly.
Though there are many health benefits of kiwi also and are nutritious than many other fruits too but not served regularly. Therefore kiwi should not be fed on a regular basis but serve as a topping to the calcium-rich food.
