Finding out if bearded dragons can eat strawberries is one of the most common diet-related questions we see. As one of the most popular fruits out there, it’s only natural that it would be at the top of the list!
But the answer is a little trickier than a simple yes or no. There are a number of factors you need to consider if you want to safely introduce strawberries into your beardie’s diet.
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Can Bearded Dragons Eat Strawberries?
If you’re like many bearded dragon owners, you may be wondering if it’s safe to offer your beardie some strawberries from time to time. Humans like them, so beardies should as well right?
Bearded dragons are omnivorous, so this means that in the wild they will consume food such as insects, vegetables, greens and a variety of fruits. Strawberries are included on this list, and are a sweet and tasty treat that can be given to your beardie bestie. Like all fruits though, strawberries should be given in moderation (more on this later).
Expert Tip: It’s important to note that not all pet bearded dragons like strawberries! You may have to experiment in order to discover which fruit your beardie likes best.
The Benefits Of Including Strawberries In Their Diet
Strawberries are not just a tasty treat for your bearded dragon. These juicy, sweet fruits are packed with nutritional benefits that will add vitamins and other enhancements to your bearded dragon’s diet.
Strawberries are high in water content, and this means that they tend to be lower in carbohydrates. A high water content plus lower carbohydrates will equal a slimmer and healthier bearded dragon.
These fruits also have lots of Vitamin C, calcium, potassium, manganese and dietary fiber. Because of these nutritional benefits, strawberries come out on the top of many lists of top fruits to feed bearded dragons.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Strawberry Leaves?
Many owners want to know if it’s alright to let their bearded dragon snack on strawberry leaves. This is an area where there’s some misinformation being passed around, so we want to be very clear on this:
The answer to this question is a resounding yes.
Strawberry leaves contain lots of goodies like antioxidants, and they can also help to lower blood sugar, boost the immune system and help maintain a healthy weight. These leaves are even known to help with bouts of diarrhea and other poop-related issues.
Expert Tip: Like anything that falls into the “treat” category, strawberry leaves should only be given once in a while and in small amounts. We cover this in more detail further along in this guide.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Strawberry Seeds?
If you’ve been hesitant to give strawberries to your bearded dragon because of the seeds, you don’t need to worry. The seeds in strawberries are perfectly safe, and you don’t need to take them out or scrape them off before feeding time.
Strawberry seeds are very tiny, so they won’t get stuck in your beardie’s digestive tract or lead to health complications (it’s not uncommon to see some in their poop). Still, too many strawberry seeds can cause stomach problems, so you’ll want to limit the amount of strawberries you give your bearded dragon.
How Often Can They Eat Them?
For most bearded dragons, strawberries are a sweet and welcomed treat. As mentioned above, strawberries have a variety of health benefits, so the occasional strawberry snack is a good thing.
However, this fruit also has a high phosphorus to calcium ratio, and that ratio can lead to things such as metabolic bone disease. Strawberries are high in sugar, and just like with humans, too much sugar can often cause tooth decay, digestive issues (like impaction) and obesity.
With that in mind, we recommend limiting strawberry consumption to a small portion once or twice a week.
Another reason to limit the amount and frequency of strawberry consumption is that strawberries are not as nutritious as vegetables or greens. If your bearded dragon really loves strawberries, it may decide to only eat the strawberries and leave the other food items untouched (because they’re so tasty).
Expert Tip: If your bearded dragon isn’t an adult, you should take a different approach altogether. Young bearded dragons really need the best nutrition possible if they are going to thrive and reach their maximum potential lifespan.
Because of this, it’s best to limit the amount of fruit your young dragon eats. You can slowly introduce strawberries as your bearded dragon gets older.
The Proper Way To Prepare Strawberries For Your Beardie
Bearded dragons can eat strawberries, but the process isn’t as simple as it is for humans. As a bearded dragon owner, giving extra care to the preparation of this tasty snack is very important.
You’ll need to carefully check each strawberry, wash it properly and cut it into bite-sized pieces. With some careful preparation, you’ll be able to provide your bearded dragon with a treat that it will really enjoy, while also keeping them safe.
1. Inspect The Strawberry
It’s going to be very important to make sure that the strawberries that you give your bearded dragon are both pesticide free and herbicide free.
This is why we highly recommend that you only give your bearded dragon strawberries that are certified to be organic. Inspect each strawberry individually to check for any spots that are over-ripe, moldy or rotten.
The same way that you would choose only the ripest, sweetest, juiciest strawberries for your own consumption, you’ll want to do the same for your bearded dragon’s strawberries. You don’t need to overthink this process, just use your best judgement and give it a quick scan.
2. Wash It Off
This step may seem pretty obvious, but it’s really important to thoroughly clean the strawberries that you are going to give to your bearded dragon.
Even if you choose an organic strawberry, there can still be traces of soil and fertilizer on them. Naturally, you’ll want to make sure this residue is cleaned off. Simply place your berries in a bowl full of clean, cold water, and gently swirl the berries in the water to remove the dirt. It may be necessary to do this several times.
3. Cut It Into Small Pieces
After the strawberries have been checked and washed, it’s important to make sure that they’re easy for your bearded dragon to eat. You see, bearded dragons can eat strawberries, but pieces that are too large can cause issues.
We suggest cutting the strawberries into small, bite-sized pieces that will be tempting and manageable for your bearded dragon to eat.
Expert Tip: When you are trying to decide how many strawberry pieces to give your dragon, a good rule of thumb is to give them as many as they can eat in one go (this is usually a few small pieces). Make sure to always remove uneaten strawberries, and always err on the side of too few as opposed to too many!
4. Place The Pieces In A Bowl And Monitor Your Beardie
When it’s time to give your beardie the tasty strawberries you prepared, you have several options when it comes to how you present them.
Rather than just placing the strawberries in a bowl, we usually suggest mixing the strawberries into the vegetables or greens that you are giving them. This can help them to get used to the taste of strawberries if they are a new food item.
Expert Tip: This can also prevent your bearded dragon from eating all the strawberries and leaving the vegetables untouched. This is actually rather common behavior. Can you blame them?
The next tip when it comes to providing the strawberries for your bearded dragon to eat is about your choice of bowl. We always recommend using a shallow bowl (for all foods, not just strawberries).
This will make it harder for your lizard to tip over. It will also be a whole lot easier (and less stressful) for your beardie to reach in and eat the strawberry.
Give Them A Shot!
Since you know that bearded dragons can eat strawberries (and in what capacity), it’s time for you to start introducing this tasty fruit into their diet. Strawberries are a fantastic snack that your beardie will certainly enjoy, so don’t hesitate to treat them from time to time!
As long as you stick to the recommendations above in regard to quantity and preparation, you should have nothing to worry about when feeding this fruit to your pet!
